Published: Last Updated: by Marye 921 words. | About 5 minutes to read this article.
Homemade Cool Whip copycat doesn't break down when mixed with other ingredients or held at room temperature. This recipe does not include gelatin so is fine for vegetarians.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
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This works great in the Millionaire Pie recipe!
Table of Contents
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Cool Whip Was a Basic Ingredient in the 1960s!
- Why this Recipe IS Simply the Best
- What Are the Ingredients for Cool Whip?
- More Copycat Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
So many summer desserts call for Cool Whip that it's almost an essential ingredient to have in the freezer this time of year.
If it isn't available where you live or you prefer to stay away from it you'll be glad to know that homemade Cool Whip is easy to make and works as well in nearly every recipe.
This particular recipe does not call for gelatin so is fine for vegetarians.
Cool Whip Was a Basic Ingredient in the 1960s!
I grew up with a constant supply of Cool Whip in the freezer, especially in summer. It went in Jello salads, frozen pies, on top of strawberries, and hundreds of other recipe that my mother came up with. It often went into my mouth on a spoon, to be honest.
When I had my own kitchen I moved away from many of the ingredients of my mid-century childhood - things like cream of mushroom soup, margarine, and ... yep... this stuff.
The thing is whipped cream, while certainly rich and luscious, doesn't hold up well for any length of time. In fact, it's often deflated and watery by the next day.
Boo!
Why this Recipe IS Simply the Best
This homemade Cool Whip won't do that. It will hold up for several days and can be gently mixed into many different desserts. A big plus for me is that it doesn't contain gelatin and can be thrown together in seconds. Store it in the refrigerator tightly covered.
Heck, you can even store it in an old Cool Whip tub. I've been making this recipe since sometime in 1980 and it's my favorite for when I'm not using plain whipped cream.
What Are the Ingredients for Cool Whip?
If you were to read the ingredients on a tub of Cool Whip they'd look something like this -
Water, hydrogenated vegetable oil, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, skim milk, light cream and less than 2% sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), natural and artificial flavor, xanthan and guar gums, polysorbate 60, sorbitan monostearate and beta carotene (as a coloring).
When this easy dessert topping was first invented in the mid-1960s it didn't contain milk products and was truly dairy free.
Luckily homemade Cool Whip has ingredients that you can actually find in the store and even pronounce.
This is likely one of the easiest recipes on Restless Chipotle so no need for extensive instructions but there are some tips that will make it even easier AND some cool (whip - get it? cool whip?) variations.
- Cool Whip has a heavy vanilla flavor. Adjust the flavor of your homemade version by adding more or less vanilla.
- You can add a little almond flavoring.
- If you are using it in a tropical or coconut dessert use coconut flavoring.
- While you can keep this in the refrigerator for several days I wouldn't recommend freezing it. The texture will change just a bit.
- Use extra fine sugar to ensure a creamy texture. If you don't have extra fine sugar blend sugar up in the blender.
When you know how to make Cool Whip you'll have a fresh version any time you happen to need it!
More Copycat Recipes
There are a lot of things you buy that you actually can easily make at home - and they taste so much better! Here are some more of the copycat recipes found here on Restless Chipotle.
- Just like the food court at the mall! Bourbon Chicken
- Cut these in any shape you like. Copycat Zebra Cakes
- What would Thanksgiving be without the green bean casserole? Copycat French's Onions
- You can have your favorite scones anytime of the year! Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Scones
- Love the food at the State Fair? Try these Copycat Deep Fried Oreos... so good.
- A little spicy, a lot crunchy! Copycat Popeye's Chicken Strips
- So sweet and light! Copycat Twinkies Cupcakes
- Starbucks doesn't make these anymore but you can still enjoy them! Copycat Petite Vanilla Scones
This quick and easy Homemade Cool Whip recipe is a great substitute for Cool Whip in no-bake pies and desserts, as a whipped topping, or as a filling for cakes -although for cakes you might want to use a little more instant pudding mix and Confectioner's sugar instead of superfine sugar.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
4.38 from 37 votes
Homemade Cool Whip Recipe
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Homemade Cool Whip copycat doesn't break down when mixed with other ingredients or held at room temperature. This recipe does not include gelatin so is fine for vegetarians.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American Copycat
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings:24
Calories:80
Author:Marye Audet-White
Ingredients
- 2 cups Heavy whipping cream, , very cold
- ⅓ cup superfine sugar, , or pulse granulated sugar in the blender a few times. You can use up to ½ cup if you like it sweeter
- 1 ½ teaspoons instant pudding powder, , vanilla or any light color
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
Whip the cream, adding the sugar slowly.
When it starts to thicken add the instant pudding powder and vanilla.
Continue to whip until light and fluffy.
Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator. Use in place of Cool Whip for any recipe.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 13mg
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
First published May 22, 2018. Last updated June 30, 2021 to add ingredients list.
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About Marye
Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them. She's been around the culinary block more than once, turning simple ingredients into mouthwatering masterpieces. With a sprinkle of humor and a dash of wit, she makes cooking feel like a piece of cake (which she can also teach you to bake perfectly). When she's not conjuring up delicious dishes, you might find her sharing laughs with her family, reading by the fire, or scribbling down her next big recipe idea. Marye believes that a good meal and a hearty laugh are the best parts of life. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Shelah
Can this be frozen, like Cool Whip?
Reply
Marye
I haven't frozen it. I think it could be but I am unsure.
Reply
Tammy
Ok. This I can definitely do & be super happy with not having ingredients in it I can’t pronounce! Now, can you help me with answering what the heck “crème fraiche” is??? I watch a lot of food p*rn. Keep hearing this term mentioned, and I have no idea what it is or how to make my own. Help!!!Reply
Terry
Is this whipped topping pipe able for cakes and cup cakes?
Reply
Marye
It is but use a bit more instant pudding than called for in the recipe.
Reply
Diane
how long does it keep in the fridge? thank youReply
Marye
Several days.
Reply
Dottie
I'm going to try this for I can't use Cool- Whip because it contains polysorbate and artificial sweetners. I know this will be much better too. Glad to have an easy recipe.
Reply
Nancy Martinez
Is super fine sugar the same as powdered sugar?
Reply
Marye
No. Powdered sugar is sometimes called Confectioner's sugar.
Reply
Marie K
Thanks for this! They don't sell Cool Whip in Oz and I need it for a key lime pie requested by my aussie father in law.
Reply
Marye
Awesome! I'm glad it helped!!
Reply
Melanie
It's just perfect and so easy!Reply
Marye
Thanks Melanie!
Reply
Joni
I did it! Yummo!
Reply
Marye
🙂 Glad you liked it1
Reply
Carol Andrews
I would like to know if the homemade cool whip would work mixed with ice cream in a frozen ice cream pie recipe ?
Reply
Marye
It should, but to be honest I haven't tried.
Reply
Albert Veteto
I’m going to have to try this recipe in the next day or two
Reply
Deborah
Thanks for this recipe!
The made amount is equal to 8 ounces of Cool Whip?!
Thanks!!!Reply
Marye Audet
I htink it's more like 16 ounces - it makes a lot.
Reply
Marisa Franca
Hey!! Great idea! I didn't even know I'd inadvertently made this recipe when I made my Cannoli cake. I needed a whipped cream frosting that wouldn't weep and get watery. Instant pudding to the rescue. It's a great idea!!Reply
Marye Audet
🙂 It really is. so easy
Reply