You can buy the aerosol can of whipped cream or the tub of “non-dairy whipped topping” but I’m totally going to make fun of you and turn up my nose at either of those offerings. I reject the canned and tubbed dessert toppings not because I’m a food snob (well, not just because I’m a food snob) but because it’s so easy to make homemade whipped cream and it tastes so much better. Seriously, the technique for making homemade whipped cream is so easy you’re going to kick yourself for not having done it before.

Required tools
1 cup cold heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar (feel free to use less sugar if you want a less sweet whipped cream)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Bowl (a chilled bowl if at all possible)
Mixer (either a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment)

Procedure
Using the mixer whip the cream until form. Add the sugar and vanilla, whisk until cream reaches desired consistency. Some recipes say whip until firm peaks form but this is really a judgment call that depends on your personal preferences and how you’ll be using the whipped cream. For example I prefer a bit softer whipped cream if I’m just going to top berries with it and I prefer a bit firmer texture if I’m going to pipe it on top of a cake or pie.

Results
Starting with 1 cup heavy cream will yield approximately 2 cups of whipped cream.

Variations
Chocolate whipped cream: After making whipped cream as described above melt 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate (chocolate chips will work fine as will will finely chopped pieces). Allow melted chocolate to cool slightly. The chocolate should be warm but not hot but don’t let it get too cool and loose its liquid consistency. Scoop about a third of the whipped cream into the melted chocolate and gently fold ingredients together to blend. Return the now chocolate whipped cream to the original whipped cream and gently combine.

Bourbon whipped cream: Add 1 tablespoon Bourbon at the same time vanilla and sugar are added.

Peppermint whipped cream: Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract at the same time vanilla and sugar are added.