Cool whip is a one-of-a-kind dessert topping that adds a sweet flavor and a creamy texture to all of your favorite desserts and recipes. Add a dollop of cool whip to your favorite dessert or use it as a dip for strawberries (or any other fruit, for that matter) to take it to the next level. Before doing that, though, it is important to first find out if cool whip is safe to be consumed by those with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.
Cool Whip is gluten-free. Kraft is a popular brand of cool whip and while they do not officially certify their cool whip products as being gluten-free, there are no ingredients that contain gluten mentioned on their ingredients list. The best gluten-free alternatives to Cool Whip are So Delicious Coco Whip, Truwhip, and Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping.
In this article, we’ll discuss the nutritional value of Cool Whip, as well as highlight healthier gluten-free alternatives. Let’s dig in!
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Is Cool Whip Healthy?
Do not let the name and great taste fool you – there is nothing cool about cool whip. As hard as it can be to resist the fluffy, sweet taste of cool whip, it is not something that should be consumed on a regular basis.
Luckily, resisting this light, sweet treat will likely get much easier for you after you learn exactly what is in a single serving of cool whip and the damage some of its ingredients can do to your body.
Kraft Cool Whip Nutritional Information by Product
Kraft Cool Whip Original
These are the ingredients found in cool whip:
- Water
- Corn syrup
- High fructose corn syrup
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil (coconut and palm kernel oils)
- Skim milk
- Contains less than 2% of light cream
- Sodium caseinate (from milk)
- Natural and artificial flavor
- Xanthan and guar gums
- Modified food starch
- Polysorbate 60
- Sorbitan monostearate
- Sodium polyphosphate
- Beta carotene (color)
Here is some important nutritional information to note for cool whip (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 25
- Total fat: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 3g
- Total sugars: 2g
- Protein: 0g
Kraft Sugar-Free Cool Whip
Do not let the name fool you. While it may be sugar-free, it is not any healthier for you than traditional cool whip. It still has all the same harmful ingredients and should be avoided, as well.
These are the ingredients found in sugar-free cool whip:
- Water
- Corn Syrup (Adds a Trivial Amount of Sugar)
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Coconut and Palm Kernel Oils)
- Contains Less than 2% of Sodium Caseinate (from Milk)
- Natural and Artificial Flavor
- Modified Food Starch
- Xanthan and Guar Gums
- Polysorbate 60
- Sorbitan Monostearate
- Sodium Polyphosphate
- Acesulfame Potassium and Aspartame (Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine) (Sweeteners)
- Beta Carotene (Color).
Here is some important nutritional information to note for sugar-free cool whip (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 20
- Total fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 3g
- Total sugar: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Now, you may be wondering what exactly are the bad ingredients and what makes them so harmful? Well, here is a play-by-play of just how toxic some of those ingredients that are found in both traditional and sugar-free varieties can be to our bodies:
- Hydrogenated Oils. Hydrogenated oils have been known to cause heart disease by increasing LDL levels (the bad cholesterol) and lowering your HDL levels (the good cholesterol).
- (High Fructose) Corn Syrup. Just like not all calories are alike, neither are sugars. Corn syrup causes more weight gain than regular table sugar. It can also contribute more heavily to obesity and diabetes. Lastly, recent studies have shown that it may also contain small amounts of mercury, which may cause cancer, reproductive disorders, and many other degenerative diseases.
- Skim Milk and Light Cream. Researchers have found a strong association between skim milk or fat-free milk and cancer, especially prostate cancer in men.
Healthy Cool Whip Alternatives
Now that you know exactly what is in both traditional and sugar-free cool whip, it is unlikely that you will buy it again. However, that does not mean that you can never enjoy the sweet taste of cool whip ever again.
