Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (2024)

Home All Recipes Dessert Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

By Jess Smith

4.39

Published Nov 07, 2019Updated Feb 29, 2024

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Grab your favorite cake or cupcake recipe and top it with this lightly sweet, super creamy Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting. With only four-ingredients, it’s light and fluffy like whipped cream but holds its shape and can be piped like cream cheese frosting.

Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (2)

Now that our family has this super simple, weeknight-friendly Vanilla Snack Cake in the rotation, we needed a vanilla frosting to go on top. Most vanilla frosting recipes I found made way too much for this snack-sized cake, so I wanted a go-to version that would make just enough frosting for an 8×8 cake or a dozen cupcakes. (This is especially important since extra frosting mysteriously finds its way into my mouth.)

This version of vanilla frosting is much lighter than buttercream. It has a light but sturdy texture that makes it easy to spread and can be made a day in advance and just left at room temperature to cool down before using it.

Here’s how to make my favorite Whipped Cream Frosting!

Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (3)

Ingredients

  • Cream Cheese – Be sure to get the cream cheese that comes in a block, not the kind in a tub that has a different texture and won’t work in this recipe. Be sure to let it soften to room temperature. The flavor of the cream cheese is subtle in this frosting, but it helps the frosting to be sturdy and hold its shape. Light or Low-fat Cream Cheese will work here.
  • Powdered Sugar – This frosting uses just enough powdered sugar to lend the frosting a bit (but not too much) sweetness. Powdered sugar is sometimes also labeled “icing” or “confectioners” sugar.
  • Heavy / Whipping Cream – Look for this labeled as either heavy cream or whipping cream. Be sure to keep this chilled right up until you add it to the frosting. This gives the frosting its light and fluffy texture reminiscent of whipped cream.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract – A bit of pure vanilla extract gives it vanilla flavor. Even without this, the frosting still has great flavor.

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Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (4)

How to Make Vanilla Frosting Ahead

This frosting can be made up to a day ahead. Just transfer it to any container and cover with plastic wrap, pressing down to seal the top of the frosting. When you’re ready to use it, take it out of the refrigerator about an hour before using. Let it come close to room temperature and then give it a few really good stirs with a spatula before spreading it on the cake / cupcakes.

Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (5)

FAQs

Can you skip the cream cheese?

The cream cheese is essential for helping the frosting to hold its shape. Without the cream cheese, the frosting won’t have the stability to hold its shape once piped or spread over baked goods.

Can you reduce the sugar?

The sugar also helps with the stability of the frosting. I’ve reduced it down to 1/4 cup with great results, but can’t guarantee the results with less sugar than that.

Easy Snack Cakes

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Snack Cake

Easy Peanut Butter Cake

Easy Vanilla Cake (with oil, no butter)

Easy Chocolate Cake

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Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (14)

4.39 from 63 votes

Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe

Grab your favorite cake or cupcake recipe and top it with this lightly sweet, super creamy Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting. With only four-ingredients, it's light and fluffy like whipped cream but holds its shape and can be piped like cream cheese frosting.

This recipe makes enough for an 8” round or square cake or a dozen cupcakes.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 9

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Equipment

  • Stand Mixer or Handheld Mixer

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1/3 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 cup Heavy / Whipping Cream, chilled
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (optional)

Instructions

  • Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer. Turn the mixer on medium and beat until evenly combined.

  • Turn the mixer down to medium-low speed and slowly pour the heavy cream down the side of the bowl with the mixer running. Add vanilla extract.

  • When all of the cream and vanilla have been added, increase speed to medium-high until stiff peaks form. If the frosting is too thick to spread with a spatula, add more cream 1 Tablespoon at a time.

  • Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

This frosting can be made up to a day ahead. Just transfer it to any container and cover with plastic wrap, pressing down to seal the top of the frosting. When you’re ready to use it, take it out of the refrigerator about an hour before using. Let it come close to room temperature and then give it a few really good stirs with a spatula before spreading it on the cake / cupcakes.

Pure Vanilla Extract –While this enhances the vanilla flavor of the frosting, it also dulls the white color. If you’re going for maximum white color, skip it. If you want that more pronounced vanilla flavor, add the pure vanilla extract.

