Whipped cream freezes best sweetened and frozen in small mounds on a tray. NDSU recommends only heavy cream with at least 40 percent butterfat, and thawed cream may not whip again.
The trick is to freeze it in portions and not as a tub. NDSU says whipped cream can be sweetened to taste and frozen in individual portions, in mounds on a tray first, and that only cream with 40 percent or more butterfat is recommended for freezing. Cream that is frozen unwhipped will not whip to the usual volume afterwards.
| Short answer | Yes, as sweetened dollops |
|---|---|
| Cream | Heavy cream with 40 percent or more butterfat |
| Method | Freeze small mounds on a tray, then bag them |
| Storage | About 1 to 2 months, per NDSU’s guide |
| Warning | Thawed cream may not whip |
How to freeze whipped cream
- Whip the cream and sweeten it to taste.
- Spoon or pipe small mounds onto a parchment-lined tray.
- Freeze them until solid.
- Move them to an airtight container or freezer bag and label the date.
- Drop them on hot drinks or desserts, or let them thaw briefly in the refrigerator.
What happens when you get it wrong
- Weeping cream. Thawed whipped cream loses volume and releases liquid.
- Cream that will not whip. Freezing unwhipped cream makes it hard to whip to the usual volume.
- A stuck block. Whipped cream frozen in one tub fuses together and is hard to portion.
Freeze dollops for hot chocolate and desserts.
Whip fresh cream for anything that needs to hold its shape.
Frequently asked questions
Can you freeze whipped cream?
Yes, sweetened and in portions, per NDSU.
Can you freeze heavy cream before whipping?
NDSU recommends only cream with 40 percent or more butterfat, and says thawed cream may not whip to the usual volume.
How long does frozen whipped cream last?
NDSU’s guide gives about 1 to 2 months.
Can you freeze whipped topping from a tub?
Whipped toppers are listed separately in NDSU’s guide at 3 to 6 months.