Is whipping cream the same thing as cool whip?
No; heavy cream has a higher fat content. Granted, it is a pretty subtle difference (at least 36 percent fat in heavy cream and at least 30 percent in whipping cream), but it's important if you're making something that's going to keep its shape—the higher fat content in heavy cream makes it more suitable for those jobs. That extra fat also makes it more resistant to curdling in sauces.And if you're wondering where heavy whipping cream fits into all this, don't worry, it's just the same as heavy cream.