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 33mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $2.00

Calories: 141

Keyword: easy dessert recipe, frosting

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Categorized as:
All Recipes, Cakes, Dessert

About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

Read More About Me

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Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you over whip whipped cream frosting? ›

If your frosting appears chunky or curdled, it's over-whipped. To fix, stir 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream into the frosting by hand to smooth out again. Use more heavy cream if needed to smooth out. Use it: After you make the whipped frosting, it's ready to frost your cupcakes, cake, or other confections.

Can I use whipped cream as frosting? ›

Your standard homemade whipped cream would slide right down the sides of a cake or begin to deflate and soak the top, but whipped cream with a little reinforcement makes for a perfectly delicate, angelic frosting that I find especially appealing during heavy, overheated summer days.

What's the difference between whipped icing and whipped frosting? ›

Another trait that sets frosting apart from icing is that it is always whipped, and unlike icing, its main ingredient is fat, such as butter or cream. Key qualities of frosting: thick and fluffy consistency.

Why is my whipped cream frosting not thickening? ›

It may be that there is too much liquid in your mixture or not enough dry ingredients. Liquid ingredients may include whole milk, nondairy milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract or other extracts. A great way to fix this is by adding more thickening agent.

What happens when you whip cream too much? ›

At this point, if you walk away from your mixer while it's still running, you run the risk of overbeating your cream. This is what whipped cream looks like if you let it mix for too long. It deflates and starts looking clumpy and curd-like in texture.

How do you thicken whipped cream for frosting? ›

To prevent a structural disaster and avoid a soupy, unstable mess, though, you can stabilize it by adding Instant ClearJel, cornstarch, or another dairy ingredient like mascarpone or crème fraîche. To keep whipped cream light and fluffy for longer, you can stabilize it.

Does whipped cream frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

For best results, keep whipped cream frosting in the refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this frosting can be stored for up to 2 days.

How do you make whipped frosting better? ›

For a (16-ounce) tub of frosting, anywhere from ½ cup to 1 cup of crunchy additions will do the trick. Toasted nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips or chunks, halvah, and toffee will all add a fun new dimension of flavor. Stir in chopped up canned pineapple or fresh berries for an extra fruity kick.

Can I turn regular frosting into whipped frosting? ›

Empty the canned frosting into a large mixing bowl. Whip the frosting using an electric mixer (either hand mixer or stand mixer) for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy and doubled in size. It's ready! Decorate twice as many cupcakes, cakes, and cookies with ease thanks to this canned frosting hack.

What is the best frosting to use for cake decorating? ›

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

It is then transferred to a mixer and whipped into a meringue before adding butter and flavoring. Pros – It is soft, smooth and not too sweet. SM buttercream is arguably the best frosting in terms of cake decorating because it is the easiest way to get those smooth clean lines.

When should sugar be added to whipped cream? ›

STEP ONE: Add cold, heavy whipping cream to a chilled bowl. STEP TWO: Whip until you reach the medium-soft peak stage: it will hold some shape, but not super firm. STEP THREE: Add in the confectioners' sugar and whip until it returns to medium-soft peaks.

What thickens whipped cream? ›

Cornstarch is a common ingredient for thickening and is sometimes recommended for whipped creams. If you do use it, you should cook the cornstarch. As I mentioned above in the Whip-It recipe, starch granules, unless modified, require heat to break open the starch granules and thicken.

Do you whip cream fast or slow? ›

Whip it slowly and in a controlled way. Don't over-whip it – once it just reaches stiff peaks, then stop. Over-whipped cream will first turn grainy and then to butter.

Can you whip frosting to make it fluffier? ›

Whip it good.

Without even adding any other ingredients, this will aerate the frosting for a fluffier consistency.

Can you thicken whipped frosting? ›

Cornstarch is a common ingredient for thickening and is sometimes recommended for whipped creams. If you do use it, you should cook the cornstarch.

Can you whip whipped cream twice? ›

Storing and Making Whipped Cream Ahead of Time

You can make whipped cream up to four days in advance of when you plan to use it. Store it the refrigerator in a covered container. If the whipped cream starts to soften up, you can rewhip it into stiff peaks when you're ready to serve.

How long will whipped cream frosting hold up? ›

How long does whipped cream frosting last? For best results, keep whipped cream frosting in the refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this frosting can be stored for up to 2 days.

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