Can you add food coloring to homemade whipped cream?

Yes, you can add food coloring to homemade whipped cream.

Here's a breakdown of how to do it successfully:

Best Practices for Adding Food Coloring

Timing is Key: The ideal time to add food coloring is at the beginning of the whipping process, along with any sugar or flavorings. This allows the color to distribute evenly without overmixing the whipped cream.
Type of Food Coloring: Gel food coloring is generally recommended over liquid food coloring. Gel colors are more concentrated, so you need less, which minimizes the risk of thinning the whipped cream. Oil-based food coloring can also be used.
Avoid Overmixing: Overmixing is the biggest risk. Once whipped cream is overmixed, it can become grainy and curdle, which is difficult to reverse. Mix only until stiff peaks form.

Combine Ingredients: In a chilled bowl, combine heavy cream, sugar (if using), and before you begin whipping, add your chosen food coloring. Start with a small amount (a drop or two of gel color) and add more to achieve the desired shade.
Whip: Use an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer) to whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Be vigilant and stop as soon as the peaks hold their shape.
Adjust Color (if needed): If the color isn't quite right after whipping, gently fold in a tiny bit more food coloring using a spatula. Be very careful not to overmix.

Whipped cream is too thin: This can happen if you add too much liquid food coloring. Unfortunately, there isn't a great fix. You can try adding a stabilizer like powdered sugar, but it might not fully salvage the cream.
Whipped cream is curdled: You've overmixed it. Unfortunately, there's no going back. You'll need to start with fresh cream.