Group · Dairy
Whipped cream
Whipped cream is a light, airy preparation made by beating full-fat liquid cream until it doubles in volume and traps air. Not to be confused with Chantilly cream, which is sweetened and flavoured whipped cream, it tops desserts, indulgent coffees, fresh fruit and layered desserts. Rich in dairy fat, it is one of the highest-calorie dairy products: around 305 kcal per 100 g, with 28.2 g of fat, little protein and little carbohydrate. Its light, melting texture makes it a treat food par excellence, to be enjoyed as an indulgent touch rather than in quantity. Here is how to enjoy it sensibly in a balanced diet.
Macronutrient breakdown
Nutrition table per 100 g
| Calories | 305 kcal |
| Kilojoules | 1260 kJ |
| Protein | 2,1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 10,6 g |
| Fat | 28,2 g |
Micronutrients per 100 g
All measured nutrients, ranked by share of the daily reference intake.
- Vitamin A188 µg24 %
- Phosphorus89 mg13 %
- Calcium101 mg13 %
- Vitamin B120,29 µg12 %
- Selenium4,41 µg8 %
- Vitamin D0,4 µg8 %
- Potassium147 mg7 %
- Iodine11 µg7 %
See the other 15 nutrients
- Omega-3 ALA0,11 g6 %
- Vitamin E0,64 mg5 %
- Vitamin B50,31 mg5 %
- Omega-6 LA0,48 g5 %
- Vitamin B20,07 mg5 %
- Zinc0,37 mg4 %
- Vitamin B10,04 mg3 %
- Magnesium11 mg3 %
- Vitamin B60,04 mg3 %
- Vitamin K11,9 µg3 %
- Vitamin B93 µg2 %
- Copper0,01 mg1 %
- Vitamin B30,07 mg0 %
- Iron0,05 mg0 %
- Manganese0 mg0 %
Anses Ciqual 2025. Source: Anses, 2025, Ciqual food composition table
Tips
Whipped cream is above all an indulgent food. Given its high calorie density (28.2 g of fat per 100 g), it is better to measure it in spoonfuls than in large portions. A dollop of 15 to 20 g on a dessert adds flavour and creaminess without sending the meal’s total energy through the roof. It is a good habit for combining pleasure with watching your weight.
How to make it and eat it:
- Use well-chilled full-fat cream (at least 30% fat): it is the fat content that allows a stable foam to form.
- Whip in a cold bowl to incorporate more air; stop as soon as the cream forms soft peaks, to prevent it from splitting.
- Pair it with red berries, a coffee, a bowl of fromage blanc or a fruit salad to balance out the richness.
- Eat it quickly: it collapses and keeps poorly, 24 hours at most in the fridge.
Nutrition facts and points to watch: whipped cream mainly provides fat, little protein (around 2.06 g) and little carbohydrate (less than 10.6 g). If it is sweetened to make Chantilly, the added sugars climb quickly: count it among the calories to watch when you are trying to cut back. To compare its figures with other products, the food calorie table is a handy reference.
If you are looking for a lighter, higher-protein alternative to top your desserts, go for fat-free fromage blanc or whisked smooth plain yoghurt, which provide calcium and protein for far fewer calories. You will find other tempting options in the dairy products family.
Tip for athletes: whipped cream is not a useful source of energy or recovery, as it is low in carbohydrate useful for exercise and in good-quality protein. For a post-workout snack, it is better to choose protein-rich sources, such as the protein snack ideas. When you are trying to gain mass, a small amount of cream can still make a dessert or porridge more energy dense without changing the protein intake. The key is moderation: enjoy it as an occasional finishing touch, as part of a varied and balanced diet.