"whipped cream" news and stories

Happy National Whipped Cream Day!

There's nothing quite like a sugary puff of freshly whipped cream -- yet when it comes to the billowy dollops of cloudy perfection, prepackaged varieties ever seem to fall short. Lucky for us, the homemade version can be whipped up in minutes: Simply beat a bowl of fresh heavy cream, adding in powdered sugar as soon as the cream begins to form soft peaks. (The ratio should be roughly one tablespoon sugar for every cup cream, although it is adjustable according to taste.)

If you really want to elevate your dessert, try adding a variety of additional seasonings to your whipped cream, from spirits (bourbon, Grand Marnier, etc.) to spices (vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the like), to a plethora of possible additions (mint, lemon zest, and more). You may find yourself favoring your whipped cream topping over the dessert itself.

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Putting booze in our food isn't exactly new: think a red-wine reduction or beer-battered fish. But with the alcohol-heavy caffeinated drink Four Loko (fondly dubbed "blackout in a can"), there's been a greater focus on whether alcohol-laced foods are dangerous for us. Now attention has turned to the newly popular (at least on college campuses) boozy whipped cream called Whipped Lightning (18 percent alcohol content), according to Fox News. Time for another ban?

Not according to Slashfood contributor LeNell Smothers, who this past spring even told readers how to make the stuff.

Now, a nutritionist from the Pritikin Longevity Center claims that the frenzy over Whipped Lightning may be more whipped-up hysteria. What's the "real danger" of this creamy topping? See the complete story at AOL Health.

It's all making us nostalgic for Reddi-wip.

No matter how "gourmet" you might consider yourself, at some point in your life you've probably filled your face from a can of commercial whipped cream. Now you can do it all adult-like (or not) with the world's first alcohol-infused whipped cream, Whipped Lightning.

Lightning is the most appropriate term for this grain-alcohol–infused product. A total of eight flavors (a natural and artificial combo) are offered to top your desserts, drinks and body parts. You can't expect real amaretto for $10 a 375ml can, but you will find amaretto flavor in addition to orange, spiced vanilla, white chocolate raspberry, cinnamon, tropical passion, coconut and macadamia.

Created by some wild and crazy guys from Atlanta, Ga., Whipahol (as they affectionately call it on the website) flavors weigh in at a hefty 36.5 proof. You might think alcohol, whipped cream and nitrous oxide is the perfect product for underage antics. However, the creators have opted for Whipped Lightning to be considered solely an alcohol product, not an FDA-regulated food product, so get your identification ready at the check out counter.

Happy National Whipped Cream Day!

In a more refined alternative to ice cream topping, whipped cream is predominantly used as a sweet, indulgent dollop atop desserts that may benefit from a little added moisture.

At its most basic form, the decadent topping consists of powdered sugar whipped with heavy cream until airy peaks form, but the confection can be further improved with a variety of flavorings, from the obvious vanilla to wilder concoctions that span the imagination -- one Slashfood writer even recommends turning the cream savory, and adding fresh garlic to it for a luscious soup topping.

For a collection of equally exciting whipped cream recipes, check out The Nibble's suggestions -- we're smitten with the idea of the Salty Caramel version!

Whipped cream is a great way to top your favorite dessert, but it can also act as a conduit for an extra burst of flavor.