Is Cool Whip Keto Friendly? Only These 14 Sugar Free Types (Ranked)

Keto (Low Carb) | Written by Nathan Petitpas | Updated on 8 March 2024

On a wooden surface, there is a small ceramic bowl filled with whipped cream, overlayed with a text that says "is Cool Whip keto friendly?" for dieters who are wondering about the same question.

Is Cool Whip keto, or do they make low-carb whipped cream?11

Cool Whip is popular around the world as a creamy upgrade lattes and desserts like pie, but only these 14 sugar free types are extraordinarily low in carbs and thus, better suited for keto diets.

So before eating any cool whip with added sugar, see the top brands and varieties of 2023 ranked by lowest net carbs, to most and discover some tasty desserts along the way too.  

Is Cool Whip Keto Approved (Is Cool Whip Keto Friendly)?

When asking ”Is cool whip keto-approved, or not?”, The answer lies in what exactly the keto diet requires and how many carbs are in cool whip. 

The scientific foundation of the keto diet is inducing ketosis, a rapid fat-burning state, by cutting your carbs to about 10% of your calorie intake.1 There’s no single keto diet plan, but maintaining ketosis usually requires eating less than 50 carbs per day and less than 18 carbs per meal. 

On a dark wooden surface is a small white bowl of whipped cream.

Source: john shepherd via Canva.com7

When it comes to low carb vs low fat diets, diets that restrict carbs can be a healthy way to live or lose pounds quickly.2

According to the label, cool whip only has 3g of carbs per serving. However, the recommended serving size is quite small at two tablespoons. A heaping spoonful of cool whip could easily be three or four servings, with a proportionate increase in carbs. 

That said, excessive carbs don’t have to be a part of delicious whipped cream. Many brands offer sugar free or low-carb versions of cool whip that taste even better. Natural cream has very little carb content, but many brands add water and corn syrup. Good whipped cream relies on high-quality ingredients and sugar-free sweeteners like stevia to be low-carb and keto friendly.3

Is Sugar Free Cool Whip Keto? Is Cool Whip Lite Keto Friendly?

The key to keto is limiting carb intake. Even if a food has unhealthy ingredients, it can still be keto-friendly as long as it has low carbs. While this kind of unhealthy low-carb eating has a reputation for being “dirty keto,” it’s still keto and works 

In moderation. Sugar-free cool whip is still keto as long as it’s also low-carb. 

However, Cool Whip Lite isn’t keto friendly because it isn’t actually lite. While it doesn’t have sugar, it does have 3g of carbs in corn syrup. This kind of tricky marketing is why it’s always necessary to check the carb count on labels. 

When Is Cool Whip Keto?

Technically, even standard cool whip is keto in sufficiently small amounts. The recommended two tablespoons with 3g of carbs is only 6-15% of the daily carbs that a keto diet allows, after all. However, two tablespoons of cool whip is hardly a satisfying amount, and those grams of carbs add up quickly. 

Cool whip should have 1g of carbs or less per two tablespoons to be worth including in a keto diet. This way, the same amount of whipped cream will have one third or fewer carbs. Health-conscious shoppers can find a variety of keto-friendly cool whip brands, though, or make their own. 

Is Kraft Cool Whip Keto Friendly? 

Normal Kraft Cool Whip has 2g of sugar per two-tablespoon serving. That won’t push someone out of ketosis in small amounts, but those two grams add up quickly. An ice cream scoop-sized amount of Kraft cool whip could be enough to throw off ketosis. 

But then, perhaps the sugar-free version of Kraft cool whip is better. Surprisingly, it’s actually worse and not truly sugar-free. Like certain other brands that claim a sugar-free product, it’s full of corn syrup. 

Full List of Sugar-Free Whipped Cream Brands

The first rule to shopping keto is that you always check labels. Not only can advertising be deceiving, but even honest brands often offer different types of whipped cream. For instance, Land O’ Lakes has an excellent keto-friendly whipped cream, but they also have a regular version.

