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    Home » Desserts

    Published: Apr 22, 2025 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    Strawberries and Whipped Cream

    Jump to Recipe

    There is nothing better than fresh Strawberries and Whipped Cream. The sweet ruby red berries with layers of fluffy whipped cream is simple & easy but looks fancy. One bite and you will agree that this no-bake dessert - is just WOW!

    strawberries and vanilla whipped cream in small dessert glasses

    Why this Strawberries & Whipped Cream Dessert Recipe is the Best: I include my top tip below for making foolproof whipped cream is light, fluffy, & comes our perfect every time - chilling the beaters & bowl!

    Glass jar with layers of diced fresh strawberries and fresh whipped cream.

    If you love this dessert, Fresh Strawberry Mousse Parfaits is also one you will want to try. Both are light, refreshing, creamy, & fruity. Ok, now let's whip this up!

    Jump to:
    • Picking & Using Fresh Strawberries
    • Ingredients for Strawberries & Whipped Cream
    • Top Tip - Freeze Beaters & Bowl
    • How to Make Homemade Vanilla Whipped Cream
    • Layer the Strawberries and Whipped Cream
    • Storing & Make Ahead Tips
    • FAQ
    • Strawberries and Whipped Cream
    • Other Great Strawberry Desserts

    Picking & Using Fresh Strawberries

    This is a healthy desserts so you won't feel guilty about indulging regularly. There are many health benefits to strawberries such as high levels of Vitamin C, high in antioxidants, and they are low calorie.

    Tips for choosing the best strawberries at the store or farmer's market:

    • Make sure they are firm & not soft
    • Look for bright red coloring and fresh green leaves
    • Make sure none or bruised and are free of any mold
    • They should SMELL like strawberries - if they don't they were picked too early & may not be flavorful or juicy.

    We grow them in our yard here in California. Picking them before the squirrels do is the challenge so we protect our berries from squirrels & birds in our garden so we can enjoy this weekly.

    Ingredients for Strawberries & Whipped Cream

    This seemingly simple pairing is the ideal spring & summer dessert when berries are in peak season. All you need is 4 ingredients plus my homemade whipped cream has a touch of vanilla for gourmet taste that is to die for.

    ingredients for vanilla whipped cream

    Here is what you need to make strawberries with fresh whipped cream:

    • Fresh Strawberries - pick any size as long as they are ripe, firm, & juicy
    • Heavy Whipping Cream - using the real stuff here, no half & half or low-fat milk.
    • Powdered Sugar - to sweetened the cream.
    • Vanilla - a nice floral hint of flavor to the whipped cream makes it go from ordinary to gourmet.

    See the recipe card for amounts & instructions.

    Top Tip - Freeze Beaters & Bowl

    The hardest part of making homemade whipped cream is planning ahead. The bowl and beaters need to be put in the freezer at least 30 minutes prior to making them. This is the secret to foolproof whipped cream!

    A metal bowl works best - it chills easily & stays cool. Pick one a lot bigger than what you think you need. Remember, the cream will expand exponentially as you whip air into it.

    • Chill metal bowl & beaters for 1 hour in the freezer.
    • Chill the heavy cream for 5 minutes in the freezer.
    metal bowl and beaters on the freezer shelf

    How to Make Homemade Vanilla Whipped Cream

    Once the bowl, beaters, and cream are cold, it is time to make the whipped cream using a hand mixer. In the chilled metal bowl, pour in the cream, sugar, and vanilla.

    Set the electric hand mixer on medium for a few seconds and then move it to high. Continue to beat on high for 2 minutes. It is done when you have medium-stiff peaks.

    Here are my top tips for making whipped cream from scratch:

    • Cold beaters & bowl is best
    • Chilled heavy cream is ideal
    • Beat on high - lots of air = lots of fluff for whipping cream
    • Do NOT whip for too long (overbeat) & lose track of time!
    • See below for medium-stiff peaks --- when the beaters are pulled out of the cream they will stand up a bit with a slight curve / wave to them.
    Cream whipped into stiff peaks in a chilled metal bowl

    You do not want the tops to be hard and firm. Soft peaks will also deflate and the whipped cream will become soft and run again after sitting too long.

    Medium peaks are the way to go & how the whipped cream should look. My photo above shows you exactly what that looks like.

    vanilla whipped cream

    Here is what fresh cream looks like when whipped correctly. It should be airy and fluffy. It should be thick enough that it holds its shape without sagging, shrinking, or deflating. There will be a slight sheen or shiny gloss to it.

    Layer the Strawberries and Whipped Cream

    Prep the berries by washing and drying them thoroughly. Then, remove the stem and leaves. Finally dice them up small.

    I do NOT add extra sugar to these berries which other recipes have. It is not needed and it's low-calorie at under 200 calories & low-carb/keto at 9 net carbs per dessert cup. But if you want something sweeter, try my Strawberry Mousse Parfait recipe.

    diced strawberries

    I have small clear serving glasses that are perfect for layering desserts. To fancy this up, layering the strawberries and cream in them elevates this dessert.

    Three layers of each look gorgeous in the size I have.  Use whatever serving bowl or glass containers you have.

    strawberries and vanilla whipped cream dessert

    Storing & Make Ahead Tips

    This is a great make-ahead berry dessert. The fresh strawberries & cream hold up well to staying chilled in the refrigerator. I do not recommend freezing this dessert.

