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Whipped Cream

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 21, 2007

Time

10 minutes, plus 20 minutes freezing

Yield

Serves 24 (Makes about 3 cups)

Whipped Cream

Ingredients

1 ½ cups heavy cream chilled, preferably pasteurized or pasteurized organic1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Before You Begin

When you think the cream is almost properly whipped, you may want to switch from an electric mixer to a whisk for greater control. Cream can go from properly whipped to overwhipped in a matter of seconds. If cream becomes granular and curdled-looking, you’ve beaten it too long and must start over with a new batch of cream. This recipe can be halved if needed.

Instructions

  1. Chill deep bowl and beaters of electric mixer in freezer for at least 20 minutes. (If freezer is too crowded to fit bowl, place beaters in bowl, fill bowl with ice water, and chill on counter. When bowl and beaters are well chilled, dump out water and dry thoroughly.)
  2. Add cream, sugar, and vanilla to chilled bowl. Beat on low speed until small bubbles form, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and continue beating until beaters leave a trail, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and continue beating until cream is smooth, thick, and nearly doubled in volume, about 20 seconds for soft peaks or about 30 seconds for stiff peaks. If necessary, finish beating with whisk to adjust consistency. Serve immediately or spoon into fine sieve or strainer set over measuring cup and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
Whipped Cream

Whipped Cream

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

10 minutes, plus 20 minutes freezing

Yield

Serves 24 (Makes about 3 cups)

Ingredients

1 ½ cups heavy cream chilled, preferably pasteurized or pasteurized organic
1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients

1 ½ cups heavy cream chilled, preferably pasteurized or pasteurized organic
1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients

1 ½ cups heavy cream chilled, preferably pasteurized or pasteurized organic
1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Why This Recipe Works

Cream can go from properly whipped to overwhipped in a matter of seconds. If cream becomes granular and curdled-looking, you’ve beaten it too long and must start over with a new batch. For our best whipped cream recipe, we switched from an electric mixer to a whisk for greater control.

Before You Begin

When you think the cream is almost properly whipped, you may want to switch from an electric mixer to a whisk for greater control. Cream can go from properly whipped to overwhipped in a matter of seconds. If cream becomes granular and curdled-looking, you’ve beaten it too long and must start over with a new batch of cream. This recipe can be halved if needed.

Instructions

  1. Chill deep bowl and beaters of electric mixer in freezer for at least 20 minutes. (If freezer is too crowded to fit bowl, place beaters in bowl, fill bowl with ice water, and chill on counter. When bowl and beaters are well chilled, dump out water and dry thoroughly.)
  2. Add cream, sugar, and vanilla to chilled bowl. Beat on low speed until small bubbles form, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and continue beating until beaters leave a trail, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and continue beating until cream is smooth, thick, and nearly doubled in volume, about 20 seconds for soft peaks or about 30 seconds for stiff peaks. If necessary, finish beating with whisk to adjust consistency. Serve immediately or spoon into fine sieve or strainer set over measuring cup and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.

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