How to: Make Whipped Cream

Cool your cream
Start with cream straight from the fridge: The colder it is, the easier and faster it’ll be to whip. Pour the cream into your bowl.
Use a whisk to begin whipping the cream
Using a whisk, begin whipping with wide strokes, which will get more air into the cream and help fluff it up it faster. Switch directions every so often.
Add sugar
When the cream starts to thicken, just before soft peaks form, add sugar and continue to whip. A good rule of thumb is 2 tablespoons of sugar for every cup of cream; adjust the sweetness to your own taste.
Continue whipping and watch for soft peaks
Continue beating the mixture until soft peaks form. You can whip until the cream makes stiffer peaks if desired, but be careful: You don’t want to turn the mixture to butter.