Cool whip is a popular whipped topping used in place of whipped cream. With several varieties on the market, which one is the healthiest option? We’ve compared the nutrition facts to find out.
The Basics of Cool Whip
Cool whip is a whipped topping made with hydrogenated vegetable oil, high fructose corn syrup, and skim milk. It’s used as a lower calorie substitute for whipped cream. Here are some key details about cool whip:
- It’s sold refrigerated in tubs or frozen in individually wrapped slices.
- Cool whip doesn’t need to be whipped – it’s ready to use straight from the package.
- It contains zero grams of fat and 25-45 calories per serving.
- There are original, sugar-free, low-fat, and flavored varieties.
Now let’s compare some of the most popular cool whip products to determine the healthiest choice.
Cool Whip Original
Cool Whip original is the classic whipped topping that’s been around for decades. Here are the nutrition facts for a serving (2 tablespoons):
- 25 calories
- 0g fat
- 5g carbs
- 0g protein
- 5g sugar
The main ingredients are water, hydrogenated vegetable oil, high fructose corn syrup, and skim milk.
The original Cool Whip is light and fluffy in texture thanks to air whipped into the mixture. It provides a sweet creamy taste, but without any fat.
The main downside is the high sugar content – a serving contains 5g or about 1.25 teaspoons of sugar. For someone limiting added sugars, this makes Cool Whip Original a less healthy choice.
Cool Whip Sugar Free
For a zero sugar option, Cool Whip Sugar Free uses artificial sweeteners instead of high fructose corn syrup. The nutrition info per serving (2 tablespoons) is:
- 15 calories
- 0g fat
- 2g carbs
- 0g protein
- 0g sugar
The main sweeteners used are sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Going sugar-free eliminates 5 grams of sugar per serving. This Cool Whip variety has less carbs and calories too.
However, the artificial sweeteners provide sweetness without calories or blood sugar impact. Concerns exist over negative health effects of consuming them regularly.
For people conscious of sugar and calories, Cool Whip Sugar Free may seem like the best choice. But the artificial sweeteners could be a drawback.
Cool Whip Extra Creamy
Extra creamy Cool Whip lives up to its name with a richer, denser texture. Nutrition wise, it stacks up like this per 2 tablespoon serving:
- 45 calories
- 2.5g fat
- 5g carbs
- 0g protein
- 3g sugar
To make it extra creamy, Cool Whip adds cream and more vegetable oil. This gives it a >luxurious, creamy mouthfeel.
The downside is higher calorie and fat content than other varieties. But some may find the improved texture worth the modest calorie increase.
Cool Whip Low Fat
Cool Whip Low Fat is another option aimed at calorie counters. The nutrition per serving is:
- 15 calories
- 0g fat
- 3g carbs
- 0g protein
- 1g sugar
To reduce the fat, Cool Whip adds more water and cellulose gel while lowering the vegetable oil amount.
This variety has the fewest calories and least amount of sugar. But some complain the texture is more icy and less creamy than regular Cool Whip.
Cool Whip Flavored Options
Cool Whip comes in a variety of seasonal and holiday flavors. These include:
- French Vanilla
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- Peppermint
- Pumpkin Pie
- Snickerdoodle
The nutrition stats are similar to original Cool Whip. But flavored varieties use sugar and corn syrup to provide added taste.
Per 2 tablespoon serving, flavored Cool Whips generally have:
- 25 calories
- 0g fat
- 5g carbs
- 0g protein
- Around 4-5g sugar
So while flavors add variety, they provide no nutritional benefit over regular Cool Whip.
Cool Whip Toppings
Besides whipped topping tubs, you can buy Cool Whip in ready-to-use forms like:
- Cool Whip Topping Singles – for spraying directly onto desserts
- Cool Whip Whipped Topping – pressurized can for piping designs
- Cool Whip Toppings – flavored syrups for sundaes
These are all variations of regular Cool Whip. So nutrition stats are comparable to the original. Convenience may be the only advantage of these toppings.
Comparing Healthiest Cool Whip Varieties
Now let’s directly compare some of the “healthiest” Cool Whip products:
| Variant | Calories | Sugar | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Free | 15 | 0g | 0g | 2g |
| Low Fat | 15 | 1g | 0g | 3g |
| Extra Creamy | 45 | 3g | 2.5g | 5g |
Based on calories and macronutrients, Cool Whip Low Fat appears to be the healthiest choice.
It contains the least amount of sugar at just 1 gram per serving. It’s fat-free, which gives it an advantage over Extra Creamy. And it achieves near zero sugar with natural ingredients rather than artificial sweeteners like the Sugar Free version.
The only potential downside is if the icy texture of Low Fat Cool Whip is a turnoff for you. In that case, Sugar Free may be the next best option.
Healthier Homemade Whipped Cream
Whipped cream is an even healthier alternative to Cool Whip. Here is a simple recipe:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whip the cream with a hand mixer until it forms stiff peaks. Fold in powdered sugar and vanilla for sweetness and flavor.
With just three simple ingredients, you get fluffy whipped cream without artificial additives. Make it just before serving to enjoy it fresh.
Nutritionally, homemade whipped cream provides mostly fat calories, but little or no carbs and sugar:
- 52 calories
- 5g fat
- 0.4g carbs
- 0g sugar
The small amount of powdered sugar is enough to sweeten whipped cream lightly without added sugars.
So while store-bought Cool Whip is convenient, homemade whipped cream is more natural and nutritious.
Conclusion
If choosing a Cool Whip product, the Low Fat and Sugar Free varieties rate as the healthiest options. They minimize calories, fat, and added sugars.
But for the best nutrition and wholesome ingredients, try making your own lightly sweetened whipped cream. Avoiding artificial additives makes it a healthier topping choice.
Just be mindful of portion sizes, as real whipped cream provides more calories than Cool Whip. But when enjoyed in moderation, freshly whipped cream is a delicious and nutritious topping.
