How to Make Quick Icing
Just about everyone loves the creation of sweet confections right from the oven, yet taking the time required to make a fancy buttercream or Italian buttercream frosting can be a bit too much to ask for the man or woman on the go. The creation of a quick, fluffy frosting that’s ready in less than half the time of its more complex cousins is absolutely worth its weight in gold.
Items Needed:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- Stand mixer with whisk attachment
- Sauce pot
- Pour a ½ cup of water into the sauce pan and turn on the heat to a medium high.
- Place the white sugar, jumbo egg white, vanilla extract and cream of tartar into your mixing bowl.
- Attach your whisk attachment to the mixer and blend the ingredients on high until the egg white forms stiff peaks, or about 5 to 12 minutes.
- Check the water to ensure proper boiling temperature has been reached. The water should be at a full roiling boil in the pan before you remove the pan from the heat. If you have any doubts about the proper boiling of your water, turn the heat of the stove element up to full high heat and allow the water to stand on the stove until the water achieves a full boil.
- Once you have achieved a true stiff peak with the egg white, carefully pour the boiling water into the mixture, working gradually so as not to overwhelm the mixture. If you pour in the boiling water too quickly, you will end up with nothing more than a soupy mass in the bottom of the mixing bowl.
- Return your beater to high speed and beat until stiff peaks form and hold their shape. If you live in an area of high humidity, this process can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes even with a stand mixer; patience is advised.
- Serve your cake on the same day the frosting is made, as the frosting may sweat if left out in the open air. If you must store the frosting, place a sheet of paper toweling over the opening of the mixing bowl followed by a sheet of cling wrap and place the frosting in your refrigerator. The paper toweling will help prevent weeping while the cool temperature of your refrigerator will ensure a fluffy frosting at the time of delivery. It may be helpful to beat the chilled frosting once more prior to use.