Wondering what to use as a substitute for Cool Whip in Australia (and other countries where this product isn't available)?
What is Cool Whip?
Cool Whip is used as a topping for pies and other desserts in the United States.
It's an imitation whipped cream that doesn't require whipping. Manufactured by Kraft Heinz, it's been around since the 1960s in the US.
It's sold frozen, and once defrosted in the fridge it maintains its shape and won't melt.
It's quite popular and used in many recipes from the US – which leaves us Aussies scratching our heads about what it is and what to use instead.
If you haven't come across it in a recipe, you might remember Cool Whip from this episode of Family Guy.
Say "whip". Whip.
Say "cool whip". Coowhip.
So funny!
Using recipes from the US that call for "Cool Whip"
Unlike Ben & Jerry's, Hershey's, McDonalds, Starbucks and Krispy Kreme, Cool Whip hasn't made its way to the land down under.
So, what to do when we want to use a recipe that uses it as an ingredient?
You could just whip up some thickened cream (that's heavy cream if you're in the US) with a little icing sugar and vanilla extract, however that won't hold its shape as well as Cool Whip.
You can also try adding a little gelatine to the above ingredients. Dissolve a teaspoon of gelatine in a tablespoon of warm water and add to a cup of (very cold) cream before whipping.
Another idea, and the one I find easiest, is to add some cream cheese to the cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract to get a cream that's more like the original Cool Whip.
Ingredients for Homemade Cool Whip
To make a cool whip substitute, you'll need:
- 115 grams cream cheese
- 1 cup thickened cream
- ½ cup icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
How to make Cool Whip substitute
Now, let's get whipping:
- Place your cream cheese in one bowl and the thickened cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract in another.
- Beat the cream cheese in one bowl until soft and creamy. Beat the cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract together in another bowl until peaks form.
- Gradually beat the cream cheese into the cream mixture until smooth.
It might take a bit of extra effort, but this is likely the closest thing you'll get to cool whip in Australia.
Cool Whip
Equipment
- 2 mixing bowls
- handheld electric mixer
Ingredients
- 115 grams cream cheese
- 1 cup thickened cream
- ½ cup icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese in one bowl until soft and creamy.
- Beat the cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract together in another bowl until peaks form.
- Gradually beat the cream cheese into the cream mixture until smooth.
- Store in fridge until you're ready to use.
Kathryn
Delighted to find this recipe - yours will no doubt be much tastier than Cool Whip, which to me tastes like a collection of chemicals.
D. D.
The thing with cool whip is it is used mainly as a binder in cold desserts in the USA . Here in Australia yogurt is used but it doesn’t give the same texture or fluff. For display purposes in delis and cafes cool whip is better than either yogurt or whipped cream. And people who are lactose intolerant it is non dairy but tastes great mixed with fruit and jello. It works perfectly in ambrosia and as topping as a dollop for cakes pies slices etc.