Stabilized Whipped Cream with Gelatin for Piping

Stabilized whipped cream with gelatin - a light and airy frosting, sturdy enough for piping designs and use as a deep filling for cakes without deflating.

A Sturdy Whipped Cream for Piping or Deep Filling in Cakes

A stabilized whipped cream is perfect for those who prefer a frosting that is light, airy, less sweet and buttery but still sturdy enough for piping designs. Regularly, fresh whipped cream is not sturdy enough to be used for piping or as a deep filling without being stabilized with ingredients like gelatin, powdered sugar, cornstarch or pudding mix.

For use as a decorative cake topping, whipped cream can be conveniently stabilized with powdered sugar as shown in this recipe. However, to make it sturdy enough for piping and especially as a deep filling, it's preferable to make stabilized whipped cream with gelatin instead. The whipped cream will be much sturdier with a slightly spongy texture. It may sound intimidating to add gelatin to whipped cream but it's actually quite easy and the results are well worth the effort. Nobody likes a cake with droopy frosting.

Adding gelatin to whipped cream makes it super sturdy and stabilized enough for piping medium to large designs, and for use as a filling for cakes like this Japanese strawberry cake roll I made below. To prevent it from deflating, it's also a good idea to stabilize whipped cream if mixing it with other elements like in this red bean whipped cream filling used to fill this Matcha Cake Roll. I also have a new version of this stabilized cream with mascarpone. Lastly, if you find pouring gelatin into whipped cream intimidating (it's really not!), you can try this easy stabilized 2-ingredient Real Chocolate Whipped Cream.

This stabilized whipped cream with gelatin can be piped into designs with a good amount of definition. Here, I piped the swirl design using a jumbo open star tip by Atecco (#828). (For piping finer details or if the cake needs to be left out at room temperature for long periods of time, I recommend a Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting instead.)

Whipping Cream vs. Heavy Cream

Whipping cream has milk fat content of 30-35% and is usually found at 33% in most regular grocery stores. The heavy whipped cream designation is given to cream with a minimum milk fat content of 36% and above. Even with just a small percentage change, it's whipping ability changes dramatically.

Whipped cream and heavy cream are sometimes used interchangeably in some recipes and it can usually be swapped one for another in cooking without affecting the texture too much. For whipping, however, there is a marked difference with heavy cream being more stable after whipping.

Personally, I find the flavour of whipping cream at 33% to be a bit brighter and a bit sweeter than heavy cream so I prefer it in recipes like this Strawberry and Cream Cake Roll where it is stabilized with gelatin. I found that even regular whipping cream that is stabilized with gelatin to be firm enough for piping and filling. But if you're looking for a very stable whipped cream, consider using heavy cream instead. Heavy cream is usually found in gourmet food shops.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Powdered Gelatin Unflavored:
  The Knox brand is pretty standard and can be found in most grocery stores. It's usually found in the baking aisle or you can order it online.
• Heat-proof Glass:
  This is for blooming the gelatin and placing inside a pot of simmering water. A Pyrex measuring cup with handle is great for this. If you don't have a heat-proof bowl or glass and prefer to use the microwave method, microwave the bloomed gelatin on medium-high for 10 seconds at a time until it becomes liquid.
• Granulated Sugar
• Whipping Cream (30%+ M.F.):
  Read above on the difference between whipping cream and heavy cream. Either one can be used in this recipe with heavy cream producing an even more stable whipped cream. Make sure the cream is sufficiently chilled before whipping as it will not whip up otherwise.
• Stand Mixer:
  The melted gelatin needs to be poured into the whipped cream as it is whipping, this is much easier to do with a stand mixer if you're baking alone. If you don't have a stand mixer, try to enlist the help of someone else in the home to do the pouring or whipping.
  

How to Add Gelatin to Whipped Cream

To make a stablized whipped cream by adding gelatin isn't hard at all. First off, chill the cream, beaters and mixing bowl. This will help the cream whip up much easier without over beating which can cause it to curdle and break apart. Make sure the whipped cream itself is also very cold as it won't whip up at all if it's not cold enough.

Next, bloom the gelatin by sprinkling it over water placed in a heat-proof measuring cup. After 5 minutes, the gelatin will swell and become solid.

Place the measuring cup in a small pot of boiling water. Once it starts melting, stir it gently until it becomes liquid. Take off heat immediately and let it cool.

During this time, start whipping the cream and the sugar in a chilled bowl and beater in a stand mixer on medium, then increase speed to medium-high

Check on the gelatin. It should be liquid and runny, and no longer hot. If it has started to solidify again, place it in the warm water until liquid. Make sure it has cooled down again before using.

Once the beaters leave tracks inside the cream, pour the cooled gelatin into the mixing bowl aiming for the spot in between the beater and the side of the bowl, much like you would when adding the sugar syrup to an Italian meringue. Keep whipping and if desired, add extract and food coloring at this time.

The whipped cream will start looking much fluffier and a bit matte. Stop whipping and check the stiffness. Once it reaches stiff peaks, stop whipping. Do not over beat. That's it, you have made stabilized whipped cream which can be used for piping designs or filling a cake. Use it immediately to fill or decorate your desserts.

How to Fix Over-whipped Whipped Cream

If the cream has just begun to separate, it is still possible to salvage the over whipped cream. Stop the mixer and add some more cold cream, just a little at a time, then gently fold it into the mixture until it all comes together again. If this doesn't work, it means the whipped cream has separated too much and you'll need to start over again unfortunately. Next time, watch the whipping process closely, especially at the end. Once the gelatin is added, make sure to look for signs that the cream has become matte and begins to clump up. This change happens very quickly. Be ready to stop the mixer when the entire mixture has reached this stage.

How to Store Stabilized Whipped Cream

While non-stabilized whipped cream should ideally be used and consumed immediately, the stabilized version can hold up for several days in the fridge once piped or used as filling. It's still better to use it immediately, however, unused portions should be placed on a cheesecloth elevated inside of a bowl to allow the water to drain out of the cream since it will start separating over time. Re-whip the cream before serving.

Whipped Cream as a Macaron Filling

Stabilized whipped cream with gelatin is great for cakes and many other desserts. It's naturally white, sturdy and pipeable. However, even though it has been stabilized, the mositure content is still too high to be used as a macaron filling. (Just think about the ingredients used, it's still mainly a liquid presented in a more solid form.) I would skip this one as a macaron filling, it tends to eat away at the macaron shells within the hour. READ: Yummy Macaron Filling Ideas.

Save this delicious stabilized whipped cream for use in desserts as toppings, deep fillings and frosting. It's so light and airy! Enjoy!

XOXO,
Mimi