it's a brand name for "non-dairy whipped topping"
a totally fake frozen product that seems to taste like whipped cream and comes in reg, extra creamy, light and no fat versions.
in our supermarkets it's in found in the one of the freezer cases, usually near the frozen pie crusts.
"Dream Whip" is its "kissin' cousin".... a dry powder found in the baking aisle. You have to actually add milk to it and whip it. But why do that? -- Be lazy and just go w/ the Cool Whip.
so its just basically whipped cream in a tub then?
absolutely NOT....it's a food chemist's concoction!
here's a link to Krafts info page....
http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=product&m=product/Product_display&Site=1&Product=4300000953
Can cakes filled with Cool Whip be left at room temperature?? If so, for how long??
Thanks...
I always store them in the refridgerator.
Still confused as to what exactly it is then? I'm worried there's no equivalent in Australia. 
I'll take the product info to my mum and see what she thinks it could be...and then I suppose all I can do is give it a go. It's only the filling after all.
Thanks for your help tho!! 
At least its a little clearer!
Perhaps you could show us your recipe and we could see if you could substitute the real thing.
It is nothing even close to real cream. It's the difference between high quality butter and crisco shortening or margarine. The shortening doesn't even begin to compare to real butter.
I looked at this link
http://www.kraft.com.au/home/index.cfm
and it looks like Coolwhip may not be available in Australia!
Cool whip is NOTHING like the real thing...it is all chemicals! It holds up better then whipped cream because of the chemicals, which makes it popular for recipes..
I wonder if there is is something similar to that in your country? Can you get dream whip?
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