A person is holding a red bottle of whipped cream with the brand name covered with their fingers, and pouring it over a dish.

Source: RODNAE Productions via Canva.com8

Besides the nutrition information, the ingredients are important. Different zero-carb sweeteners such as stevia and sucralose have different tastes which aren’t for everyone. On top of that, there are controversial additives that are common in whipped cream.

Carrageenan is a popular stabilizer, but some studies link carrageenan to health issues like gut inflammation.4 Sucralose is common in zero-carb whipped cream, but regularly consuming sucralose can result in stomach problems.5

1. Land O’ Lakes Sugar Free Whipped Heavy Cream (0g Net Carbs) 

Land O’ Lakes has a strong reputation for excellent dairy products. This extends to their sugar free whipped cream, which is one of the few carb free options on the market. 

They’re one of the only brands that doesn’t add water to the cream, which makes for a firmer and thicker texture. Nothing is perfect, though; the ingredients include sucralose and carrageenan.

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 0g
  • Fats: 2g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 0g

2. Great Value Sugar Free Whipped Heavy Cream (0g Net Carbs)

Great Value is a rare example of a sugar free version that actually delivers on the advertising. Others often load up on corn syrup as a technicality, but the Walmart brand has virtually 0g net carbs. 

Overall, it’s essentially the same as the Land O’ Lakes version with zero carbs and no water. The one problem with this brand is that it also uses carrageenan and sucralose. 

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 0g
  • Fats: 2g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 0g

3. Reddi-Whip Zero Sugar Whipped Cream (0g Net Carbs)

Reddi-Whip Zero Sugar Whipped Cream hits the 0 carb mark and probably the weakest of the bunch. Unlike the first two, water is prominent on the ingredient list and the recommended serving size is a bit smaller. 

Customer reviews say that it tastes overly sweet, which might indicate that this formulation uses more sucralose. Just like the other zero-carb brands, this one uses both sucralose and carrageenan. 

  • Serving Size: 5g
  • Carbs: 0g
  • Fats: 1.5g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 0g

4. 365 Light Whipped Topping by Whole Foods (0.5g Net Carbs)

Now, 365 by Whole Foods is not truly sugar free, but it’s the closest any store-bought brands come to being clean keto. It’s all-organic, from the cane sugar and real vanilla to the natural stabilizers that Whole Foods uses to replace carrageenan. 

Swapping out carb-rich, corn-syrup-filled whip cream with a higher quality product like this is one way on how to jump start weight loss.

Customer reviews rate 365 highly for its rich, indulgent taste that beats most other keto-friendly whipped creams. This is cool whip keto dieters can enjoy without the usual additives, even with the half-gram of carbs

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 0.5g
  • Fats: 1.5g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: <1g

Other Low Carb Whipped Cream Options

Sugar-free cool whip with less than 1g carbs per serving is the most keto-friendly choice available. However, there are so few choices for zero-carb whipped cream that it’s helpful to cast a wider net and look at other low-carb options. However, that raises the question, “Is cool whip keto when it still has some carbs?” The answer is that it depends. 

As long as carb-tracking is consistent and accurate, whipped cream with 1g or even 2g of carbs per serving can be part of a keto diet. 

5. Darigold Dairy Whip (1g Net Carbs)

While Darigold Dairy Whip has 1g of carbs, the silver lining is that this comes from real sugar. There’s no sucralose in this brand, the only objectionable additive is carrageenan. Customer reviews describe it as satisfying and creamy, with a moderately thick texture that’s not light or heavy. 

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1.5g 
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 1g

6. Natural By Nature Brown Sugar Whipped Cream (1g Net Carbs)

Natural By Nature is a sustainability-oriented brand that eschews preservatives and artificial ingredients. There’s a version with organic white sugar, but the brown sugar version is certainly more interesting. 

The rich, molasses taste pairs well with the thick texture and makes for a truly noteworthy low-carb whipped cream. That said, Natural by Nature’s relative quality has an asterisk in that it includes carrageenan.  

