The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (2024)

Julie Clark

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Old fashioned 7 Minute Frosting that tastes like marshmallow cream. A light and fluffy frosting for just about any cake!

What is your favorite frosting? Does the type of frosting you use depend on what cake you make? I’m a white cake white frosting girl at heart. I won’t turn down any slice of cake, but white cake gets me every single time.

We’re sharing a vintage recipe that is all throughout my grandma’s old cookbooks…7 Minute Frosting. The total time may be a little more than 7 minutes, but the name is intriguing. And the texture and taste? Amazing and meringue-like. Let’s make this.

The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (2)

What is 7 minute frosting?

Seven minute frosting is a meringue like fluffy frosting without oil or butter. Because it doesn’t have those, it is a low fat frosting. It’s base is egg whites, sugar and water…and you’ll be amazed how this frosting comes together.

7-minute frosting is similar to a Swiss meringue in that it has eggs and sugar heated in a double boiler over simmering water and whipped to a glossy meringue.

What does it taste like? If you love marshmallows, you’ll go crazy for this frosting recipe! We think it tastes just like marshmallow fluff, minus some of the stickiness.

How do you make 7 minute frosting?

What you’ll need.

This frosting is made over the stovetop, so you’ll need either a double boiler, or a heat safe glass mixing bowl that can sit on top of a saucepan. You’ll boil water in the bottom pan and whip the frosting in the top. This method helps the eggs cook to a safe temperature through indirect heat.

You’ll also need a high powered hand mixer rather than a stand mixer that we make traditional buttercream frosting with.

The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (3)
The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (4)

Making the frosting.

  • Combine the egg whites, sugar, water and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. Mix thoroughly.
  • Place over boiling water and beat constantly until mixture holds a peak. This will take at least 7 minutes, but ours took closer to 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat.
  • Add vanilla and beat until thick enough to spread.
The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (5)

Adding flavor.

After you remove the bowl from the heat, you’ll add the flavor. We love vanilla flavor, but you can use any type of flavor you’d like. Popular versions are peppermint, coconut and almond.

Adding food coloring.

Can you add food coloring to this frosting? Yes! Add it at the very end when you add in the flavor. Add just a few drops mix in well.

The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (6)

How do you store 7 minute frosting?

This frosting is safe to store at room temperature for one day. Anytime after that and you should refrigerate it.

What cake is this frosting good on?

This traditional frosting is great for birthdays on a birthday cake. It’s also good on layer cake such as chocolate cake, coconut cake or even pineapple cake. It’s simple flavor makes it excellent on just about anything!

The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (7)

The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (8)

7 Minute Frosting

4.44 from 103 votes

Old fashioned 7 Minute Frosting that tastes like marshmallow cream. A light and fluffy frosting for just about any cake!

Servings 15

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine the egg whites, sugar, water and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. Mix thoroughly.

  • Simmer 2" of water in the bottom of a double boiler of medium heat. Place the top double boiler over the boiling water and beat constantly using an electric mixer on high speed until mixture holds a stiff peak. This will take at least 7 minutes, but most likely closer to 10 minutes.

  • Remove from the heat.

  • Add vanilla and beat until thick enough to spread.

  • Makes 5-6 cups of frosting. Perfect for cakes or cupcakes.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe frosting a cake that serves 15, with 1 serving the frosting for one slice of cake (about ⅓ cup). Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 15mg | Sugar: 20g

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 81

Keyword dessert recipe, frosting, vintage

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this frosting last?

This frosting does not have a long life. It is best if used on a cake right away and served within the first 24 hours.

Can you freeze 7 minute frosting?

We haven’t had consistent results with freezing, so we don’t recommend freezing this frosting.

Can you pipe this frosting?

This frosting can stand up to large swirls, but not intricate designs.

Can you torch seven minute frosting?

Yes! Because this is a marshmallow fluff, meringue style recipe, you can use a kitchen torch to give it a beautiful golden brown color.

The Vintage 7 Minute Frosting Recipe that Tastes Like Marshmallows (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to refrigerate 7 minute frosting? ›

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

Why does 7 minute frosting get grainy? ›

Usually it is grainy from the sugar not dissolving into the butter properly. One easy fix is to re-whip the frosting, preferably with the paddle attachment, on medium speed until it becomes smoother. (You can let it go for quite a bit!)

