Whipped Cream Frosting. . . 3 Ways

Light and fluffy Whipped Cream Frosting to suit everyone's taste.

If you are a person who doesn't like sweet frosting on a cake this is the topping for you.  Frosting by its very nature is meant to be sweet as it is usually composed of mainly sugar with some fat and flavouring added.  I'm one of those people who likes "real" frosting or icing on cakes but I can appreciate a less sweet version as well because cakes are sweet in themselves. One doesn't mind sacrificing a little sugar now and then, especially if one is pleasing someone else.  

I'm also one of those people who likes real whipped cream so what could be better than topping and filling a cake with billowy swirls of the creamy goodness.  And because whipping cream comes unsweetened you can add as little or much sugar as you wish.  

One drawback with whipped cream is its unstability as a frosting but this is easily remedied by the addition of a stabilizer.  I have found the cheapest and most convenient thing to use is instant pudding powder.  This is the kind you just add milk to and it produces a thick uncooked pudding.  I know there are other products on the market but they are more expensive (whipped cream stabilizers)  or tricky to use (thinking of gelatin).  Instant pudding is available anywhere in North America and it can be purchased quite inexpensively in almost any grocery store.  I often purchase the instant puddings in the dollar store at 2/$1.

The Whipped Cream Frostings use only a small amount of the pudding so the taste isn't really changed by the addition of the dry pudding powder. It adds some sweetness and vanilla flavouring but it's not overpowering and additional sugar and flavours such as vanilla should be added to provide a tastier product.  

Along with the plain Whipped Cream Frosting I have included a Cream Cheese and Chocolate variation.  All three are delicious atop a cake or cupcake and make wonderful fillings for cakes as well.  

As with any dessert, great care should be taken not to eat the whole batch by yourself.  Spread the love around to family and friends and enjoy eating this together.  

Refrigerate any desserts containing the Whipped Cream Frostings.  

 Printable recipes at bottom of post.

Whipped Cream Frosting
3 cups very cold whipping cream
3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding dry powder
3 tablespoons sugar or to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Food colouring, optional

Beat the whipping cream with the remaining ingredients until a stiff peak is formed.  DO NOT WHIP INTO BUTTER.  A portion of the frosting may be coloured to decorate cakes.

I have used several different flavours of pudding to achieve different frosting flavours but the frosting will take on a light shade of the pudding colour. 

Makes enough to fill and frost a 2- or 3-layer 8 or 9-inch cake.

Place the very cold whipping cream, pudding powder, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of your mixer.  Beat on high speed until a stiff peak is formed.  Don't leave this when you are beating because it can turn into butter in a matter of seconds once the stiff peaks are formed.  

The Whipped Cream Frosting spreads and pipes beautifully allowing you to create pretty swirls on cakes and desserts.



For a less delicate frosting add some cream cheese.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
3 cups whipping cream
3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding dry powder
3 tablespoons sugar or to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons sugar

Whip the cream, pudding powder, sugar and vanilla together until a stiff peak is formed.  DO NOT WHIP INTO BUTTER.  Lay aside.  I have to use the same mixer bowl so I scrape the whipped cream mixture into a large bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Using a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until no lumps remain.  Add the sugar and beat until well incorporated.  Add the already beaten whipped cream to the cream cheese by using the lowest the lowest speed on your mixer.  Or you may fold in by hand. 

A small amount of very thick fruit puree, jam or curd can be added to a portion of the icing to make a filling between layers.  For each cup of frosting, add 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup thick puree, jam or curd. 

Makes enough to fill and frost a 2- or 3-layer 8 or 9-inch cake.

Beat the cream, sugar, pudding powder and vanilla together.  Lay aside.  Beat the cream cheese and sugar together until creamy and smooth.  Fold the cream cheese and whipped cream mixture together until no streaks show. 

The Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting also spreads and pipes beautifully.  The tangy flavour of cream cheese is prominent in the flavour of the frosting.  


For the chocolate lovers try the chocolate version.

Whipped Cream Chocolate Frosting 
1 cup chocolate chips
3 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 recipe Whipped Cream Frosting or Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Melt chocolate chips and milk together in microwave for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.  It may take more or less time depending on the strength of your microwave oven.

Let chocolate mixture cool to room temperature and fold into either the Whipped Cream Frosting or Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting.  

Makes enough to generously fill and frost a 3-layer 8 or 9-inch cake. 

Melt the chocolate chips with a little milk and cool to room temperature before folding into either the Whipped Cream or Whipped Cream Cheese Frostings.  

Billows of creamy chocolate makes the chocoholic's heart beat for joy!  

Here's a birthday cake I threw together for someone I'm very close to.  I used the Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting colouring a portion for decorating.  I also mixed some of the frosting with cooked strawberries for a nice filling.  (Cooked fruits are a much better choice for fillings as fresh fruit can actually go mouldy in the cake if not eaten immediately.) Unfortunately, for this cake the top was somewhat scraped off when I was storing it in the refrigerator.  Good thing I know this person so well.

A trio of cupcakes.  From the bottom, clockwise:  Whipped Cream Chocolate Frosting, Whipped Cream Frosting and Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting.

1, 2 or 3.  Pick your choice.

 To print click on arrow upper right side.⇩