7-minute frosting

7-minute frosting (sev–uhn min-it fraw-sting, fros-ting) noun

Also seven-minute frosting or icing. Cooked, egg-white-based frosting that is bright white with a marshmallow quality. It can be found in many old cookbooks – it is a classic American recipe – and the name references the approximate amount of time it takes to beat the frosting over a water bath until stiff and spreadable. The recipe typically includes egg whites, cream of tartar, sugar and vanilla. 7-minute frosting is essentially a cooked meringue.

Bakepedia Tips

• If you only have a hand-held mixer, then making 7-minute frosting as it is classically presented – beating while standing at the stove – is a fine option. We prefer to make a version using cooked sugar syrup, and to take advantage of a stand mixer to do most of the work. See our Fluffy White Frosting recipe.

_{Image: Dédé Wilson}