What is Pumpkin Whipped Cream?
Pumpkin whipped cream is a jazzed up version of regular whipped cream and is used as a filling and topping for desserts. It is made by whipping heavy cream with sugar, spices and pumpkin puree. The texture is thick and creamy, the color is light brown/tan and the flavor is sweet and spiced like pumpkin pie.
Ingredients
Heavy cream has a high fat content, giving it extra flavor and richness. The cream usually comes from cow's milk and generally floats to the top of milk, from which it can be skimmed. The cream is cream colored, or a pale golden color. The texture is thicker than milk with a flavor that is mild, rich and creamy. Heavy cream is used to make whipped cream and many desserts.
Pumpkin puree is a sweet filling used for desserts. It is made by cooking the pumpkin down until it is thick, smooth and soft. Pumpkin puree may have sugar and spices added to give a fuller flavor and sweeter taste.
Powdered sugar, also called confectioners sugar is made by grinding the sugar granules until they are powdered. They are then mixed with a small amount of cornstarch to prevent clumping. The sugar is white, powdery and looks a lot like a powdered starch. It tastes sweet and starchy. Powdered sugar is used in baked goods and on baked goods, as well as in icings.
Water is a substance and chemical compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It is clear, fluid, flavorless and odorless. Water is a necessity in nearly every aspect of life, including cooking, baking and hydrating the human body. Water can be served as a cold beverage, or at any temperature comfortable to the mouth and skin.
Vanilla extract is a flavoring used in baked goods, candies and drinks. It is made by infusing alcohol with vanilla pods or beans. This mixture sits for some months and is then strained. It is also extracted using heat and alcohol. The result of either is a thin brown liquid that smells and tastes like vanilla. It has a rich and gentle sweetness to its flavor.
Ground cinnamon is a fine aromatic powder made from the bark of the cinnamon tree, also known as cassia; another variety. The bark is peeled from the tree, dried and ground into the warm brown powder that is known as cinnamon. The flavor is spicy, warm and sweet and savory at the same time. It is extremely popular in many cuisines and common in American desserts.
Nutmeg is the seed of a fruit. The seed has a lacy skin around it, commonly called mace in cooking and is used as a separate spice. Nutmeg is a small, woody spice, with an oblong and muted brown body. Ground nutmeg is a similar color to fresh nutmeg. It is a sweet spice with a warm flavor that is rich and inviting. Nutmeg is commonly used in desserts and can be found in savory dishes as well. Nutmeg is a key ingredient in the flavoring of eggnog.
Ginger is a spice whose root is used in food around the world. The root is grown underground and has a hard body and thin beige skin. The root has many rounded and long shoots and is often fat. The flesh of the ginger is golden colored with a flavor that is earthy, spicy and bright. Ginger is made into tea, used in sauces, desserts and savory dishes.
Cloves are the buds of the Syzygium aromaticum tree. They are dried and can be used whole or ground as a spice. Cloves have a strong, sweet and peppery flavor that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes.
The seeds of the cardamom plant are used in Indian cuisines for both savory and sweet dishes. The seeds grow in a small green pod, roughly the size of an oblong blueberry with pointed ends. The pod has a hard shell, with small pinhead-sized seeds inside that are dark or light brown. These seeds are ground into a fine powder and this is the part used in food. The flavor is almost minty, herbal, spicy and sweet. A little goes a long way in any dish.
Lemon zest is used in dishes to brighten the flavors and add a lemon flavor that is floral, citrusy, and anything but sour. Lemon zest comes from the yellow skin of the lemon. When using zest, none of the white pith underneath should be used, as it tastes bitter. The skin is shaved off in tiny pieces and this is what is called lemon zest, which also refers to the small size. The zest contains aromatic lemon oil and not juice. The small size of the zest makes it easy to incorporate into dishes such as pasta or into a cake batter.
