Seven Minute Frosting With Brown Sugar Recipes

SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• Use the frosting: Use the frosting within 30 minutes. As it sits, the frosting becomes too tacky and deflated to work with. If someone comes to the door and you can't use the frosting immediately, drape a warm, damp kitchen towel over the bowl. This can buy you a little time.
• Serve: Cakes with this frosting are best enjoyed the day they are decorated; after about 4 hours, the frosting will look less glamorous and become tacky, with a chalky outer crust. It's still safe and delicious to eat. It's just not very pretty.
• Store cakes uncovered: Store cakes iced with seven-minute frosting uncovered and avoid having plastic wrap come into contact with the frosting-it'll stick to the wrap. If your cake is sliced you can fold plastic wrap or parchment over and press it against the cut part of cake to prevent it from drying out.

PERFECT SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small, heavy-bottom saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, corn syrup, and 4 tablespoons water. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 4 minutes. Rub a bit of the mixture between your fingers, making sure any graininess has disappeared. Raise heat, and bring to a boil without stirring. Continue boiling, occasionally washing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent sugar from crystallizing, until a candy thermometer registers 230 degrees, about 5 minutes. (Depending on the humidity, this can take anywhere from 4 to 10 minutes.) Remove the syrup from heat (temperature will keep rising).
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 1/2 minutes. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. With mixer on medium-low speed, pour syrup in a steady stream down side of bowl (to avoid splattering).
• Beat the frosting on high speed until cool, about seven minutes. It should be thick and shiny. Use immediately.

SEVEN-MINUTE FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, cream of tartar, salt, egg whites, and water in a large mixing bowl or double boiler of at least a 2-quart capacity.
• Set over simmering, not boiling, water over moderate heat.
• Beat with a hand electric mixer at high speed for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the frosting stands in definite peaks when the beater is lifted.
• Remove from the water and continue beating for several minutes, until the frosting has cooled and no longer feels hot to your finger, and stands in soft, smooth, billowy peaks.
• Beat in the vanilla.
• You will have enough to generously fill and frost an 8 or 9 inch two-layer cake or a 9 or 10 inch tube cake.