Luckily, there are healthier alternatives to cool whip on the market for us to enjoy without all of the guilt. Next time you go to the store for cool whip, reach for one of these options instead:
So Delicious Coco Whip
Satisfy your sweet tooth and take your dessert game to the next level with So Delicious Coco Whip. It is light, fluffy and sweet just like traditional cool whip except it does not have all of the harmful ingredients. As the name suggests, it truly is “so delicious.”
This brand is not only gluten-free, but it is also vegan-friendly.
These are the ingredients found in So Delicious Coco Whip:
- Filtered water
- Organic coconut oil
- Organic tapioca syrup
- Organic cane sugar
- Pea protein
- Guar gum
- Sunflower lecithin
- Xanthan gum
- Natural flavor
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 30
- Total fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 3g
- Total sugars: 3g
Truwhip
Truwhip is a more nutritious whipped topping that is free of any hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup that you would find in traditional cool whip. It is also gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher.
Some people even say that they find Truwhip to be tastier and more flavorful than traditional cool whip. What can be better than something that is both healthy and delicious?
These are the ingredients found in Truwhip:
- Water
- Tapioca syrup
- Vegetable oil (palm kernel oil and coconut oil)
- Cane sugar
- Tapioca maltodextrin
- Contains less than 2% of light cream, soy lecithin, sodium caseinate (from milk), xanthan gum, guar gum, natural flavors, and beta carotene (for color)
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand:
- Calories: 30
- Total fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 3g
- Total sugars: 2g
- Protein: 0g
Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping
This vegan and gluten-free whipped topping is much healthier for you than regular whipped cream, and certainly healthier for you than traditional cool whip. Add this on top of your favorite ice cream, pie, cake, or use it as a dip for your favorite berries for a decadent treat.
These are the ingredients found in Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping:
- Coconut cream
- Water
- Sugar
- Glucose syrup
- Inulin
- Mono and diglycerides
- Cellulose gel
- Cellulose gum
Here is some important nutritional information to note for this brand (per 2tbsp serving):
- Calories: 10
- Total fat: 0.5
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total carbs: 2g
- Total sugars: 1g
- Protein: 0g
Homemade Healthy Cool Whip Recipe
They say health starts in the kitchen. Making items from scratch at home can be intimidating for some people, especially if you do not cook or bake often. If you are one of those people, have no fear. Making cool whip from scratch at home is much easier than you would expect. It is also much healthier than going to the store and buying it premade.
The best part is that when you make cool whip from scratch at home you get to control exactly what goes into it. It gives you the freedom to add, subtract or substitute any of the ingredients to fit your specific taste buds and/or diet restrictions. Also, you are sure to impress your guests the next time they come over and are served delicious and healthy homemade cool whip to go with their dessert.
You will need the following ingredients:
- 8 ounce cream cheese (organic, cultured)
- ½ cup sugar or equivalent sweetener
- 1 pint heavy cream, A2 pasture raised
- 1 teaspoons lemon, juiced (roughly ¼ of a lemon)
- 1 splash vanilla
- 1 pinch sea salt
Follow these directions:
- Using a hand or stand mixer, cream together cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
- Add remaining ingredients, whip until fluffy stiff peaks form.
- Enjoy your homemade cool whip immediately or keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Final Thoughts
Although cool whip may taste good, there is nothing good about it when it comes to your health. There are many ingredients found in cool whip that can lead to a slew of health problems including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Luckily, you do not have to give up cool whip completely if you are someone who enjoys it. There are many healthier alternatives on the market for you to try. You can also make your own cool whip from scratch at home for the healthiest possible version of the sweet treat. It is even easier than you might think.
Related Questions
Is cool whip vegan?
No, traditional cool whip is not vegan, as it contains animal products. However, there are vegan versions of cool whip available.
Is Cool Whip Kosher?
Yes, cool whip is certified kosher.
Is Cool Whip Keto-Friendly?
Cool whip comes in a traditional and sugar-free versions, both of which are keto-friendly. However, keep in mind that just because they are keto-friendly does not mean that it is recommended to consume regularly on the keto diet.