How to Prepare Cream for Cake

Co-authored by Craig Watson

Last Updated: December 20, 2023 Fact Checked

Fluffy, creamy, vanilla-y whipped cream is a decadent delight and will go down in the frosting hall of fame. It’s light and luscious texture is often the perfect compliment to a moist cake, cupcake, cheesecake, pie, and many other desserts. With only 3 ingredients, this recipe is exceedingly quick, easy, and delicious. You’ll be sure to wow your guests — just don’t count on having leftovers!

Ingredients

Vanilla Whipped-Cream Frosting

3 cups (710 mL) of heavy or whipping cream
5 tablespoons (62.5 g) of granulated sugar
1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons (7.4 mL) of vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

3 ¹⁄₂ ounces (99 g) of chilled sugar
5 ounces (140 g) of heavy or whipping cream
1 teaspoon (5 g) of vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon (0.75 g) of kosher salt
8 ounces (230 g) of cream cheese

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Whipping up a Vanilla Whipped-Cream Frosting

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1
Chill the bowl and whisk for 20 minutes in your refrigerator. Heavy cream whips best when it’s cold, and putting the bowl and whisk in the refrigerator will help keep the cream cool throughout the whipping process. Letting the bowl and whisk chill in the refrigerator for just 20 minutes should do the trick.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, you could chill the bowl and whisk in your freezer for at least 5 minutes.
2
Whisk heavy cream on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken. Begin by pouring 3 cups (710 mL) of heavy or whipping cream into a mixing bowl. Then, use a stand mixer or hand mixer to whisk. When the cream begins to thicken, slow the whisking speed to medium.^{[2]
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- Using a stand mixer is usually faster than a hand mixer.
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3
Pour in 5 tablespoons (62.5 g) of sugar gradually. Add the sugar as you’re whisking the cream at medium speed. Try to distribute the sugar as evenly in the cream as possible.^{[3]
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Research source} Add a little bit of sugar at a time to ensure you end up with a smooth consistency.
- To stabilize whipped cream you can add more sugar.
When you raise the whisk, the cream should rise like a mountain peak before immediately flopping over and losing its shape. Once soft peaks begin to form, you can turn off your electric mixer.^{[4]
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Measure out the vanilla extract and pour it into the bowl with the cream mixture. You can add less extract or more depending on your preference. The more you add, the richer the vanilla flavor.^{[5]
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6
Whisk the cream by hand until stiff peaks begin to form in the cream. When you raise your whisk, the cream should be stiff enough to stand up straight without losing its shape. The tip of the cream peak should also stand straight.^{[6]
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- If your cream isn’t stiffening up, don’t give up. Be patient and keep whipping until you get a firm consistency.
7
Put the cream frosting in the refrigerator to keep it cool. Once the cream frosting is the right consistency, put the cream in your refrigerator to chill. Keeping the cream frosting cold will help it keep its consistency. If you’ll be using the frosting immediately, you do not need to refrigerate it.^{[7]
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- When you're ready to use or work with the frosting, take it out of the fridge and let it warm up a bit. Then whisk it again.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Cream Cheese Frosting

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If they’re not cool enough, the bowl, whisk attachment, and sugar will add heat to the heavy cream. This added heat may prevent full aeration of the cream. For best results, cool the sugar and mixing equipment to around 70 °F (21 °C).
2
Mix sugar, heavy or whipping cream, vanilla, and salt in a bowl. Use 3 ¹⁄₂ ounces (99 g) of chilled sugar, 5 ounces (140 g) of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon (5 g) of vanilla extract, and 1/8 teaspoon (0.75 g) of kosher salt. Set the speed of your hand mixer or stand mixer to medium-low and mix the ingredients until the sugar dissolves into the cream.^{[8]
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- At medium-low speed, it should take about 2 minutes for the sugar to fully dissolve into the cream.
- Don’t use light cream, table cream, or half and half as a substitute for heavy or whipping cream. If you do, your mixture will end up being too runny and won’t be the consistency you need for frosting.^{[9]
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3
Beat the cream at high speed to thicken the mixture. After the sugar has dissolved, increase your mixer’s speed to high. Beat the cream for about 2 minutes, or until the cream thickens.^{[10]
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- You’ll want the cream to be about the consistency of Greek yogurt.
4
Add 8 ounces (230 g) of cream cheese. Once the cream has thickened, begin adding in the cream cheese gradually, in small lumps of 2 tablespoons (30 grams) at a time. It should take you about 30 seconds to add in the entire 8 ounces (230 g) of cream cheese you need for the recipe.^{[11]
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- Use full-fat cream cheese that comes in a brick. Cream cheese that comes in a tub is not meant for baking.
- Mascarpone can be a good substitute for cream cheese.^{[12]
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Clumps of sugar and cream cheese will stick to the whisk and bowl during the initial mixing, and you want to be sure to mix these bits into the cream, so that you get the right flavor and consistency. A spoon or flexible spatula will work well as a scraping tool.^{[13]
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6
Whip the cream on high to make a light and fluffy frosting. Now that all your ingredients are blended together, continue to whip the cream to get the light and airy consistency you want for your frosting. The time you will need to spend to get the right consistency will vary depending on the type of mixer you are using and the temperature of your kitchen.
- If you’re using a stand mixer, whip for around 2 to 3 minutes, or until the frosting is smooth.
- If you’re whipping with a hand mixer, it may take a little longer.
Once the frosting is a light and airy consistency, turn off the mixer, scrape the frosting off the whisk and into the bowl, and put the bowl in your refrigerator to chill. If you’ll be using the frosting immediately, you do not need to refrigerate it.^{[14]
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