    Prepare these dessert cups up to 6 hours before you want to serve them. This recipe is ideal for dinner parties, cookouts, BBQs, & picnics.

    FAQ

    Can you make whipped cream ahead of time?

    Unlike meringue, whipped cream holds its shape & can be made in advance. Whipped cream lasts in the refrigerator for about 3 days if covered and chilled properly.  

    Is this dessert low-carb or keto-friendly?


    For a keto strawberries & whipped cream recipe, use a sugar-free powdered sugar replacement. I like to use powdered monkfruit which has zero carbs & calories! I use half as much as regular powdered sugar & it is fantastic! Comes in at 92 calories & 4.7g net carbs per serving.

    How Long to Whip the Cream?

    Do not forget to time this. This is a tried and tested recipe and 2 minutes is all you need.  If you lose track of time or use a stand mixer and step away, you will end up with hardened grainy clumps if overbeaten.

    What if I overbeat the cream?

    To save overbeaten whipped cream, add an extra TB of cream and beat on low to fix by smoothing it out. If it continues to harden like pebbles of butter, just continue to beat and go with it, make butter. Fresh homemade butter is never a bad thing!  

    Photo of a bowl of fresh whipped cream topping and photo of strawberries and cream dessert.
    Fresh strawberries and whipped cream layered in a glass dessert cup.

    Strawberries and Whipped Cream

    Angela
    Sweet strawberries and vanilla whipped cream are a perfect pairing for a simple but elegant dessert. This easy recipe is light, fluffy, healthy, & yummy. It is a wonderful make-ahead dessert that is gluten-free & nut-free. Just 4 ingredients for this spring & summer recipe.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 169 kcal

    Equipment

    • hand mixer
    • metal mixing bowl for optimal results

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups fresh strawberries diced
    • 1 cups heavy whipping cream
    • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place metal bowl & beaters in the freezer for one hour. Be sure to select a large enough bowl to allow the cream to expand as it is whipped.
    • When 5 minutes remain, add the carton of whipping cream to the freezer as well. Once all items are chilled and ready, get the electric hand mixer fitted with the chilled beaters.
    • Pour 1 C of heavy whipping cream into the chilled metal bowl. Add the sugar and vanilla also.
    • Using the mixer set on medium, beat for a few seconds and turn up to medium-high to high immediately. Beat on high for 2 minutes until stiff peaks form.
    • Once the whipped cream is ready keep chilled in the refrigerator while prepping the strawberries.
    • Dice strawberries into small pieces.
    • If using clear tall glass, layer strawberries with the vanilla whipped cream. Depending on how tall your glass is it may be 2-4 layers. If using a shallow bowl, spoon in the strawberries and top with whipped cream.
    • Whipped cream can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    STORING & MAKE AHEAD -
    • The whipped cream will hold for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
    • Layer these up to 6 hours ahead of time to serve later.
    TIPS:
    • Use real heavy cream, do not substitute with low-fat dairy.
    • Use a combination of 3 berries, not just strawberries. Try 1 cup of each blueberries, raspberries, & strawberries. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 12mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 592IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 0.3mg
    Keyword easy, fruit, gluten-free, grain-free, no bake, sandwich, lunch, dinner, easy, simple, sweet
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Other Great Strawberry Desserts

    If you love desserts with fruit, these sweet strawberry desserts are for you. These recipes are easy to make and strawberries are the star.

    • STRAWBERRY PEACH COBBLER
    • TANGHULU (CHINESE CANDIED FRUITS)
    • FUDGY STRAWBERRY BROWNIES
    « Slow Cooker Navy Bean and Ham Soup
    Cranberry Chicken Thighs »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cherryl Ehlenburg says

      July 20, 2019 at 9:53 am

      This sounds delicious! Maybe we will have it for dessert tonight!

      Reply
    2. Erika says

      September 17, 2019 at 10:41 am

      Yum! This looks like the perfect, light dessert.

      Reply
    3. Harriet says

      September 17, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      Strawberries and cream so simple yet so delicious.

      Reply
    4. Shari Eckstrom says

      September 18, 2019 at 3:53 am

      This is the perfect simple dessert. Fresh and beautiful. I am going to try this tonight but substitute the powdered sugar with powdered erythritol to keep it keto. Looks amazing.

      Reply
    5. Patrice says

      September 18, 2019 at 3:18 pm

      This looks like a light and delicious dessert. I'm also in California and am spoiled by the abundance of local fruits and veggies!

      Reply
    6. Natasha says

      September 18, 2019 at 4:20 pm

      This looks delicious! So fresh and airy. I want to go to the store and grab ingredients for this right now. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    7. Nart | Cooking with Nart says

      September 18, 2019 at 9:11 pm

      Sounds like an easy treat to whip up! We don't always get strawberries where I live but I'll be sure to try this recipe when we do!

      Reply
    8. Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef says

      September 19, 2019 at 4:04 am

      Isn't it amazing how so few ingredients make such a delicious dessert!? Perfect hot summer day treat, thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
    9. Anindya Sundar Basu says

      September 19, 2019 at 5:52 am

      This is my comforting dessert and the name itself reminds me of so many memories. Can eat this all the times.

      Reply
    10. Sonila says

      September 19, 2019 at 1:41 pm

      So fresh and light, looks like the perfect guilt free dessert!! Yumm, I love strawberries with cream:)

      Reply
    11. Lathiya says

      September 20, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      What an easy dessert to whip up quickly. This is absolutely a win for me when we have surprise guest.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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