National Whipped Cream Day 2026: Celebrating a simple ingredient

Each year, the United States observes National Whipped Cream Day on January 5. The day provides an opportunity to recognise whipped cream as both a culinary ingredient and a cultural staple. While not an official holiday, it is widely acknowledged in food media, by restaurants, and in home kitchens across the country.

The day honours Aaron “Bunny” Lapin, the founder of Reddi-Wip, who in 1948 developed the pressurised whipped cream canister. Lapin’s innovation made whipped cream convenient for home and commercial use, transforming it from a labour-intensive topping into a product that could be used quickly and consistently. His invention helped integrate whipped cream into mainstream American dessert culture, where it remains a popular component of pies, sundaes, hot drinks, and other desserts.

Whipped cream itself has a history that predates Lapin’s invention. It was first documented in European kitchens in the 16th century, originally made by hand from fresh cream. Over time, it became associated with desserts and beverages in Europe and later in the United States. Lapin’s contribution simply made it easier to use whipped cream on a daily basis and in larger-scale food service.

National Whipped Cream Day serves multiple purposes. For brands and restaurants, it provides an occasion to promote desserts, launch seasonal offerings, and engage with customers. For home cooks, it encourages experimentation with whipped cream as a topping for cakes, waffles, drinks, and other recipes. The day also highlights the role that simple ingredients play in shaping culinary habits and cultural traditions. Observing the day after the holiday season is particularly significant, as it helps maintain attention on desserts and related products during a period when food businesses often experience lower traffic.

While whipped cream is most closely associated with American cuisine, similar toppings exist globally. In Europe, whipped cream has long been used in pastries, cakes, and other desserts. In Africa, whipped cream increasingly appears in urban cafes and bakeries, often as a topping for cakes, waffles, and beverages, influenced in part by social media trends. Its use across cultures demonstrates its versatility and its ability to enhance both flavour and presentation.

Celebrations of National Whipped Cream Day are informal and largely consumer-driven. Restaurants, cafes, and home cooks incorporate whipped cream into desserts and beverages or feature it on social media, showcasing its variety of uses. The day also highlights the intersection of innovation, food culture, and commerce, showing how a simple ingredient can influence trends in the food industry.

National Whipped Cream Day recognises the significance of whipped cream in both home cooking and the broader food industry. It honours Aaron Lapin’s innovation and highlights the ingredient’s continued role in desserts and culinary traditions, not only in the United States but increasingly around the world.

Esther Emoekpere is a data analyst in the audience engagement department at BusinessDay, where she uses data to understand reader behaviour, spot unusual trends, and support the newsroom with insights that shape story performance. She holds a BSc in Statistics from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

She also with the BD Weekender team, where she covers a range of beats including profiles, food, lifestyle, restaurants, and fashion—creating stories shaped by audience interest and real-time engagement trends.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date