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While it's customary to use whipped cream toppings for sundaes or pies, whipped cream can also be used as a delicious icing for cakes. If you are planning to decorate a cake with whipped cream icing, it’s important to stabilize the whipped cream so that the frosting holds its shape. By making your frosting with the right proportions of whipping cream and gelatin, you’ll have a light, fluffy icing that’s perfect for cake decoration. The following recipe makes 2 cups of whipped cream icing, which is ideal for icing a 9 inches (23 cm) round cake. If you're working with a much larger or multi-layer cake, consider doubling the recipe to ensure that you'll have enough icing.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (237 ml) whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) confectioner sugar
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) powdered gelatin
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Making Whipped Cream Icing

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  1. Before you start making your icing, place a large metal bowl and the metal whisk attachments from an electric mixer into the freezer to chill. Your whipped cream frosting will come together and hold its shape much easier if your cookware is chilled.
    • If you don't have a metal bowl, it's fine to use plastic. However, it's best to use metal, as metal bowls will help insulate cold whipping cream, which makes for a more stabilized icing.
    • Be sure your bowl is large enough to hold 2 cups of whipped cream without overflowing.
  2. The following recipe makes about 2 cups of whipped cream icing, which is typically enough to frost a single layer cake. If you're making a double layer cake, and plan on using whipped cream icing to frost in between your layers, double the recipe to guarantee you wont run out of frosting.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    While your cookware is chilling, mix ½ tsp (2.5 ml) of powdered gelatin with 1 tbsp (15 ml) of water in a small bowl. Stir the mixture with a spoon until the gelatin is dissolved, then set aside.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Remove your metal bowl and whisks from the freezer, and combine 1 cup (237 ml) whipping cream, 1 tbsp (15 ml) confectioner sugar, and 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla. Do not add the dissolved gelatin at this point.
    • Leave your whipping cream chilling in the refrigerator right until you start mixing.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Using your electric mixer, whisk the cream, sugar, and vanilla together on medium speed for 3 minutes, or until the mixture starts to thicken. A thickened product will appear to have a greater volume than your original ingredients due to the air you are whipping into the mixture. [1]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Once your mixture has started to thicken, add the dissolved gelatin and continue whisking on medium speed. The gelatin will act as the stabilizing agent for your whipped cream icing, so once you add it, the mixture will continue thickening and holding its shape.
  7. Once 3-5 minutes have passed, check to see if peaks have started to form in your mixture. Lift your whisks from the bowl, and watch what happens to your cream. If the whipped cream stands straight up at the spot where you’ve removed the whisks, then your icing is finished. If the peaks are still soft, continue mixing for 1-2 minutes before checking again. [2]
    • Avoid over-mixing your ingredients, as they might separate and become spoiled.
  8. Reserve ⅓ of the mixture to decorate your cake with piped designs. Once you’ve filled the icing bag, place it in the fridge to chill while you frost the cake.
    • If you’re not planning on decorating your cake with piped icing, skip this step.
    Tish Boyle, Cookbook Author

    The best way to learn how to decorate cakes is by doing it. Start with simple cakes and gradually work your way up to more complicated designs. With a little practice, you'll be a cake decorating pro in no time.

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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Icing the Cake

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Use a rubber spatula to scrape all of the whipped cream icing from the bowl, and plop the cream on top of your cake. At this point, you should have a large dollop of creamy topping in the center of the cake. [3]
    • Be sure that your cake has cooled completely before you start icing.
    • If you're icing a double layer cake, transfer half of your frosting on top of your bottom layer. Use a rubber spatula to spread the frosting evenly throughout the surface. Place the second layer on top of the frosting, and then transfer the rest of your frosting to the top of the cake.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Move your spatula in small, circular motions to push the cream out and away from the center of the cake, and distribute the icing towards the edges. The goal of this step is to cover the entire top surface with a uniform layer of icing, while moving excess icing towards the sides of the cake.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Angle your spatula down and towards yourself to spread the excess icing down from the edges of the cake. Use short strokes to spread the cream evenly around circumference of the cake. Keep spreading the cream along the sides until your entire cake is covered in the icing. [4]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Adding Other Decorations

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    If you’re not adding piped decorations but still want to add some flair, use a spatula to create waves in the icing. Swirl the whipped cream frosting to create small waves all over the cake for a more rustic look.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    For a crisp, uniform layer of frosting that’s perfect for layering piped designs, run a bench scraper all around your cake. Start by working the bench scraper in a circle around the edges, before running it along the top. Pull the bench scraper towards you, and remove any excess frosting that collects on the blade. [5]
  3. Once you’ve spread an even layer of frosting onto your cake, remove your icing bag from the fridge, and add some piped designs. Pipe around the edges of the cake to make a border, and pipe along the top to create flowers or pretty dollops.
    • Practice piping a few designs on wax paper before icing directly onto the cake.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Decorate a Cake with Whipped Cream Icing
    Before serving, allow your cake to set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so that your decorations will hold their shape. The icing will maintain its shape for 2-3 days if left in the fridge, and for several hours if left at room temperature. [6]
    • If you leave whipped cream frosting at room temperature for longer than 3-4 hours, it may become destabilized. It will lose its fluffy, frosting shape, and it might melt off your cake.
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What Are Tips For Decorating a Cake?


Community Q&A

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  • Question
    After refrigerating whipped cream and getting ready to frost cake, my whipped cream is soft. What can l do to stiffen the texture?
    Community Answer
    Give your whipped cream a good stir; it will combine everything perfectly and return it to its original state.
  • Question
    Could I user agar agar instead of gelatin if I want to make a vegetarian eggless cake?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Agar agar will set your mixture. I would suggest adding a small bit more agar agar, maybe a quarter teaspoon, to ensure that it sets properly.
  • Question
    Can whipping cream hold an edible image? Will there be a negative effect if I put it in the refrigerator?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it can, if you fortify it with instant pudding mix prior to whipping. Ditto for refrigeration, but I wouldn't go past a few hours, which is just enough time to cool and solidify the whipped cream. The problem is that whipped cream will pick up on any nasty odors that might be lurking in your refrigerator.
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      Tips

      • If you or anyone who will be eating the cake is vegetarian/vegan, use agar, which is a plant based substitute for gelatin.
      • Add 2-4 tbsp (30-60 ml) more confectioner's sugar to your mixture if you prefer a sweeter icing.
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      Warnings

      • Do not over-mix your whipped cream icing, or else the mixture will separate in the bowl, and you will not be able to use it.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Large metal bowl
      • Electric hand mixer
      • Rubber and/or metal spatula
      • Bench scraper
      • Icing bag

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To decorate a cake with whipped cream icing, you’ll need whipping cream, confectioner sugar, vanilla, powdered gelatin, a rubber spatula, and a piping bag. To start, dissolve ½ teaspoon of powdered gelatin into 1 tablespoon of warm water. In a separate metal bowl, combine 1 cup of whipping cream, 1 tablespoon of confectioner sugar, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla. Mix the ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes, or until it starts to thicken. Then, add the gelatin mixture and continue whisking until the icing holds its shape. To ice your cake, use a rubber spatula to cover the top and sides of the cake with frosting. Once it’s completely covered, use a bench scraper or a butter knife to smooth everything out. Finally, place some of the frosting in a piping bag and add some designs around the top and bottom border of the cake. To learn how to make your icing vegetarian, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Polly Keeler

        Mar 31, 2022

        "Loved the frosting! Exactly what I was looking for. Just one slight problem, I stirred the gelatin into water and ..." more
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