The Iconic Red Can That Turns Any Dessert into an Occasion

Those individuals who view instant gratification as a vice are people who clearly have never enjoyed canned whipped cream. They say that good things take time, but in my household the philosophical merits of time as virtue blah blah are drowned out by the garbled hiss of Reddi-Wip applied directly to my index finger at any given moment, at any point throughout my day, and the oh-so-noble act of waiting makes way for unabashed epicurean pleasure. 

It’s important to be clear that Reddi-Wip is not whipped cream. Reddi-Wip is Reddi-Wip. Whipped cream requires a bowl, a whisk, an electric mixer, sugar, and maybe vanilla. Reddi-Wip requires opening the fridge. Making whipped cream from scratch takes time: three, maybe even four whole minutes. Reddi-Wip is instant.

When I was growing up, the iconic red cans came around our house for a limited time at Thanksgiving, just in time to completely drown a slice of pumpkin pie. My siblings and I relished in this seasonal treat, knowing that the rest of the calendar year would be barren of such joy. Now, as an adult, I can buy Reddi-Wip whenever I want, pumpkin-centric holidays be damned. As such, whenever I want happens to be all the time — so my fridge rarely sees a day without it. 

To truly enjoy Reddi-Wip is to make space in your life for possibility. Enjoyment needs no planning or prior commitment. In fact, to lean into Reddi-Wip is a master class in spontaneity. With Reddi-Wip, any dessert can become an Occasion Dessert. 

Random ice cream in your freezer? Hit it with a drizzle of maple syrup or some thinned-out jam and something crunchy — granola, peanuts, sesame seeds. Top it all with a generous pile of Reddi-Wip and you’ve got yourself a bonafide Sundae (with a capital S). 

Overzealous at the farmers market? Don’t leave those fresh berries neglected in the back of your fridge — let them macerate with some sugar, lemon zest, and a splash of orange juice, and top with Reddi-Wip because that’s the whole point, anyway. 

After-dinner drinks? Give the can just one or two shakes for a looser consistency that pools into a luscious, creamy foam. Poolside piña coladas? Reddi-Wip is a must, as is a blindingly neon maraschino cherry. (I don’t make the rules.) Mixed with mascarpone for an easy cupcake frosting, drizzled with dulce de leche on top of a slice of cake, folded into yogurt for a light and quick dessert — as long as your can is still packed with air, the list goes on and on. 

Buy: Reddi-wip Original Dairy Whipped Topping, $2.49 for 6.5 ounces

What groceries do you buy to dress up your desserts? Tell us in the comments below.