The simple but elegant dessert topping, Chantilly cream

The presence of Chantilly cream on a dessert or topping an indulgent beverage sounds fancy, but it’s just sweetened whipped cream with vanilla. In fact, restaurants could just call it whipped cream, but using the French name for it apparently adds a touch of Old World-style nostalgia.

It’s a great way to upgrade an existing menu item with a hint of indulgence without changing core ingredients, or as a swap-out for thicker, sweeter frostings such as buttercream.

Chantilly cream is emblematic of the innovative ways operators are upgrading ingredients without adding costs, and leaning into consumers’ focus on menu items that allow them to savor a moment, whether it’s a night out in a fine dining restaurant or a stop at a quiet coffee shop.

Market research firm Datassential reports that Chantilly cream is found on 1.1% of U.S. menus, up 15% over the past four years.

Click through the gallery to learn more about this Flavor of the Week and see how one restaurant is using Chantilly cream on its menu.