Chantilly Cream – What It Is And How To Make It

When it comes to enjoying a decadent dessert, there’s nothing quite like taking a big piece of pie and smothering it in whipped cream.

The creaminess and subtle sweetness of whipped cream is an amazing complement to so many delicious desserts.

But you may have seen recipes calling for something else to top their final products: Chantilly cream. At first glance, it seems identical to whipped cream, but is there a difference? And what is Chantilly cream? 

While some folks don’t differentiate between whipped cream and Chantilly cream, many bakers consider Chantilly cream to be the slightly sweeter and more decadent sibling of whipped cream, thanks to its use of confectioner’s sugar. 

So, what is Chantilly cream? It’s a basic whipped topping that is made from heavy cream that is at least 35% milk fat, combined with super fine or confectioner’s sugar, and whipped into stiff peaks. Sometimes it is flavored with vanilla or other extracts and liqueurs. 

Read on to discover more about Chantilly cream including what it tastes like, how to use it in the kitchen, and how to make your own Chantilly cream at home. 

What Is Chantilly Cream? 

If you’re looking for a light, airy, and deliciously sweet topping for your dessert creations, Chantilly cream might be the perfect one for you. It is an essential in any great French kitchen or bakery and also goes by the name Crème Chantilly. 

The delicate and delicious Chantilly cream that we know today originated in the 17th century in a little town called Chantilly, which is located in the Picardy region of France. 

The most basic recipe for Chantilly cream requires whipping cream or heavy cream and super fine or confectioner’s sugar.

Some recipes also call for liqueurs and other flavors to be added, but the most basic recipe for Chantilly cream is only 2-3 ingredients. 

If you want to get creative with your Chantilly cream, you can flavor it with extracts, such as vanilla, almond, lemon, and coconut to make a topping that has a little extra oomph.

Depending on what you plan to use your Chantilly cream for, these extracts can be a great addition. 

What Is The Difference Between Whipped Cream And Chantilly Cream?

While not everyone differentiates between the two types of cream, I have found some bakers and home cooks who think the two are not exactly the same.

Chantilly cream is similar to whipped cream, with one major modification: it is typically about twice as sweet as whipped cream. 

Both creams are made using a base of whipping cream, but where whipped cream will typically use granulated sugar as a sweetener, Chantilly cream will use super fine or confectioner’s (icing) sugar to sweeten it.

Chantilly cream also typically uses more sweetener than whipped cream. 

If you want a silky, creamy topping that is sweeter than whipped cream, then Chantilly cream is what you should choose. 

What Does Chantilly Cream Taste Like?

Chantilly cream tastes very similar to whipped cream. It has a silky, creamy texture and is quite sweet, thanks to the confectioner’s sugar that is used in the recipe.

Depending on whether you flavor it with extracts or liqueurs, it can take on a whole other layer of flavor. 

• If you want a tart flavored Chantilly cream you can use a lemon extract or orange liqueur to add more depth to the final result. 
• If you are making a coconut cream pie, it might be a fun idea to flavor it with a dash of coconut extract or vanilla. 
• You can even add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove to your Chantilly cream to make a Pumpkin Spice flavored topping that is perfect for fall and the holiday season. 
• I love adding a tiny splash of almond extract to my Chantilly cream when I’m serving it with fruit since the nuttiness of the almond complements the sweetness of the fruit so nicely. Remember that when using extracts, a little goes a long way. 
• Add some cocoa powder to your mix if you want to make a chocolate-flavored Chantilly cream. 

While the basic Chantilly cream is subtle, sweet, and silky, there is no limit to the variations you can make to the recipe depending on your taste preferences and how you plan to use it. 

What Is Chantilly Cream Used For?

Chantilly cream can be used in any recipe where you would use whipped cream. Some of my favorite ways to use Chantilly cream in the kitchen include:

• As a topping for ice cream or milkshakes 
• Put a dollop on your hot chocolate, coffee, or latte
• On top of pies, pastries, tarts, sponge cakes, cobblers, crisps, crumbles, and even cookies
• Served with berries for a light and delicious dessert/snack
• Use it to top puddings, curds, and mousses 
• Incorporate it into cake batters for a light and airy texture
• Use it to make a decadent strawberry shortcake 
• Serve it with scones or biscuits and a drizzle of honey
• Use it to make amazing Swiss rolls. You can flavor with extracts to put your own spin on a classic.

These are just a few ways you can use Chantilly cream in your kitchen. You can flavor it with different extracts to add a fun spin to any pie, cake, pastry, or dessert that you create to wow your friends and family. 

How To Store Chantilly Cream 

The best way to store Chantilly cream that you have leftover is to keep it in the fridge. You will want to find an airtight container and fill it with your cream. Seal it and then place it in the coldest part of your fridge to preserve the stiff peaks. 

Chantilly cream will last about 5-7 days in the fridge after you make it. To make sure you don’t eat cream that has gone past its best date, you will want to date the container when you put it in the fridge.

I know it seems like a silly step, but it is so easy to forget when we made something.

The easiest way to do this is to take a small piece of masking tape and stick it to the top of your storage container.

Take a marker or pen and write the date and contents on the tape. That way if you find it in your fridge later, you’ll know whether it is still good to eat. 

If you find that your Chantilly cream has deflated when you next go to use it, pop it back into a chilled metal mixing bowl and whip it with your egg beaters until those stiff peaks form once again. 

Can You Freeze Chantilly Cream? 

If you have a lot of leftover Chantilly cream and you know you won’t get to it within the 5-7 days that it will last in the fridge, then you might be wondering whether or not you can safely freeze it for later use. 

