Anyone who can conjure a frosting as angelic as this—puffy and white and billowy as clouds—can clearly talk to angels. Or at least channel them. Way to go, Momma Reiner. Never was a coconut angel food cake so perfectly smothered in cloudlike perfection and confection.–David Leite
*How do I separate eggs quickly?
You may want to try Wilton’s egg separator to obtain fast and easy egg whites with no mess. The egg yolk sits in a top cavity while the whites slip through slots into a bottom compartment. Even the kids will get a kick out of it.
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Angel White Icing
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup egg whites*, (from about 4 large eggs, separated)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, mix together the sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and hot water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves and the liquid changes from cloudy to clear, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Cover the saucepan and boil for about 1 minute to wash down any sugar crystals that may have formed on the sides of the saucepan.
- Uncover and continue to cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 240°F (115°C). Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool just a little.
- When the candy thermometer reads 236°F (113°C), beat the egg whites with a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium to high speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes.
- With the motor still running, slowly add the sugar syrup to the egg whites, beating on medium speed. Add the vanilla or almond extract and continue to beat until the frosting is cool and holds its shape, 5 to 8 minutes. Use immediately. Originally published March 22, 2012.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
I tried this angel white icing recipe for a bit of nostalgia. It’s a version of the “7-minute” marshmallow frosting my Grandma always made to spread atop our family birthday cakes. The frosting is light, fluffy, and easy to spread.
Although the recipe is nostalgic, it’s also very modern since it makes the perfect base for decorating a cake with sprinkles, coconut, or anything else you want to adhere to your cake. I ended up with a generous amount of frosting – certainly enough for a three-layer cake or 24 cupcakes, provided you can stop tasting it right out of the bowl. I used it to frost a coconut angel food cake.
The recipe feels a little intimidating with talk of sugar crystals, candy thermometers, and stiff egg white peaks but the directions took me through the process with good results. Using a candy thermometer and stand mixer made the process easier than I thought it would be. I paid close attention to cooking the sugar syrup to 240°F and whisking my egg whites to the point where I lifted the beaters and got peaks that stood up straight and held their peaks without slouching down.
David: I see many comments below about frosting the cake ahead of time for traveling. Is it possible to make the frosting the day before and frost the cake the next day before serving? How would I store the frosting?
Marcia, I wouldn’t recommend making this angel white icing ahead of time. This type of icing, also known as seven-minute frosting or marshmallow frosting, is quite delicate and doesn’t have a long shelf life. If stored overnight, it might deflate or become grainy or separate. For travel, opt for a more stable frosting like buttercream. If your heart’s set on this icing, it’s best to make and frost the cake as close to serving time as possible for the best quality and appearance.