How To Make Whipped Cream In A French Press

In the world of food and drink, it's virtually always possible to turn something good into something outstanding. Just about any dessert or sweet beverage on the planet can be made better with a dollop of whipped cream. From hot cocoa and coffee to slices of pie and slabs of cheesecake to ice cream sundaes and bowls of juicy berries, whipped cream is often the grand finale when it comes to turning classic treats into decadent dishes.

While store-bought, canned whipped cream can be convenient and delicious — the best whipped cream brands know how to balance flavor, sweetness, and texture well — there's something about the homemade stuff that brings an entirely new, undoubtedly fun experience into the kitchen. When making homemade whipped cream, the biggest mistakes include overmixing your cream and not using cold cream (via Yummy.ph), but it's overall an easy process — and a delicious one.

Many whipped cream recipes call for electric-powered tools such as hand mixers, stand mixers, or other pro-quality gadgets designed specifically for forming this very ingredient. But there's one timeless, cordless appliance you can use to make amazingly airy whipped cream. And if you're a self-proclaimed coffee snob, you likely already own one of these magnificent apparati. Behold the tried and true French press!

As it turns out, your French press can do way more than brew a perfect cup of coffee. This basic, straightforward contraption can also be used to prepare a batch of whipped cream in no time. Taste of Home recommends adding whipping cream to the press's halfway mark then vigorously pumping the lever up and down until it becomes nice and thick. Moreover, on an episode of The Rachael Ray Show, a viewer named Beverly joined the celebrity cook to show the audience how to use a French press to make fresh whipped cream. All you need is a cup of whipping cream, some sugar, and a dash of vanilla extract. Pump away and enjoy!

Don't have a French press at home? Have no fear! You can also make whipped cream in a matter of minutes with a simple mason jar, as Parade recommends. No empty mason jars lying around? Voila! Grab your trustiest whisk and a big ol' bowl and whip it up by hand the old-fashioned way, à la Bon Appétit. In any case, all you need to know is the consistency you're looking for so that you can stop whisking or pumping once you've reached it. From there, you have fresh whipped cream for your coffee, milkshake, cupcakes, and more.