Future food is dedicated to transforming the traditional production model of the food industry, making people and the planet healthier, and addressing the challenges facing humanity. The development of plant-based foods is one of the core contents of future food and an important way to achieve green and low-carbon development of the food industry. A prevailing food trend in the dairy industry is the demand to develop various plant-based alternatives to dairy products. Plant-based whipping cream is a complex emulsion-foam system that can be transformed from an oil-in-water emulsion structure to a triphasic (solid-liquid-gas) foam structure by whipping, which should achieve a subtle balance between emulsion stability, whipping destabilization, and foam re-stabilization. This review aims to understand the science and technology underlying the development of plant-based whipping cream. The initial focus is on the fundamental principle of stabilization and destabilization of plant-based whipping cream, as the development of successful products depends on understanding their physicochemical basis. Three main processing technologies for the manufacture of plant-based whipping cream are then introduced: homogenization, sterilization, and tempering. Besides that, the role of the basic ingredients in plant-based whipping cream is highlighted, including vegetable fats, plant proteins, low-molecular-weight emulsifiers, and thickeners. In order to quantify and compare the quality attributes of different plant-based whipping cream products under standardized conditions, we provide an overview of characterization methods to evaluate emulsion stability, whipping destabilization, and foam re-stabilization of plant-based whipping cream. Subsequently, the legislations and regulations related to plant-based whipping cream products are introduced to cater to their market development. Finally, the current challenges faced by plant-based whipping cream are highlighted. This review aims to provide a guidance for researchers and manufacturers in related industries.