Marshmallow Frosting
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This homemade marshmallow frosting tastes just like marshmallow creme! It comes together quickly with just 5 basic ingredients. Fluffy, slightly sweet and light--this frosting will be your new favorite!
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A reader, Kim, commented: "Hi Allie, I made this frosting last weekend for a cake and it was just amazing! I like mine on the lighter side so it doesn't overpower the cake, and this was just perfect. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! ★★★★★"
Another reader, Arabella, commented: "This frosting is the best! I've made it multiple times and it always turns out perfect. Goes wonderfully on my homemade s'mores cake. Also, my husband is so picky with frosting but he'll eat this one straight out of the bowl. ★★★★★"
I first shared this marshmallow frosting recipe in 2019-it's since become a reader-favorite along with whipped cream frosting and Swiss meringue buttercream. I know you're going to love it because it's so light and fluffy, and it tastes just like homemade marshmallows. It whips up stiff enough to pipe for cupcakes or filling, but also smooth enough for cakes, too!
You'll Love This Marshmallow Frosting
- Tastes just like marshmallow creme
- Pillowy soft, light and fluffy
- Not overly sweet
- You only need 5 ingredients!
- Pairs wonderfully with s'mores cupcakes or red velvet cupcakes
Ingredients You Need
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is used with the egg whites and to create a simple syrup.
- Egg Whites: You need 5 large egg whites. These are the base of the recipe- whipped together until foamy and double in size.
- Water: The water is paired with the sugar to make the simple syrup, similar to homemade lemonade but without the lemons.
- Cream of Tartar: Needed to help stabilize the egg whites-I use it in lemon meringue pie, classic whoopie pies, and meringue cookies. If you don't have it, you can substitute with a small amount of lemon juice or white vinegar.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor.
In Photos: How To Make Marshmallow Frosting
Step 1: Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl, along with the cream of tartar and salt. Beat together and slowly add in half the sugar until stiff peaks form.
Step 2: Combine the remaining sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Step 3: In a very slow and steady stream, add the hot sugar syrup to the meringue, while beating on low.
Step 4: Once fully added, beat on high speed and whip until very stiff and glossy.
Uses for Marshmallow Frosting
- Topping for a banana cream pie, pumpkin pie or mud pie
- Frosted or piped on top of almost any cupcake recipe
- As the filling in whoopie pies
- A filling for chocolate cupcakes
- Placed on top of chocolate mousse
FAQ
It's best to use a brulee torch for this type of application. However, it can be toasted under the broiler with keeping a very close eye on it as it can burn very fast!
More Frostings
Ingredients
- 5 large (5 ) egg whites
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar*
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar,, divided
- ⅔ cup (157.73 ml) water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in a large mixing bowl and whip on medium speed until foamy.
- While continuing to whip, add 1 cup of the sugar in a very slow and steady stream (about 1 teaspoon at a time).
- Once the entire cup of sugar has been added, continue to whip until the meringue can hold stiff peaks.
- Whip in the vanilla extract, and continue to stir the meringue on low speed while you prepare the hot sugar syrup.
- Place the remaining 1 cup of sugar in a small pot, along with the water.
- Place the pot over medium heat and cook until the syrup boils and reaches 235 degrees F.
- In a very slow and steady stream, add the hot sugar syrup to the meringue, while continuing to whip on low speed.
- When all the syrup has been added, turn the mixer up to high speed and whip until very stiff and glossy.
Also wipe the bowl and mixer attachments with vinegar or lemon juice to ensure egg whites aren't compromised.
This frosting is the best! I've made it multiple times and it always turns out perfect. Goes wonderfully on my homemade s'mores cake. Also, my husband is so picky with frosting but he'll eat this one straight out of the bowl.
Can this be frozen?
Absolutely deliiiiiicious!!!
This was my first time making Marshmallow Frosting. And this recipe was easy + soooOOoo tasty.
Thank YOU!
Do you have any recipes for the cake part of the cupcakes? I’m looking for a chocolate or vanilla recipe.
Yes, you can just type your query into the search bar at the top of my site. Or, click the "Bake" tab and browse the "Cakes & Cupcakes" category. Good luck!
Have you tried roasting this with a butane/kitchen torch?
Yes, there is a pic of this and more info under the heading "How to Toast Marshmallow Frosting."
I made a last minute shift for a recipe while trying to fulfill my first ever cake order. This did not disappoint, I'm thoroughly pleased! I only used 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water for the syrup because thats all I had left, still turned out perfect!
My mom used to frost cakes with a marshmallow frosting when I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. It was always so fluffy shiny and oh so sweet. I wasn’t sure this was it, but I gave it a try with your excellent instructions, photos and encouragement. It came out perfectly and it was so delicious. There was quite a bit left over from the 8” layer cake so we used it to make faux flufferenutter sandwiches. You would never know it wasn’t marshmallow crème. I’ll be keeping this recipe!! Thank you so much!!
You're so welcome Jacqui! I'm so glad you enjoyed!
Made this for my daughters birthday cake today and it was awesome! I found it nice and light without being overly sweet! I was able to add a touch of gel colouring and it didn’t change the consistency at all. My kids that usually leave a pile of icing left over were licking their plates! It made a ton for the purpose of icing a Bundt cake... saved some that will hopefully hold up for a few days for my sons waffle birthday breakfast haha
So happy it worked well for you Ashley! Thanks so much for the positive feedback!
Fabulous frosting! It toasts, it holds up as a filling between cake layers, and the leftovers stored in a bag are perfect for dipping graham crackers in later 😉
This was a big hit and was a huge batch.
So glad you like it Alexis!
I was so scared to try this as I needed a “perfect coconut cake” for TOMORROW! I decided to try my hand and figured if it flopped I’d be running by WM on my way in tomorrow! To my surprise, this indeed was easy to make and not scary at all!! You definitely can not be in a rush making it but it only takes a few minutes of patience!! Thanks for the detailed instructions! I’ll definitely be trying this again on different desserts! (I also have quite a bit left over, wondered if you can make it into those little meringue cookies?)
I'm so glad it worked out for you Abby! I have not tried making the leftovers into cookies, but if you do, I'd love to hear about the results!
Hi! I am diabetic and make my own low carb baking mix, and for the sugar in the cake I use 1/2 Splenda and 1/2 Truvia baking blend. My question is this: Is it possible to make a meringue frosting from Splenda/Truvia Baking Blend as well?
I am really craving coconut cake!
Thanks so much,
Kelly
Hey Kelly! I haven't tried it with either of those products, but if they're meant to sub 1:1 for sugar then I would think they'd work. Good luck and I hope you enjoy!
I frosted a cake with this icing it is amazing Is there a way to store it ? I have a lot left over
Hey there! So glad you like the marshmallow frosting! I think you can find the answers to your question under the heading "CAN MARSHMALLOW FROSTING BE MADE AHEAD?" Let me know if that helps or if you still have questions. Thanks!
This is fantastic frosting! I made cupcakes for friends and family as a pick-me-up in this time of social distancing and used this recipe!
Thank you!
What a nice thing to do! Love that you're making lemonade out of lemons 😉 And so happy that you loved the frosting so much. I plan to make it again today, to put on a coconut cake. Thanks so much for the 5-star review!
Can you use canned frosting
Absolutely love this frosting. It is delicious. Thank you
You're welcome! I'm so glad you like it!
Marshmallow frosting/7Minute frosting is one of my favorite frostings. So, so good! I do mine in a double boiler so I don't have to deal with HOT syrup. HA!!