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1.5g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 1g

7. Wegmans Whipped Heavy Cream (1g Net Carbs)

Wegman’s Whipped Heavy Cream stands out for its low carb content and thick, indulgent texture. It’s not watered down like many other brands and uses full fat cream, which produces a taste that customers love. 

While there is sugar on the ingredient list, this option is still keto friendly at just 1g of carbs per serving. 

List out nutritional info 

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 2g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 1g

8. Ahold Peppermint Whipped Topping (1g Net Carbs)

Sticking to a keto diet doesn’t mean missing out on seasonal flavors. Ahold Peppermint Whipped Topping hits that spot without crossing the 1g of carbs per serving threshold. While it does have sugar and high fructose corn syrup, the concentration is still fairly low. That said, carrageenan is an additive here. This whipped cream is certainly dirty keto, but it’s still a fine way to embrace the spirit of the holidays while dieting.  

  • Serving Size: 5g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1g
  • Protein: 0g 
  • Sugar: 1g

9. Private Selection Whipped Heavy Cream (1g Net Carbs)

Private Selection is a fairly standard upper-quality, low-carb heavy cream. It uses real sugar instead of sucralose and doesn’t water down the cream, although there’s still carrageenan. 

Customer reviews praise Private Selection Whipped Heavy Cream for its full, heavy texture and modest sweetness.

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 2g
  • Protein: 0g 
  • Sugar: 1g 

10. Cabot Whipped Cream  (1g Net Carbs)

Both the taste and logo of Cabot Whipped Cream are instantly recognizable. The ingredients are simple, with real cream and vanilla taking center stage while water and nonfat milk lighten the texture. 

While carrageenan still rears its head here, that’s the only unwanted additive you’ll find. 

Besides that, the claim on the can that Cabot tastes like homemade certainly bears out. The way that they make it, the final product comes out with a creamy but airy texture that’s satisfying but not too heavy. 

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 1g

11. Isigny Ste Mère Sweetened Vanilla Whipped Light Cream (1g Net Carbs)

Isigny Ste Mère is a true luxury brand that imports fresh cream from France and bourbon vanilla from Madagascar. Instead of using corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, a slight touch of organic sugar provides extra sweetness. 

Compared to other brands on this list, Isigny Ste Mère has less fat and it shows in the lighter, more airy texture. While the price point will keep some customers away, this is a fairly keto-friendly and delicious choice of whipped cream. 

List out nutritional info 

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1.5g
  • Protein: 0 
  • Sugar: 1g

12. Hershey’s Flavored Whipped Topping (1g Net Carbs)

Hershey’s offers an interesting range of flavored, low-carb options for whipped cream. They’re relatively low on sugar and other carbs, so they’re not hard to work into a keto diet. Plus, there are both caramel and chocolate options available to try.

On the other hand, this definitely isn’t considered clean keto. The list of ingredients includes carrageenan, high fructose corn syrup, and other undesirable items. 

  • Serving Size: 5g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 1g

13. Dairystar Whipped Topping (1g Net Carbs)

Dairystar is a solid brand that offers a reasonable, affordable low-carb whipped cream. The taste and texture are fairly mild, which is good for anyone who prefers lighter cream to heavy. 

The main shortcoming of Dairystar Whipped Topping is that it has the usual line of additives as well as high fructose corn syrup.

  • Serving Size: 5g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fats: 1g 
  • Protein: 0g 
  • Sugar: 1g

14. Trader Joe’s Coconut Whipped Topping (2g net carbs)

When it comes to trends, Trader Joe’s is always on top and coconut is quite trendy lately. This option has the highest carb count on this list at 2g per serving, but that’s still manageable. Not to mention, sometimes people will swear they have their carb intake right but still aren’t losing weight. 

For those who find themselves asking, “can you be in ketosis and still not lose weight?” the answer is yes. A calorie deficit is necessary to lose weight, and this low-carb, low-fat whipped topping can be a good way to help get there. 

