7-Minute Frosting

This light and billowy 7-Minute Frosting makes the perfect topping for a variety of cake flavors. It's cloud-like texture is certain to make it a delectable frosting option you'll reach for again and again.

Easy 7-Minute Frosting Recipe

This type of meringue-like frosting is often found paired with coconut and red velvet layer cakes in the South. My Grandmother showed me how to make it as a girl, and it will forever remain an all time favorite frosting for me.  It's similar in flavor to marshmallows which makes it the perfect choice for icing a chocolate cake, a traditional butter cake or my white buttermilk cake. You just can't go wrong.

How to Make the Best 7-Minute Frosting Recipe

• Ingredients you'll need to make homemade 7 Minute Frosting: Large egg whites, cold water, light corn syrup, granulated sugar, cream of tarter and vanilla extract.
• Kitchen tools you'll need: A hand mixer, large bowl, large pot that fits the bowl without touching the water. measuring cups and spoons, a rubber spatula.
• When choosing the bowl and pot to use it's important to test them for size and fit first. For example, pick a bowl that will securely set on top of a pot of simmering water without actually touching the water underneath.
• When making this frosting, I find it best to begin the process off the heat. If you take a moment to whisk together the sugar with the remaining ingredients it tends to dissolve more easily. This will help prevent the frosting from becoming grainy.
• Cream of tarter helps to stabilize the frosting. Think of this frosting as meringue-like in texture.
• Make sure the mixer beaters are free of any grease or debris or else it will effect the volume of the egg whites.
• Likewise, carefully separate the egg yolk from the whites. Whites only are needed and even a small amount of the yolk will result in flat egg whites, they just won't expand. You can freeze the egg yolks for another recipe. How long can you freeze egg yolks or whites? You can freeze them for 6-12 months if they're fresh.
• This frosting isn't like beating heavy cream. If you beat it too long it won't turn into butter. Beat it until stiff peaks form and it has increased in volume and has a light cloud-like texture.
• A hand held mixer makes it easier to beat the frosting on the stove top.
• This frosting should be used to ice a cooled cake as soon as it's fully beaten. It's fine to chill after frosting.
• You may add a few drops of food coloring along with the vanilla, if you'd like it to be a specific color.
• Store cakes frosted with this 7 Minute Frosting recipe chilled in the refrigerator.

More Homemade Frostings and Icing recipes to Make

• Vanilla Buttercream is a classic that can be used on any flavor of cake.
• Peanut Buttercream Icing is delicious on butter cake or chocolate cake.
• Brown Sugar Butter Cream is a scrumptious flavor that's great for pumpkin, pound cake or spice cakes.
• Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese Frosting makes an appearance in the fall for spice cakes but it's equally delicious on other flavors such as chocolate or vanilla.
• Whipped Chocolate Frosting is super simple to make.
• Lemon Buttercream from My Cake School.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Egg Separator
• Mixer
• Offset Spatulas
• Cake Stand

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5 from 2 votes

7-Minute Frosting

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time7 mins

Total Time17 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 7-minute-frosting, seven-minute-frosting

Servings: 6 cups

Calories: 192kcal

Ingredients

• 3 large egg whites
• ⅓ cup cold water
• 1 ⅓ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon light corn syrup
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tarter
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a large 4-6 quart stainless steel bowl, whisk together egg whites, water, sugar, corn syrup, cream of tarter and salt until smooth.
• Place over a pot of simmering water. Do not let the water touch the bottom of the bowl.
• Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed for 5-7 minutes or until frosting is smooth and soft peaks form.
• Remove bowl from heat, add vanilla. Continue to beat for an additional 2 minutes or until light and billowy.
• Use immediately to frost one 8 or 9 inch layer cake.

Notes

• Keep a damp cloth over mixing bowl to prevent drying out while frosting cake.
• This recipe will easily double.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 29mg | Sugar: 47g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

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