Making fluffy white icing

oli

Well-known member
I used this recipe years ago and I took the cake to work which was a 45 min. drive. I made a note in the recipe saying it was a little loose. So, I would like to know what can I do to make it more firm. I am hosting a party at home so I don't have the travel concerns now. Would I be okay with the recipe as is?

fluffy white icing

* 2 large egg whites, from large eggs

* 1 cup granulated sugar -7 oz.

* 1/4 cup water

* 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (again, no bottled) from ½ lemon

* 1 tablespoon corn syrup

 
Two things --you have to bring the egg mixture to 160 degrees and you have to ...

beat the icing until it is cool to the touch.

It should be light and fluffy.

 
That's what my recipe says to do, but it came out loose, perhaps it was the long trip.

. Cook stirring constantly until mixture reaches 160°, 5-10 minutes.
Transfer mixture to mixer bowl (if needed) and beat on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Increase speed to medium-high and continue to beat until mixture has cooled to room temperature and stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes longer.
My recipe is from ATK and their recipes always work for me, so I was curious as to why my icing was a little on the loose side?

 
I've had good luck with this- REC: White Mountain Frosting

I have also heard this called 7- minute frosting. It has always been soft when I spread it, but it gets a crust on the outside that holds it in place.


* Exported from MasterCook *

White Mountain Frosting

Recipe By :Joy of Cooking
Serving Size : 1
Categories : Fillings & Frostings

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Water
1 Tablespoon Corn Syrup
2 Large Egg Whites
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Dissolve the sugar in the water in a medium saucepan and add the corn syrup. Cook covered until the syrup boils rapidly. Meanwhile, beat the egg whites in a mixer bowl at high speed for about 2 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons of the boiling syrup and let the mixer continue to beat. Cover the remaining syrup and continue to cook for 3 minutes, until the steam has washed the crystals from the sides of the pan. Uncover and cook until the syrup reaches 238° to 240°. Pour the remaining syrup gradually into the egg white mixture, while still beating at high speed. While still beating, add the vanilla, then continue to beat until it is spreading consistency, about 4 to 6 minutes.

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Another great marshmallow icing made with marshmallows

Marshmallow Icing

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
8 marshmallows
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar


Directions:

Bring to boil water and sugar. Add 8 marshmallows and stir until dissolved.
Remove from heat and beat in 2 egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat for about 5 min. until icing sets up.

Frost cake with icing and sprinkle with fresh coconut or drizzle with mixture of 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate and 1 tbls. butter melted.

 
I use this very icing on REC: Lemon Layer Cake from CI.....

Lemon Layer Cake

Recipe By: Cook's Illustrated
Serving Size: 10

Ingredients:

Lemon Curd Filling:
1 cup fresh lemon juice from about 6 lemons
1 teaspoon gelatin(powdered)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar(10 1/2 ounces)
1/8 teaspoon table salt
4 large eggs
6 large egg yolks(reserve egg whites for cake)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter(1 stick), cut into 1/2-inch cubes and frozen
Cake:
2 1/4 cups cake flour(9 ounces), plus extra for pans
1 cup whole milk, room temperature
6 large egg whites, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar(12 1/4 ounces)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter(1 1/2 sticks), cut into 12 pieces, softened but still cool
Fluffy White Icing:
2 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar(7 ounces)
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice(from 1 lemon)
1 tablespoon corn syrup

Directions:

1. FOR THE FILLING: Measure 1 tablespoon lemon juice into small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over top. Heat remaining lemon juice, sugar, and salt in medium nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot but not boiling. Whisk eggs and yolks in large nonreactive bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot lemon-sugar mixture into eggs, then return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with heatproof spatula, until mixture registers 170 degrees on instant-read thermometer and is thick enough to leave trail when spatula is scraped along pan bottom, 4 to 6 minutes. Immediately remove pan from heat and stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Stir in frozen butter until incorporated. Pour filling through fine-mesh strainer into nonreactive bowl (you should have 3 cups). Cover surface directly with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm enough to spread, at least 4 hours.

2. FOR THE CAKE: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch-wide by 2-inch-high round cake pans and line with parchment paper. In 2-cup liquid measure or medium bowl, whisk together milk, egg whites, and vanilla.

3. In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt at low speed. With mixer running at low speed, add butter one piece at a time; continue beating until mixture resembles moist crumbs with no visible butter chunks. Add all but 1/2 cup milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed until mixture is pale and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. With mixer running at low speed, add remaining 1/2 cup milk mixture; increase speed to medium and beat 30 seconds more. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium speed and beat 20 seconds longer. Divide batter evenly between cake pans; using rubber spatula, spread batter to pan walls and smooth tops.

4. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Loosen cakes from sides of pans with small knife, cool in pan 10 minutes, then invert onto greased wire rack; peel off parchment. Invert cakes again; cool completely on rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

5. TO ASSEMBLE: Following illustrations below, use serrated knife to cut each cake into 2 even layers. Place bottom layer of 1 cake on cardboard round or cake plate. Using icing spatula, spread 1 cup lemon filling evenly on cake, leaving 1/2-inch border around edge; using cardboard round, gently replace top layer. Spread 1 cup filling on top. Using cardboard round, gently slide bottom half of second cake into place. Spread remaining cup filling on top. Using cardboard round, place top layer of second cake. Smooth out any filling that has leaked from sides of cake; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while making icing.

6. FOR THE ICING: Combine all ingredients in bowl of standing mixer or large heatproof bowl and set over medium saucepan filled with 1 inch of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water). Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture registers 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and transfer mixture to standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high and continue to beat until mixture has cooled to room temperature and stiff peaks form, 5 minutes longer. Using icing spatula, spread frosting on cake. Serve. (Cake can be refrigerated for up to 1 day before serving.)

Notes:

The filling can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, but it will become quite stiff; fold it with a rubber spatula to loosen it before spreading onto the cake. For neater slices, dip a knife into hot water before cutting the cake. Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator, with the cut side of the cake covered tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.

 
I think this is a delicate icing--needs to be used within hours. Not refrigerated or

"mistreated".

 
Did you beat it to stiff peaks? Was your cake warm?Are you sure of the 160* temp?

If you have only done it once then maybe paying attention to these ideas will indeed give you the frosting you want. Many many others have had a good result and you probably will also.

 
You could try this REC: 7 minute icing...

7 Minute Icing

4 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 TBS. cold water
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients except for the vanilla in the top of a large double boiler (it must have at least an 8-10 cup capacity - I used my mixer bowl and a large saucepan underneath). Place over hot water on moderate heat. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed for about 5 minutes until the mixture stands in peaks when beaters are withdrawn. Immediately, in order to stop the cooking, transfer the mixture to a large bowl of an electric mixer. Add vanilla. Beat at high speed until the mixture is smooth and stiff. Use immediately.

 
My results with the cake part

I thought the cake was rather dry. I am thinking of reducing the time from 23 min. to 20 min next time I make it in the coming months.

 
No problem Charley, I think it was the long trip that made it loose. At home it was just fine.

I did think that the cake part was somewhat dry, so I might try soaking the layers with some syrup.

 
Maybe overcooking. I use the touch method to the center of the cake--and if it has

loosened from the sides.

 
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