What is the difference between Swiss meringue and 7 minute frosting? ›

This frosting is very similar to Swiss meringue, which is also cooked. The big difference is how they are cooked: Swiss meringue is cooked, then beaten off the heat while seven-minute frosting is beaten as it cooks on the heat.

Can you decorate with 7 minute frosting? ›

With this light Fluffy White Frosting recipe, I pipe my swirls to the ceiling! I can't get enough of it, and it's just so pretty too! This fluffy seven minute frosting is not only perfect for cakes, but it's also perfect for cupcakes and high hat cupcakes too!

Why is my seven minute frosting runny? ›

Undercooked egg whites will eventually soften and turn runny. Cooking egg whites to 160 degrees ensures that they hold their shape in icing.

What happens if you don't refrigerate frosting? ›

Most types of frosting, including buttercream frosting, don't technically have to be refrigerated right away, so storing extra frosting at room temperature is a great option if you plan on using it within the next day or so.

What does cream of tartar do for frosting? ›

Some recipes, like frosting, icing, caramel sauce, and syrups require cooking sugar down to a liquid form. During this process, the sugar can sometimes recrystallize, resulting in a grainy texture. Fortunately, cream of tartar can prevent this from happening by binding to the sugar crystals and keeping them tiny.

Does powdered sugar make frosting stiffer? ›

Add powdered sugar

If the frosting has not reached your desired thickness after chilling, add a few tablespoons of sifted powdered sugar to help your buttercream stiffen.

What happens if you beat frosting too long? ›

Too much whipping can leave air bubbles in your buttercream frosting. It's a minor problem and won't ruin the flavour or texture, but it may not look as pretty when it comes to decorating. Don't leave your buttercream frosting whipping forever and ever if you don't want air bubbles.

What kind of buttercream do professionals use? ›

Swiss meringue buttercream is probably the most standard buttercream for pastry professionals. It is incredibly smooth, making it an extremely popular choice for icing cakes. Compared to American buttercream, it has a much stronger butter flavor, but is considerably less sweet.

What is the most delicious buttercream? ›

1. Swiss Meringue Buttercream. This is the Queen of Frosting. Imagine the melt-in-mouth texture of ice cream, just at room temperature.

Which frosting is best for cake? ›

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM

Pros – It is soft, smooth and not too sweet. SM buttercream is arguably the best frosting in terms of cake decorating because it is the easiest way to get those smooth clean lines.

What is the hardest frosting to make? ›

Italian Meringue Buttercream

This is considered one of the very difficult methods for making buttercream because the sugar syrup must be cooked to a specific temperature and then, while piping hot, poured into the whipped egg whites.

What frosting is best for decorating? ›

Buttercream is usually easier to use for cake decorating. Cream cheese makes a delicious frosting but it is difficult to get it thick enough to hold its shape for things like roses or other complicated flowers. Especially in the heat, it's more likely to sag or run.

How long should cake sit before frosting? ›

Before You Start

Attempting to spread frosting onto warm cake layers is a recipe for sloppy disaster. Chill your cake layers for at least 2 hours, or better, overnight. If you've made your frosting ahead, make sure it's at room temperature before you start.

How long does frosting last without refrigeration? ›

At room temperature, cream cheese frosting only lasts two hours, which is why it needs to be refrigerated if you don't want to waste leftovers. Cream cheese frosting will usually last in the refrigerator for up to a week, which gives you plenty of time to use it on various baked goods.

Does frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

Store-bought, canned frosting typically does not need to be refrigerated. Just as it's found in the store on the shelves out at room temperature, it can be left the same way at home.

How long does frosting last at room temperature? ›

You can keep buttercream frosting on the counter for about three days. Though it contains perishable ingredients, the high sugar content keeps it from going bad immediately. After about 72 hours, you'll need to refrigerate it.

Should I keep my frosting in the fridge? ›

Put your buttercream frosting in the fridge for up to 1 week. Food is often at its best when it's served fresh, but if circ*mstances dictate that you have to save your buttercream frosting for later, then the fridge is a good starting point.

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