Want to take your homemade Starbucks copycat coffee creations to stratospheric new levels of deliciousness? Top them with a dollop of Starbucks Whipped Cream! Made with just 2 simple ingredients and only a few minutes of prep, this vanilla whipped cream is the je ne sais quois your drinks and desserts have been missing!
You all know how much I love playing barista at home. Between my strawberry latte to my brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso, and my vanilla sweet cream cold brew to my pumpkin sweet cream cold foam, I can confidently say whatever Starbucks can do, I can do better! 😂
But recently, when I was sipping on my copycat caramel macchiato, I realized my whipped cream — while quite delicious and even ejected from a Starbucks-style dispenser — didn’t quite taste like the coffee shop stuff. Naturally, I had to remedy that. I proudly present the whipped cream on coffee boost your cafe drinks have been missing.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
While you may know as a reliable baker and barista, what you might not know about me is that I have a serious love of whipped cream. Like, an I-could-eat-a-whole-bowl-of-it-and-be-happy kind of love.
Whether I flavor it like matcha or amaretto, make it the old-fashioned way or using a fun kitchen gadget, one thing remains the same: it’s my favorite sweet garnish. I have several whipped cream recipes on the site, so that should tell you something! 😂
So, if you, like me, are a whipped cream connoisseur, you’re going to love this Starbucks whipped cream recipe. Friends, it tastes just like the stuff you get on your Frappucinos. It’s wild!
But aside from being absolutely crave-worthy and a personal favorite, this vanilla whipped cream recipe is also:
- Quick & Easy - If you whip it using a hand or stand mixer, it’ll take just 5-10 minutes. Or, if you bust out your fancy whipped cream dispenser, it’ll take just 30 seconds. ⏲
- Made With Only 2 Ingredients - All you need is vanilla syrup (preferably homemade) and some cold cream.
- Versatile - Whipped cream is to coffee & dessert what butter is to, well, everything else. It makes just about everything taste better!
Try your hand at making Alcohol Infused Whip Cream or my Whipped Cream Dispenser Recipe if you're looking for more whip cream recipes to enjoy!
🍴Ingredients
As promised, you only need 2 (!!!) ingredients to make the best whipped cream for your coffee.
- Vanilla Syrup - Homemade is my preference because it’s cheaper and just as tasty, plus it doesn’t have any weird additives. That said, feel free to use whichever syrup YOU like. 😉
- Heavy Cream - In case you didn’t know, the terms “heavy cream” and “whipping cream” may be used interchangeably in many circles, but these are technically different ingredients. Heavy cream has a hefty 36% minimum milkfat, whereas whipping cream can go as low as 30%. More fat = better mouthfeel.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
⏲️ Substitutions & Variations
- Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream - Add a teaspoon or two of vanilla paste to the cream and shake well. This adds some pretty black freckles that makes your desserts look extra chic.
- Different Flavors - Have fun experimenting with your favorite flavors of simple syrup. Maple syrup, cinnamon syrup, fig syrup for example! There are about a gazillion different options to choose from, so have fun!
- Vegan/Dairy-Free - Swap in your favorite vegan whipping cream for a deliciously dairy-free dollop.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
📖 How to Make Starbucks Whipped Cream: Step-by-Step Instructions
Below I offer two easy methods for making Starbucks-style whipped cream. No matter which you choose, this vanilla whipped cream comes together in a flash. Here’s how:
Method 1 — Mixer & Piping Bag
This whip cream method is an oldie but a goodie! Here's how its made:
Step 1: Whip ingredients in a bowl of a stand mixer (or a regular bowl if you’re using a hand mixer or whisk). Beat until you reach medium peaks .
Step 2: Transfer whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with your preferred piping tip. Pipe whipped cream onto the coffee beverage or baked goods of your choice!
Method 2 — Whipped Cream Dispenser
If you’re all about convenience, you can’t beat using a whipped cream professional dispenser. Heck, this is how the folks at Starbucks use it on their coffee drinks, so you know it’s good!
Step 1: Mix. Pour the whipping cream and syrup into your whipped cream dispenser. Replace the cap and shake to mix.
Step 2: Charge. Add your N20 cartridge into the dispenser and twist the cartridge capsule tight until the N20 has been released into the dispenser.
