Cool Whip vs Dream Whip: What’s the Difference?

One of the best ways to entertain guests is to share a wonderful meal. And what’s a better way to cap off an evening than to enjoy a sweet, decadent dessert? For cooks, hosts, and guests alike, anyone who enjoys layered cakes, pies, or puddings topped with a creamy topping may have considered using Cool Whip or Dream Whip.

What’s the difference between these two popular dessert toppings? Find out now with this in-depth comparison guide. We cover everything from preparation and taste to ingredients and nutritional value.

Cool Whip vs Dream Whip

What is Cool Whip?

Developed by a scientist in 1966, Cool Whip is a processed dairy-based whipped topping with a similar (albeit thicker) creamy texture as whipped cream. The sweet food is typically used as a topping or ingredient to make pies or other desserts.

Quick List of Facts About Cool Whip

What is Dream Whip?

Created more than 65 years ago, Dream Whip is a powdered mix that users blend with milk to create a sweet and creamy style ingredient and popular topping for cakes, puddings, pies, parfaits, and other desserts.

When fully prepared, it has a similar texture, though not as airy and light, as regular whipped cream. The good news is that the thick consistency of Dream Whip is a great ingredient for making a perfect dessert that is layered, chilled, or served at room temperature.

Both Dream Whip and Cool Whip are consumer brands of the Kraft Heinz Company. Unsurprisingly, top Dream Whip substitutes include Cool Whip (and vice versa) or homemade whipped cream.

How to Prepare Dream Whip

Prepare the whipped topping in a mixing bowl by combining one package of the powder, ½ cup of cold milk, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

For best results, use skim milk or 2% dairy milk. Dream Whip can also be prepared with whole milk, lactose-free, or soy milk. If nonfat dry milk is used, it’s best to prepare the milk and refrigerate it overnight before blending with Dream Whip powder.

Use a hand mixer or hand blender to whip the mixture until it’s light and fluffy with soft peaks. Dream Whip takes more time and effort to prepare than Cool Whip, which is a ready-to-use product.

But, Dream Whip has a longer shelf life after opening. Store the powder in its original packaging in a cool, dry area of the pantry or cupboard.

How to Use a Whipped Topping

Cool Whip and Dream Whip are easy to use in desserts and to elevate drinks with a sweet cream flavor. The dessert-style whipped toppings can be used in many different types of recipes.

Here are a few ideas for ways to use either Dream Whip or Cool Whip, including in yummy desserts that are quick and simple to make.

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Ingredients

While the current formulation of Cool Whip contains both skim milk and cream, the dominant ingredients are water, added sugars (corn syrup), and oil. Accordingly, Cool Whip is categorized and marketed as a “whipped topping” product rather than a whipped cream.

It’s found in the frozen foods section of a grocery store. Heavy cream used to make whipped cream, on the other hand, is found with other dairy products in the refrigerated cooler. And Dream Whip is usually on the shelf near cake mixes and other baking ingredients.

Cool Whip Ingredients

Original Cool Whip is made with the following ingredients.

Ingredients:Water, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Skim Milk, Light Cream, Sodium Caseinate (from milk), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Xanthan and Guar Gums, Modified Food Starch, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Monostearate, Sodium Polyphosphate, and Beta Carotene (for color).

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Dream Whip Ingredients

Here is the full ingredient list in the dry form of Dream Whip.

Ingredients:Sugar, Dextrose, Palm Kernel Oil, Dried Corn Syrup, Modified Cornstarch, Propylene Glycol Monostearate (emulsifier), Sodium Caseinate (from milk), Acetylated Monoglycerides (emulsifier), Sodium Aluminosilicate (anticaking agent), Cellulose Gel, Mono- and Diglycerides (emulsifier), Cellulose Gum, Modified Cellulose, Artificial Flavor, Natural Flavor, Artificial Color (Yellow 5 and Yellow 6).

Comparison of Cool Whip vs. Dream Whip Ingredients

Based on the list of ingredients, Cool Whip and Dream Whip are quite different. Both products are made with corn syrup. However, Dream Whip is made with a dried version of the additive.

Likewise, each product contains a modified food starch, natural flavor, and artificial flavor. However, because of the generic use of the term, we cannot confirm whether the actual natural flavors or artificial flavors used are the same in both products.

In addition, Cool Whip lists only “food starch,” which may be derived from potato, corn, or another plant. Dream Whip uses corn starch.

Review the following table for an easy-to-read comparison of the ingredients in each type of whipping topping.

Unlike real whipped cream (which is made with heavy whipping cream) Cool Whip can be frozen, shipped, and stored after opening for up to two weeks. Moreover, it stays fresh in the refrigerator. By comparison, real cream will partially melt within a couple of hours, even when chilled.

Because Cool Whip doesn’t melt, it’s a useful ingredient in certain dessert salads, puddings, parfaits, cakes, and other desserts.

In addition, cooks appreciate the ease and convenience of simply opening the container to use Cool Whip. There is no time involved with the hand blender or washing extra bowls and kitchen tools required when whipping fresh heavy cream or Dream Whip into a thick dessert topping.

Nutritional Values

Here is a reference guide to compare the nutritional information in Cool Whip and Dream Whip.