I have a bit of a confession to make. Though I’m easy going as it relates to how friends serve food and drinks in their homes, I have a bit of a pet peeve in my own home: I don’t like whipped cream canisters as part of the entertaining landscape. I don’t care if they are fetched from the fridge to top ice cream and returned not to dally on the countertops. I do care if a family member takes them out of the fridge to fill their mouths with a big hit of whipped cream (you know who you are!), but that’s a different issue. I just don’t think they look pretty with clean, sparkling glassware, other toppings in little bowls, or any other accouterments one would put out when hosting a hot chocolate or dessert bar.
Being a problem-solver and a DIY’er rather than a whiner I came up with a solution that is inexpensive, fast and offers the option to coordinate one’s whipped cream canister cover (or wine bottle cover) to the season: DIY Whipped Cream Canister Cozies. Not sure what a cozie is? A cover, basically. You’d know them most commonly for beer cans as they are available for almost every sports team, or as a regional souvenir.
These cozies are made from socks (I recommend new ones) that are trimmed to your needed length and slipped over the canister. They lend a better grip with chilly hands and act to insulate the canister a bit too to keep the contents cold. I created these for the hot buttered rum bar I did over the weekend and they fit the cold wind whipping the Trick-or-Treaters about, both young and old.
Any type of socks can be used and I suggest checking at stores like Target where the supply and options are ample and the cost is low. I bought each of these sock pairs for $3 so I did not feel badly sacrificing them for the cause. I love the idea of textured cable knit socks for a holiday drink or dessert bar. I picked some up with sophisticated stripes including gold metallic for entertaining around Christmas and New Years as well.
Whether you care about whipped cream canisters being exposed or not, I think you’ll agree they are really fun when covered.
SUPPLIES
Socks with the area above the heel long enough to cover the canister or bottle (e.g. knee socks or longer for taller bottles, mid-calf for shorter canisters)
Scissors
Ruler
INSTRUCTIONS (Refer to the photos above)
- Measure the length of the whipping cream canister or wine bottle from the bottom to the curve of the canister or bottle. Refer to the photos above.
- From the top of the sock, measure the length of step one plus an additional ½ – ¾ inches to turn under. Cut straight across the sock at this spot.
- Slip the cozie on the canister or bottle and turn cut end under to form a finished end.
NancyB says
What a clever idea! I needed this for my recycled glass tea bottle I used during our recent sugar beet harvest. The bare whipping cream can always bothered me, too, but not enough to come up with a solution. I received a whipped cream dispenser one Christmas that I didn’t even know existed. It uses little cartridges of nitrous oxide and whipping cream. I love it, and it even looks pretty!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
I love it! Perfect for someone like me who never ever allows commercial containers of any kind on the table!
Toni Dash says
Jean I’m so glad I’m not the only one! I don’t know what it is exactly but they don’t create the ambiance I’m looking for when entertaining; am I right?! I love these cozies. Especially because they take about 3 minutes to make and can be customized for any situation.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
What a clever idea this is. I think I have to make my own now 🙂
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I think that’s such a great idea! I love the idea of having something crafty covering up the container.
Pam says
This is such a cute idea! I love how easy and quick it is, too. What a great touch when entertaining.
Lori E says
My mother-in-law taught me at a young age that containers don’t belong on the table. For the most part I try to do the same and especially for a special drink bar like you have set up where the canisters would be very conspicuous. Great way to fix them up to be part of the mood.
That being said if I am at someone elses home and the put out the containers I would only notice the fact that they invited me to their home.
As for the whipped cream sprayed into the mouth, my nephew, as an adult, lined up all the little kids in the kitchen one Thanksgiving and filled their open birdie mouths with a direct blast from the can of whipped cream. I have to tell you it is one of their fondest memories now that they are all in their 20s.
Toni Dash says
I agree with everything you said Lori; everything.
Debra says
What a fun idea. I use cozies all the time for my drinks, but never for my whipped cream – but it makes sense to me!
Kristi says
What a neat idea! My daughter is trying to find something to make for family for Christmas, I think I will suggest this to go over a wine bottle.
Marcie W. says
These are absolutely awesome and would make the cutest touch to a bottle of wine that was being given as a gift. Since you use socks, the pattern and style possibilities are endless.
Felicia says
What an adorable idea. This would work well for so many different containers.
Chasing Joy says
I never would have thought of that. Now you have a use for all of your miss matched socks.
Liz Mays says
Aww those patterns look cute on those canisters. I’d love to find some really festive sock patterns to use.
Ann Bacciaglia says
This is such a great idea. I will have to try a few for wine cozies. They would make great stocking stuffers.,
Rosey says
What a fun item to make. And easy too! My kids would love to do this to make people Christmas gifts from them. 🙂
Yolanda @ Seeing It Their Way says
OMG, how adorable is this. Such a simple solution my family and friends would be so impressed by this. LOL
Kristin says
This is such a great Idea! I will be pining this idea for myself and others. Thank you for sharing.
Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow) says
Considering how many random socks I have floating around our house, making these cozies could solve two problems.
They’re adorable.
Kelly Hutchinson says
What a super cute idea! I too hate how the whipping cream cans look when they sit on the table during a party.
Shell says
Those are super cute! Whipped cream always goes so quickly in my house that I’ve never really thought about what the containers look like. 😉
mya.k says
That looks so good I’ll have to try to make this sometime.
Tracey says
This is so cute! I would look like a regular Martha Stewart whipping this out at Christmas.
Shannon Gurnee says
I love whipped cream! I never thought of doing something like that with a whipped cream container.