Step 3: Gently shake the dispenser for 15 seconds, then go wild adorning your hot chocolate, coffee, or dessert with delicious whipped cream!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips/Expert baking tips
- If you want your whipped cream to last longer in the fridge, opt for the dispenser method. Otherwise, you may want to rewhip your leftovers if they sit in the fridge for more than a few hours.
- If you are using the mixer method, make sure your cream, syrup, and beaters/bowl are all cold before starting. The cold helps the fat solidify, meaning you can achieve better peaks!
- Starbucks drinks like hot chocolates can be enhanced with delicious homemade whipped cream. Add this creamy texture to ice cream, at-home drinks, and top with caramel sauce. Your family is on their way to being Starbucks baristas!
- Good news: Making your own whipped cream allows you to control the sweetness and quality! Avoid artificial flavors by opting for natural ingredients like vanilla extract.
- Consider using a professional whipped cream dispenser for a perfect texture and presentation! You can use homemade vanilla syrup in this recipe as well if you'd like, the variations are endless!
- Remember to add a few pumps of vanilla syrup for that signature Starbucks flavor. You can make your own syrup from scratch if you wanted, or purchase a syrup to make your drinks with ease!
- Starbucks stores often use whipped cream to add an extra touch to their beverages as there are a variety of sizes that you can attach to the dispenser or piping bag to add a professional and aesthetic touch.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Ever wondered why Starbucks whipped cream tastes oh-so-different from the regular stuff? Well let me spill the beans on their secret sauce!
First off, let’s talk Starbucks whipped cream ingredients. Starbucks uses heavy cream, which has a minimum 36% milkfat. (For reference, regular whipping cream has anywhere between 30-35%.) That higher fat content leads to a richer, creamier mouthfeel that's tough to resist.
To take their whipped cream to the next level of yumminess, Starbucks adds a touch of sweetness. They mix in their signature vanilla syrup that gives their whipped cream that irresistible, slightly sweet and subtly vanilla-kissed taste.
Finally, Starbucks doesn't mess around when it comes to whipping up their cream. They have gadgets that whip it to perfection using nitrous oxide canisters. These little guys act as a secret ingredient, helping to create that light and airy consistency we all know and love. It's the same trick used in the food industry to keep whipped cream stable and long-lasting.
If you use the traditional mixer method, the whipped cream will hold for no more than a few hours. (If you want to make it last longer without collapsing, try using one of these stabilizing methods.)
If you use the whipped cream dispenser method, it should last for 3-4 days. After that it’ll get progressively softer until it reverts back to cream.
If you make the recipe using regular vanilla syrup and cream, yes! If you swap any of the ingredients (e.g. the flavor of syrup or use plant-based cream), you should ask Dr. Google.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you try the recipe for this Starbucks Whipped Cream, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧
Starbucks Whipped Cream
Equipment
- Piping Tip
Ingredients
- 2 cups Whipping Cream
- ¼ cup Vanilla Syrup
Instructions
Using a mixer & piping bag
- Add ingredients into a bowl of a stand mixed or a regular bowl. Whip until you’ve reach medium peaks2 cups Whipping Cream, ¼ cup Vanilla Syrup
- Add whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with your preferred piping tip.
- Pipe whipped cream onto the coffee beverage or baked goods of your choice!
Using a whipped cream dispenser
- Add all ingredients into a bowl and gently stir until smooth
- Pour the sweetened whipping cream into your whipped cream dispenser.
- Add your N20 cartridge into the dispenser and twist the cartridge capsule tight until the N20 has been released into the dispenser.
- Gently shake the dispenser for 15 second before using in hot chocolate, coffee, etc!
Video
Notes
- Make sure to shake the whipped cream dispenser before each use.
- Don’t skip the whisking step. You want all of the powdered sugar to dissolve so it doesn’t clog up the whip cream maker nozzle!
- Keep the dispenser in the fridge, and use the contents within 3-4 days for the best results. If the cream isn’t firm enough for your liking after a few days, you can recharge it with another N2O pod.
- Don’t overfill the dispenser — you need to leave space for it to expand after the nitrous oxide is added.
Diana
Thank You for sharing such delicious recipes ❤️ I’m looking forward to making some of your recipes.
Emily Laurae
You're so welcome!!