Grab a medium bowl and add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes until soft peaks form. You'll see it transform from liquid to cloud-like fluff—don't walk away or you'll miss the moment when it goes from perfect to over-whipped.
Add the softened butter and continue beating for another minute until the whipped cream frosting recipe looks smooth and combined. The butter might look chunky at first, but keep mixing and it'll all come together beautifully.
Now fold in the cream cheese using a spatula or on low speed—don't overmix or the frosting gets dense. Mix just until you see no white streaks, then stop. This step's crucial because overmixing deflates all that air you just whipped in.
Add the vanilla powder, salt, and lemon juice to the bowl and gently fold everything together. Taste a tiny bit and adjust the sweetness if needed—I sometimes add an extra tablespoon of honey if I want it slightly sweeter.
Fold in the almond extract and cinnamon, mixing until the color is even throughout. The frosting should look creamy, spreadable, and smell absolutely amazing at this point.
If the whipped cream frosting recipe feels a little soft, add the whole milk one tablespoon at a time until you get your desired consistency. Some people like it thicker for piping; I prefer mine a touch softer for easy spreading.
Use immediately on cooled cakes or cupcakes, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Don't freeze this frosting—the texture gets grainy when it thaws and it's honestly not worth the hassle.