Cool Whip and Miracle Whip are used for completely different purposes. You don’t want to confuse the two products in the kitchen otherwise you’ll likely be in for an unpleasant surprise when it comes time to eat.
Below you’ll find a comparison of Cool whip versus Miracle Whip to give you an idea of what primarily sets these products apart from each other. Let’s get into what you need to know about the two popular whips found at grocery stores!
Cool Whip vs. Miracle Whip
Primary Uses
Cool Whip is used as a topping for desserts similar to how you’d use whipped cream. This ready-to-use topping is commonly included on cakes, pies, and other sweet treats. Of course, it also makes an excellent topping for ice cream.
Cool Whip is also typically incorporated into recipes as an ingredient for creating creamy and light desserts. It can be mixed with other ingredients like pudding, cream cheese, or flavored extracts to make mousse, parfaits, or fruit salads.
To use Cool Whip, you simply thaw it in the refrigerator until it reaches a spreadable consistency. Once thawed, it can be directly scooped or piped onto desserts to add a creamy and fluffy texture.
Miracle Whip is a condiment that was created as a budget-friendly alternative to mayonnaise. It’s tangy and slightly sweeter than your typical mayo.
Miracle Whip is used similar to mayonnaise. You’ll find it on sandwiches, as a salad dressing base, and in dips. It’s popular to use to make deviled eggs and tuna sandwiches.
Miracle Whip is ready to use right out of the jar.
Nutrition
Both Cool Whip and Miracle Whip should be consumed in moderation given their high calories in relation to their serving sizes. A comparison of the two nutrition facts reveals that Cool Whip has fewer calories, total fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Miracle Whip does have some healthy fats, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, that aren’t reflected below.
| Cool Whip – Original | Miracle Whip | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 2 Tbsp. (9g) | 2 Tbsp. (30g) |
| Calories | 25 | 80 |
| Total Fat | 1.5g | 7g |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 1g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 10mg |
| Sodium | 0mg | 190mg |
| Total Sugars | 2g | 4g |
| Includes Added Sugars | 1g | 2g |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
Ingredients
A review of Cool Whip’s ingredients below shows that it is primarily made with water, sugar (corn syrups), oil, milk, flavoring, and stabilizers.
Miracle Whip similarly contains water, high-fructose corn syrup, and oil. However, it differs from Cool Whip with its ingredients like vinegar, eggs, mustard flour, and spices.
Cool Whip Ingredients – 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).
Miracle Whip Ingredients – Water, Soybean Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Vinegar, Modified Cornstarch, Eggs, Salt, Natural Flavor, Mustard Flour, Potassium Sorbate as A Preservative, Paprika, Spice, Dried Garlic.
Ownership
Cool Whip and Miracle Whip are both owned by Kraft Heinz. Other brands associated with the parent company include Kraft Mac & Cheese, Heinz Ketchup, Lunchables, Kool Aid, Philadelphia, Oscar Mayer, Jell-O, and Planters, among others.
Introduction Year
Cool Whip was introduced in 1966 as an alternative to whipped cream made by hand. It offered a major convenience factor which helped grow its popularity. A division of General Foods called Birds Eye is credited for first releasing the product to consumers.
Miracle Whip was introduced in 1933 by the Kraft Foods company. It was created as a unique salad dressing with a tangy flavor that differentiated it from more expensive traditional mayonnaise products.
Final Thoughts
To briefly sum it up, Cool Whip is a topping used primarily for desserts, while Miracle Whip is a tangy salad dressing and sandwich spread. The key differences lie in their ingredients, usage, flavor, and dietary considerations.
As we said it the opening, a mix up of these whips will make for some pretty gross meals. The good news is that you should be well aware of the differences between Cool Whip and Miracle Whip after reading this article.
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Image Credits – Cool Whip: Mike Mozart/flickr; Miracle Whip: Louisa Billeter/flickr