can you eat 7 minute frosting

Toasted sugar and salt tame the sweetness of this quick and easy frosting, keeping it flavorful and light. Trending Videos

Seven-minute frosting is the stuff of legend, at least for those of us of a certain generation—the pillowy white cloud of frosting our grandmothers spread over and between layers of cake. Every bite was a shock of marshmallow sweetness, little more than sugar and air, with nothing but a whisper of vanilla for flavor.

The simplicity of its ingredients, along with the speed of its preparation, made seven-minute frosting a common companion to cakes with a more complicated profile, such as gingerbread, coconut layer cake or devils food.

Like any of those old recipes that evolved in the American kitchen, definitions remain conceptual rather than rule-bound, based on intuition rather than training. But the truth of the matter is that seven-minute frosting is a Swiss meringue in disguise; that is, a combination of egg whites and sugar cooked over a water bath and whipped into a glossy meringue.

The ratio of ingredients in any Swiss meringue will vary from baker to baker, and purpose to purpose, as the amount of sugar affects not only sweetness but stability and volume. The amount of sugar and egg whites Ill use for Swiss buttercream differs from the ratios I lean on for pie, and that same variation is found within the microcosm of seven-minute frosting as well.

Classic recipes call for sugar and egg whites in proportions ranging from 2:1 all the way to 5:1 by weight, and its these high-sugar recipes that are the norm. Yet the meringue itself becomes increasingly fluffy and light as the amount of sugar falls, but this lightness comes at the cost of stability, as its sugar that keeps the moisture of the egg whites in check, and the meringue aloft.

In my extensive testing on the behaviors of Swiss meringue, I found that relatively low proportions of sugar to egg whites (2:1 or less) can be quite stable when cooked to temperatures well above the 140°F (60°C) generally called for in most recipes.

The exact ratios I use vary depending on the application, and that variation in turn affects the ideal cooking temperature of the meringue, as sugar raises the coagulation point of egg whites. For a seven-minute frosting, Ive found that 2 parts sugar to 1 part egg white, cooked to 175°F (79°C), hits the sweet spot (or the not too sweet spot) of volume and stability, giving me a thick and creamy meringue that wont crust over in time.

You can also change the flavor of a seven-minute frosting by using different types of sugar—with brown sugar it becomes sea foam frosting (without question, the loveliest name of any dessert). Beyond that, any type of raw sugar can be used as well (for more info, see our guide to raw and semi-refined sugar). My personal favorite is lightly toasted sugar, which serves primarily to round out the sweetness of the frosting, but darker styles work equally well if youd like some stronger caramel notes.

Regardless of the sugar type, the method is just like any other Swiss meringue. If youve made one before, you know the drill, but for those new to the style (or who have struggled with it in the past), the basics go like this: Combine sugar and egg whites in a bowl, place them over a pot of steamy water, and stir constantly with a flexible spatula until the mixture is hot.

I like to use the bowl of my stand mixer, but its worth noting that I use (and recommend) a bowl-lift mixer. Tilt head styles have a heavy foot on the bottom of the bowl, a poor design choice that causes the bowls to retain heat for unreasonable periods of time, wreaking havoc on whats inside. For this style of mixer, a separate bowl will need to be used for the water bath.

In any event, the cooking stage shouldnt take longer than 10 to 12 minutes; this time range doesnt quite have the same snappy phrasing and timing suggested by the recipes name. Just as Prometheus brought fire to change the world, the knobs on our stove give us dominion over heat, putting us in control of the entire process. When a thing cooks too slowly, we can increase the heat, and thereby speed up the process.

There is absolutely no reason to stand around for 45 minutes waiting for the temperature to creep up one fraction of a degree at a time. In fact, extended cooking times will ruin the meringue, as the warmth will be enough to drive off moisture via evaporation, resulting in a dry and gritty meringue.

When cooked at proper heat, Swiss meringue (of any stripe) is quick and easy, with the egg whites first warmed up in a few minutes on the stove, then whipped up with a stand mixer to produce a thick and glossy frosting.

Seven-minute frosting can also be seasoned to taste with salt, taming its sweetness, so dont feel married to the listed amount. In this (or any) recipe, the amount of salt given is a starting point at best, as the exact salinity per teaspoon will vary from brand to brand, while whats needed will vary from person to person. Remember theres no need to suffer through a frosting that tastes tooth-achingly sweet when an extra pinch of salt or two will round it right out.

While seven-minute frosting is most commonly flavored with vanilla extract, its amenable to being seasoned with all sorts of extracts, essential oils, flower waters, and powders. When working with other flavors, bear in mind that essential oils and oil-based extracts should be folded into the frosting by hand at the very end, as their fat content may lead to deflation in the meringue.

After seasoning and flavoring, use the frosting right away and serve the cake as soon as you can. Seven-minute frostings advantage is that its fast, not long-lasting. It doesnt hold for much longer than 24 hours at cool room temperature. And no, refrigeration wont help.

The problem isnt perishability, but moisture and volume loss, as the cake is eager to wick moisture from the frosting, causing it to slowly dry and deflate. Meanwhile, the sugar in the frosting is eager to draw what it can from the cake. For example, the frosting will slowly turn red along the edges of a chocolate cake, as it pulls out the anthocyanins in the cocoa.

Due to these exchanges, seven-minute frosting isnt a good candidate for a make-ahead option—thats what buttercream is for!

But if you need a quick and simple frosting fast, itll get the job done with minimal ingredients and fuss. Just remember that youre in charge of the fire, salt, and flavor, so dont hesitate to bend this frosting to your will. With the right adjustments, it will be creamy, light, and none too sweet.

Seven Minute Frosting is so light, and voluminous, that you’ll think you’re eating bite-size clouds. It totally melts on your tongue! It’s super easy to make and forms beautiful peaks on cakes.

Old-Fashioned 7-Minute Frosting Recipe

• 6 ounces egg whites (2/3 cup; 170g), from 5 to 6 large eggs
• 12 1/4 ounces plain or toasted sugar (about 1 3/4 cups; 340g) (see notes)
• 3/4 teaspoon (3g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt, or more to taste; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract, or more to taste

• For a Stand Mixer With a Bowl-Lift Design: Tear off a long strip of foil and crumple it into a thick ring. Place it in the bottom of a 3-quart saucier, or similarly large, wide pot, and fill with roughly 1 1/2 inches water. Place over high heat until bubbling-hot, then adjust the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer. Serious Eats /Vicky Wasik In a stainless steel stand mixer bowl, combine egg whites, toasted sugar, salt, and cream of tartar. Set over the steaming water so that the bowl is resting on the foil ring and touching neither the water nor the pot itself. Cook, stirring and scraping constantly with a flexible spatula, until egg whites register 175°F (79°C) on a digital thermometer; this should take no longer than 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer bowl to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
• For a Stand Mixer With a Tilt-Head Design: Fill a large pot with a few inches of water. Place over high heat until bubbling-hot. In a large glass or ceramic bowl, combine egg whites, toasted sugar, salt, and cream of tartar. Set bowl over the steaming water, then cook, stirring and scraping constantly with a flexible spatula, until egg whites register 175°F (79°C) on a digital thermometer; this should take no longer than 12 minutes. Scrape mixture into the stand mixer bowl and fit stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
• Add vanilla extract, and whip the meringue on high speed until glossy, stiff, and cool to the touch. Along the way, pause mixing to taste the meringue, adjusting salt and vanilla as needed; if using an extract of another flavor, fold it in with a flexible spatula at the very end, as the oil content of flavors like citrus, almond, or mint may otherwise deflate the meringue. Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
• Use immediately as a frosting for cake, and serve as soon as possible; at cool room temperature, the frosting will hold for about 24 hours, as the cake will slowly absorb the meringue over time. If desired, after frosting a cake, the exterior layer of meringue can be toasted like a marshmallow using a culinary blowtorch.
• Troubleshooting: While the approximate cooking times for the water bath are estimations at best, and will naturally vary from kitchen to kitchen, substantially missing the mark indicates heats that are vastly too high or low. When the meringue cooks much too fast, it is prone to scrambling, regardless of how thoroughly the bowl is scraped, resulting in a lumpy texture and eggy flavor. When the meringue is cooked too slowly, excess evaporation will dry the meringue, making it grainy and dense. In either event, adjusting the heat as needed will resolve the issue.

7 Minute Frosting

FAQ

Is seven minute frosting safe to eat?

Does cake with 7 minute frosting need to be refrigerated?

Can you decorate with 7 minute frosting?

Why does 7 minute frosting get grainy?

How do you eat 7 minute frosting?

My absolute favorite way to enjoy 7-minute frosting is on angel food cake. This gluten-free angel food cake is our favorite recipe! You could also pair it with a simple vanilla cake or chocolate cake. It also delicious on a chocolate bundt cake! For best results, use this 7-minute traditional frosting right away.

Is it ok to snack during non-fasting time?

The nutritional choices you make during the non-fasting period are important, and the effects this will have on your body depend on the timing, frequency, and quality of your snacks.

What is a 7 minute frosting?

This old-school frosting of egg whites and sugar comes together fast to give your cakes and cupcakes piles of fluffy, marshmallow-y swirls. Think of seven-minute frosting as a glossy, spreadable meringue, where egg whites and sugar are whipped into a voluptuous cloud.

Does 7 minute frosting taste sweet?

Remember there’s no need to suffer through a frosting that tastes tooth-achingly sweet when an extra pinch of salt or two will round it right out. While seven-minute frosting is most commonly flavored with vanilla extract, it’s amenable to being seasoned with all sorts of extracts, essential oils, flower waters, and powders.