  • Serving Size: 6g
  • Carbs: 2g
  • Fats: 0.5g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Sugar: 1g

Keto Cool Whip Recipes & Desserts

If carbs, artificial sweeteners, and additives are all no-gos, there’s another option. Any person can make their own cool whip easily. Take heavy cream, mix it vigorously, and the result is whipped cream with no sweeteners or additives. This is keto-approved, sugar free whipped cream at its best.

A glass cup is filled with light pink jello that is topped with whipped cream and strawberries is sitting on a small pink plate with two spoons on it all surrounded by fresh strawberries.

Source: RitaE via Canva.com9

It really is that simple, especially when an electric mixer with a whipping attachment is available.

That said, it’s advisable to put a spin on this basic method with some extra ingredients. Adding some vanilla extract or a keto-friendly sweetener like stevia can take homemade whipped cream to the next level. Instead of worrying about how much broccoli you should eat to lose weight, enjoy these three low-carb desserts. 

Cool Whip and Jello Sundae With Strawberries

Strawberries have a surprisingly small carb count compared to how famously sweet they are. On top of that, these fruit are rich in important antioxidants and vitamins.6

This dessert has more carbs than the typical keto dessert, but not enough to end ketosis. Besides that, everyone enjoys gelatine, but is jello good for weight loss? Since sugar free jello has almost no carbs, the answer is yes. 

A pound of fresh strawberries gives a fruity taste to pair with the creamy texture of your favorite, keto-friendly whipped topping. 

Depending on whether the recipe uses low-carb or zero-carb whipped cream, there should be between 3.5g and 6g of carbs per serving. There are three necessary ingredients to get started:

  • 6 oz sugar free strawberry jello
  • 8 oz of keto-friendly whipped cream
  • 1 pound strawberries, diced

Prepare the dessert by taking the following steps:

  1. Prepare jello according to instructions on the box, then let cool for 45-60 minutes. 
  2. Use an electric mixer or whisk to mix the jello for one minute. 
  3. Gently fold in the other ingredients. 
  4. Transfer to 9×13 pan or individual dessert dishes to serve. 
  5. Garnish with keto-friendly whipped cream and sliced strawberry.

The carb count in this recipe will vary depending on the type of cool whip. Figuring out how many carbs in sugar free jello is also necessary. However, assuming a cool whip brand with 1g carbs per serving, there will be less than 70 carbs in the entire dish. 

Since the dish makes twelve servings, each serving will have less than 6 grams of carbs. Even a double serving can be keto friendly, although that would be pushing it.

Keto-Approved Peanut Butter Mousse

Peanuts are a hot topic when it comes to keto, with questions like “are boiled peanuts keto-friendly” being commonplace. There’s nothing to worry about with this keto peanut butter mousse, however. It’s rich and flavorful, with creamy peanut butter and whipped cream creating a wonderful texture together. 

The delicate, airy taste and peanut flavor make it hard to believe that there’s not a bit of added sugar. On top of that, there’s a healthy amount of protein from the peanut butter that makes it easier to hit other macro nutritional goals. Making peanut butter mousse is a simple process that starts with gathering four necessary ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar-free creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup cream cheese
  • 1 cup sugar-free powdered sugar 

A teaspoon of vanilla extract is an optional way to enhance the taste. You can make your peanut butter mousse in the following easy steps:

  1. Reserve heavy cream and combine all other ingredients in a bowl. 
  2. Beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
  3. Beat heavy cream into the peanut butter mixture ¼ cup at a time. 
  4. Pipe the mixture into mason jars or other suitable containers and chill in the refrigerator for at least half an hour.

At just 3g net carbs and 10g protein, this dessert can be a daily treat even in a keto diet. While the total carbs are 7g, there’s also 4g of fiber. This reduces the net carbs to 3g, only a small fraction of a typical daily carb allowance. 

