Description
Grandma’s classic 7 minute frosting whisks together sugary sweetness with nostalgic charm, creating a pillowy cloud of meringue-like perfection. Light and glossy, this timeless recipe crowns cakes and cupcakes with silky elegance you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Ingredients:
- 2 large egg whites (room temperature)
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (340 grams) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) water
Stabilizing and Flavoring Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare a makeshift double boiler by setting up a heatproof mixing bowl over a pot of gently simmering water, ensuring the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.
- Combine egg whites, sugar, water, cream of tartar, and salt in the mixing bowl, creating a smooth, initial mixture.
- Whisk the ingredients continuously while positioned over the simmering water, maintaining a consistent motion to help sugar dissolve and prevent uneven heating.
- Monitor the mixture’s temperature, gently beating with a handheld mixer until it reaches approximately 160°F, which typically takes 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the bowl from heat source and transfer to a stand mixer or continue with handheld mixer.
- Whip the mixture at high speed, watching for transformative changes in texture and volume.
- Continue beating until the frosting develops glossy, stiff peaks that hold their shape firmly, which usually requires 5-7 minutes of vigorous mixing.
- Incorporate vanilla extract with a final quick blend, ensuring even distribution throughout the fluffy mixture.
- Apply the frosting immediately to your desired baked goods, as the texture will gradually set and become less malleable as it cools.
Notes
- Always use room temperature egg whites for the most stable and voluminous frosting.
- Ensure no trace of egg yolk enters the mixture, as fat prevents proper meringue formation.
- Clean your mixing bowl and beaters thoroughly with white vinegar to remove any grease that might prevent peaks from forming.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the precise temperature while heating to guarantee food safety and perfect texture.
- This frosting works best on cakes that will be served the same day, as it can become slightly sticky or weep after 24 hours.
- For stable peaks, add a pinch of cream of tartar which helps stabilize the egg whites during whipping.
- Consider using a stand mixer for consistent and effortless beating, which reduces arm fatigue during the long whipping process.
- If the frosting becomes too stiff, gently fold in a teaspoon of hot water to restore spreadability.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg