As fun as the canned stuff is, nothing beats homemade whipped cream for your favorite dessert.
Whip up the cream in a big bowl right up until you're about to get stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla and sugar until peaks form properly. Careful not to beat the mixture too hard, or it'll just turn into a lump of butter.
Make sure both the whisk you use for beating and the bowl you do it in are nice and cold.