The biggest risk with peanut butter mousse is that it’s quite protein-rich, and a person could easily overlook that and go over their protein limit. Factoring in protein and carb amounts is key to enjoying this pleasant dessert and remaining in ketosis after. Following a diet that includes desserts like this is how to lose without trying

Keto Cool Whip Chocolate Ice Cream

Going keto doesn’t mean giving up on the sweet satisfaction of ice cream. Making imitation chocolate ice cream is incredibly quick and easy, and it only takes a few ingredients. It’s also extremely easy to adjust it to your liking by changing the ratios of ingredients.

While 3 tbsp of cocoa powder is the starting recommendation, 4 tbsp produces a more pronounced dark chocolate flavor. 

A white mug is filled with hot chocolate that is spilling over the edge and topped with whipped cream and red maraschino cherries.

Source: pixelshot via Canva.com10

Besides that, chocolate isn’t the only option that you can use here. You can blend any sugar-free flavoring with heavy cream, and the final result should still come out well. Consider adding sprinkles to entertain guests with a dessert that’s sweet and light as well as pretty. 

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2½  tbsp sugar-free sugar (or an alternative zero-carb sweetener, amounts adjusted)
  • ½  tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp sea salt

The steps to make keto chocolate ice cream couldn’t be simpler. 

  1. Mix all ingredients and beat into stiff peaks with whip attachment on high setting
  2. Transfer the cream chocolate mixture to a piping bag
  3. Swirl cream into 12 mounds on a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment
  4. Place in freezer for at least one hour 
  5. Eat or transfer to a freezer-safe tub for storage

Almost all of the calories in this dish come from the fat of the heavy cream. There should only be about 18 carbs in the entire batch, and 1.5 carbs per serving. 

Standard Cool Whip is mostly carbs, but that doesn’t mean you have to swear off whipped cream. When the question “Is Cool Whip keto?” comes up, the answer is to buy a keto-approved brand or choose homemade


References

1Harvard. (2022). Diet Review: Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss. Harvard Diet Review. Retrieved November 2nd, from <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/ketogenic-diet/>

2Medline Plus. (2022). Carbohydrates. Medline Plus. Retrieved November 2nd, from  <https://medlineplus.gov/carbohydrates.html>

3Ashwell, M. (2015, May). Stevia, Nature’s Zero-Calorie Sustainable Sweetener. NCBI. Retrieved November 2nd, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4890837/>

4Liu, F. (2021, June). Food-grade carrageenans and their implications in health and disease. NCBI. Retrieved November 2nd, from <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146449/>

5FDA. (2022). Additional Information about High-Intensity Sweeteners Permitted for Use in Food in the United States. FDA. Retrieved November 2nd, from <https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/additional-information-about-high-intensity-sweeteners-permitted-use-food-united-states>

6Miller, K. (2019, July). Bioactive Compounds of Strawberry and Blueberry and Their Potential Health Effects Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview. NCBI.gov. Retrieved November 2nd, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6683271/>

7shepherd, john. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEEjTwOrIM-bowl-of-whipped-cream/>

8RODNAE Productions. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MAETkLf9HD0-person-pouring-whipped-cream-on-bagels/>

9RitaE. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MADQ5Vntp5A-strawberry-dessert-with-whipped-cream/>

10pixelshot. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MAD-QRtoK8A-cup-of-chocolate-ice-cream-with-whipped-cream-copy-space/>

11Kaewsai, Norasit. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MADFBFIspiQ-whipped-cream/>

About the Author

Nathan Petitpas

Nathan has been a fitness enthusiast for the past 12 years and jumps between several types of training such as bodybuilding, powerlifting, cycling, gymnastics, and backcountry hiking. Due to the varying caloric needs of numerous sports, he has cycled between all types of diets and currently eats a whole food diet. In addition, Nathan lives with several injuries such as hip impingement, spondylolisthesis, and scoliosis, so he underwent self-rehabilitation and no longer lives with debilitating pain.