Luckily, Chantilly cream (and whipped cream), freezes and thaws surprisingly well. Follow these steps to freeze your cream like a pro. 

1. Line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with parchment paper. 
2. Place serving-size dollops of Chantilly cream on the baking sheet, with about 1/2 inch to 1 inch of space between each dollop. 
3. Place the baking sheet and cream in the freezer overnight to set. 
4. Once your Chantilly cream is frozen through, you can transfer the mounds to an airtight freezer container. If you can fit more than one layer in your container, place a piece of parchment paper between each one to prevent them from sticking together. 
5. Take a piece of masking tape and write the date and contents on it. Stick this tape to the container so you will know what you froze and when. 
6. Put the container of frozen Chantilly cream back in the freezer. Take out servings of cream as needed. 
7. Place the Chantilly cream on your dessert and let thaw about 15 minutes before serving. 
8. Use your frozen Chantilly cream within 3-6 months for best results.

How To Make Chantilly Cream At Home

Making Chantilly cream at home is super easy!

You only need 2 ingredients, a mixing bowl, and some egg beaters to create the creamiest, silkiest, most decadent topping for all your dessert dreams. I will offer some variations with different extracts if you want to experiment. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream or whipping cream*
• 3 tablespoons confectioners or icing sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract*

Directions

1. Chill your heavy/whipping cream, metal mixing bowl, and egg beater attachments in the fridge or freezer for about half an hour before making your cream. The colder they are, the better your results. 
2. Measure out your ingredients and place them in the metal mixing bowl. 
3. Using your chilled egg beaters whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla (or other) extract together on high speed until stiff peaks begin to form. That means that the cream can stand up on its own without collapsing back into itself.
4. Use your Chantilly cream as directed in your recipe. Place any leftovers into the fridge at once. If you aren’t serving your dish for a little while, place the whole thing in the fridge to prevent the cream from melting and deflating. 

*Notes: 

• The cream you use must be at least 35% milk fat so that you will get the stiff peaks and fluffy texture you need for a perfect Chantilly cream. 
• Feel free to substitute with the following extracts. I recommend starting with a 1/4 teaspoon and adding more slowly until you find the flavor intensity that you enjoy.
  • Almond extract
  • Coconut extract 
  • Orange extract 
  • Lemon extract 
  • Peppermint extract 
  • Cherry extract 
  • Coffee extract 
  • Anise extract 
  • Banana extract 
  • Chocolate extract 
  • Cinnamon extract
  • Maple extract 
  • Raspberry extract 
  • Strawberry extract

Decadent Fruit Salad With Chantilly Cream Recipe

If you want to whip up a dessert that is the perfect combination of healthy and decadent, then this fruit salad topped with Chantilly cream is a great choice.

You can bring it to picnics, potlucks, birthdays, or any other celebration where you want to wow your friends with simplicity & decadence.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of pineapple, chopped into cubes
• 1/2 cup strawberries, cut into halves or quarters 
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup of raspberries 
• 1-2 Red Delicious apples, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1/2 cup of mango, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 2 cups of Chantilly cream*

Directions

1. Mix all the fruit together in a large serving bowl. 
2. Top with your Chantilly cream.
3. Place in the fridge to chill for about half an hour.
4. Serve and enjoy.*

*Notes:

• I suggest flavoring your Chantilly cream with vanilla, orange, or lemon extract to take your fruit salad to another level.
• Try serving your fruit salad with scones or sweet biscuits, cut in half. You can place the fruit and cream on top to make a mini shortcake. 

Can You Use Coconut Cream To Make Chantilly Cream?

While it won’t be the exact same as Chantilly cream and real bakers may scoff at the attempt to make it with coconut cream, I have used it with delicious results.

Using coconut cream is a great option if you need a dairy-free version or want to get that rich coconut flavor. 

Try this recipe to make creamy and delicious coconut Chantilly cream. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup full-fat coconut cream
• 2 or 3 tablespoons of confectioners sugar 
• 1 teaspoon of tapioca starch, cornstarch, or arrowroot starch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Chill your coconut cream in the fridge overnight. You can also place your metal bowl and egg beater attachments in the fridge to chill. 
2. Once coconut cream is chilled, pour any liquid that separated out of the can. You can save it for smoothies if you’d like. Make sure to chill the bowl and egg beaters for at least 1/2 hour before whipping.
3. Next, combine all the ingredients into the metal mixing bowl. 
4. Whip the cream, confectioner’s sugar, starch, and vanilla together on high speed until stiff peaks form. 
5. You can place it back in the fridge to chill or serve immediately. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Chantilly cream is a delicious and simple way to add some silky decadence to your desserts, hot drinks, or fruit salads.

It’s similar to whipped cream, though it is generally sweeter and made with confectioner’s sugar or super fine sugar, which helps it absorb into the cream. 

If you want to get creative with your Chantilly cream there is a huge variety of extracts and liqueurs that you can add to the base ingredients of heavy cream (at least 35% milk fat) and sugar.

A classic pairing is vanilla, but don’t be afraid to experiment with any extract that catches your fancy. 

You can store leftover Chantilly cream in the fridge for up to 7 days. Just make sure you put it in an airtight container and keep it in the coldest part of the fridge. 

If you want to freeze you Chantilly cream, portion it into individual serving sizes and freeze on a baking tray.

Once frozen through, store them in an airtight container, with a piece of parchment between layers to prevent sticking, and use within 3-6 months. 

You can use your Chantilly cream in any way you would typically use a whipped cream, such as a topping on pies, custards, mousses, cakes, and pastries. It also makes a delicious addition to hot chocolate, coffee, or lattes.

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