Cool Whip vs Whipped Cream in a Can

My sister shocked me the other day when she came home with two cans of Redi-Whip instead of our family usual, Cool Whip. I am not a whipped cream fan generally, but what is holiday dessert without a dollop of Cool Whip? 

This is my first holiday meal in a few years so perhaps I am just sentimental... as kids, we were naughty and used to stick our fingers in the frozen Cool Whip and snag a bite.

What's your thought: Is there are difference between the two?

We were a cool whip only family.

My mom kept a kosher house, which on a simple level, meant you didn't mix milk and meat. Therefore, if we were eating turkey for Thanksgiving, we would have had to completely clear the table and switch the dishes (part of keeping kosher) before we could have desert. Because Cool Whip is non-dairy, she could serve that with desert with out the big dish change over, as pumpkin pie and pecan pie can easily be made non-dairy with margarine rather than butter.

and, i love frozen cool whip!

yup there is a difference!

cool whip is much sweeter....

The redi whip tastes just like whipped creme, with hardly any sugar in it.

I miss cool whip like mad, but redi whip is OK on pumpkin pie.  but not as good as cool whip.

To me... both are not as good as home whipped cream with sugar and some vanilla.

Cool whip tastes like a pot of cold chemicals.

Rediwhip is a bit better but like air.  Though it's healthier than real whipped cream.

Then again I was never raised on cool whip.  I understand if that's all you had it might taste good too.  There are plenty of things I eat I know people find gross.  

Cool whip tastes like a pot of cold chemicals.

After being away from it for so long and then going home and having it, I completely agree.  Blah!

i know lots of people that are cool whip junkies.  myself- i'm a real homemade whipped cream person- whipping cream, vanilla, icing sugar and your off.

i used to buy powerded non-dairy dessert topping in the US (not for me- for a kitchen i used to work in).  i never tried the stuff- but everyone said it tasted like cool-whip.  next time someone's in the states loook for it- easier to carry back to the UK than frozen cool whip.

Has anyone tried Dream Topping made by Birds aka Kraft?  Same sort of product as Dream Topping in the states if anyone remembers that. It is a dry product that you whip with milk.  As noted here, not as nice as real whipped cream, but a little more calorie efficient and shelf stable (ambient).  Yes it is chemicals, but again as stated above so is cool whip.  I find it near the custard and rice pudding type stuff at Sainsbury's.    

my lactose-intolerant stomach thanks me for going with the cool whip instead of whipped cream 

my lactose-intolerant stomach thanks me for going with the cool whip instead of whipped cream

See now that's a good reason to eat Cool Whip!

I'm a purist - only real whipping cream with sugar and vanilla will do.  In the summer, on some jello, I'll do cool whip, but otherwise, it's real whipped cream for me.  And not in the can - blech!!

~Liza

The only time I liked Cool whip was when I was a kid and made my brownies with cool whip on top then sprinkle coconut shreadings on top...after puberty  I found other enjoyable uses for cool whip..

I learn so much on these threads.

Honestly, I can't stand any whipped cream-type food.

Cool whip has its place, like on a polar pizza, for example.

But there'll always be a special place in my heart for real whipped cream . . . sprayed out of a can. 

But there'll always be a special place in my heart for real whipped cream . . . sprayed out of a can. 

DITTO!!