Recently I got a call from my friend Genevieve asking for a dozen cupcakes for a photo shoot she was doing the following weekend. “Just make what you want,” she said.
Of course I waited until the last minute. Then I made one batch of cupcakes and while the cupcakes were fine, they looked like a 7-year old had made them the marshmallow icing sort of drooped. It didn’t weep but they looked stupid. Scrapped those and made another batch. I left out the baking powder on the 2nd batch. Yep, hurry and you get it wrong every time.
John came down and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was amazed that I could fill every square inch with mess.
“Don’t start!” I said.
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” he mumbled. “Do you need any help?”
“I have just enough eggs to make one more batch and if they don’t work, will you go to the bakery?”
He laughed.
Third time’s the charm. They came out just the way I wanted and the blowtorch gave just enough singe to look toasted.
I’ll confess that after Gen’s husband came to pick them up I took one of the leftovers and ate it icing first – right down the throat. I was exhausted and then had to clean up the marshmallow I’d flung around the kitchen.
Please don’t think that this is a difficult recipe because it’s not. I’m the difficult one. 🙂
- 4 egg whites (I used large)
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (the good stuff)
- food colouring
- 12 cupcakes (I used chocolate)
- You need a stand mixer (or a strong hand mixer) and a kitchen blowtorch for this recipe.
- In a heatproof bowl place the egg whites, sugar and cream of tarter and place the bowl over slowly simmering water (you don't want to cook the egg whites, only dissolve the sugar.
- Whisk constantly for 3-4 minutes until sugar is dissolved.
- Put the bowl into the stand mixer with a whisk attachment and begin whisking at low speed.
- Gradually increase the speed until stiff, shiny peaks appear. It will take about 7 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Place the icing in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and ice the cupcakes.
- Gently singe the edges of the icing with a kitchen blowtorch. (These will burn like a toasted marshmallow so gently does it.)
Thank you!! I used to be a professional cake decorator, you know, and still do it as a hobby. I can always use another good icing recipe for cakes and cupcakes – this one looks great!
Hi Jan, if you try it, let us know so we can drool over your photos. 🙂
I can’t believe I still don’t have a blowtorch! I need to get one. I don’t have the decorating gene. I need to learn. Fortunately Mrs K R is much better, and since she does most of the baking, I guess maybe I’ve already solved my problem. 😉 I can I feel for you – I’ve been there before more times than I care to admit with dishes that didn’t turn out exactly as I envisioned.
I would never have believed you had 2 failed tries, this icing looks awesome and love the singed touch.
I hide it well, Evelyne. I think every cook either doesn’t read through the recipe all the bottom before starting and makes an oops or gets distracted. Thankfully it doesn’t happen often but when it does, I need an army to clean the kitchen. 🙂
Wow – these look fabulous!
Thank you very much! 🙂
Wow – this frosting came out GREAT!
What a pain but the end result is glorious so well done! Like John, I don’t have a blowtorch either and always stick them in the oven under a gentle grill but I have to watch them like a hawk as they turn very quickly.
These look beautiful. Isn’t it frustrating that recipes we make often just suddenly don’t seem to come out right. These were definitely worth the remake. GG
I gotta get me a blowtorch! And then I’d lick the icing right off those cupcakes, which I’m sure are delicious.
I can’t believe you don’t have a blowtorch. I use mine a lot. 🙂
I have GOT to try this, Maureen. That marshmallow icing looks so flawless, and I love that you torched the tops just a little. Great recipe!
It’s an easy icing, Georgia – you should try it.
I’ve wanted a blow torch for years but have always been warned about the possibilities of house fires and 3rd degree burns … I’m a bit of a klutz as evidenced by the cuts and burns (from the edge of hot frying pans, baking sheets etc) on my hands and forearms … but I’d risk it all for these beautiful frosted and toasted marshmallow icing cupcakes. I’ve never made this type of icing in my life. The penuche frosting I made a month or so ago was the most adventuresome I’d ever gotten. 🙂
Gorgeous icing, I love the toasted tops!
Beautiful Maureen! It never fails that when you really want it to count, there are issues. Murphy’s Law I suppose. We have to blame someone – right? I just pinned one of your lovely photo’s 🙂
Thanks, Eileen, that’s really nice of you. I appreciate it! I knew that Paul was coming by to pick up the cupcakes so it was a race against time. I could have sent some of the crappy ones but I would have been disappointed. I’m glad I made them again.
As I sit here reading your post I can’t help but to be distracted, I’m sorry Maureen. You just reminded me that I missed Toasted Marshmallow Day which is August 30th, darn!
I give you a lot of credit for the do overs. Chances are I would have given up and left them “naked.” I’ve often thought of a blow torch but I too am a klutz in the kitchen. Probably not a good thing in these hands. Your cupcakes look lovely. I sure would love to test one or two just to be sure, lol…
Thanks for sharing…
They certainly look worth the effort Maureen. The marshmallow topping sounds so good. I think I’d make three batches just to eat it all.
Maureen, this icing is the icing of my childhood dreams!! So pink, light and fluffy! And good on John for helping too and not mentioning the mess 😀
Cooked meringue icing is my absolute favourite. It’s so gorgeous and light and fluffy! I’ve never toasted it before though – fabulous idea! I’m also known to leave key ingredients out of cakes, but I always thought it was a blonde thing?! 😉
I’ve never made icing like this but am impressed by the notion of marshmallow icing and by how fluffy the topping looks. Sorry it took a bit of mess to get there but I’m sure your friend was thrilled!
GAH! This looks amazing. And it gives me another reason to crack out my flame thrower!
I know just what you mean! I had the best time. I even “over singed” a couple just for me — and because I could.
Oh wow! These cupcakes are beautiful. the cupcake icing is very cool.
Velva
Great comfort dessert. Gorgeous looking. I love to have the whole box by myself. Have a super weekend.
Dear Maureen, I laughed and felt much more “normal” after reading your post.
I did the same thing the other day! making the rosemary cake. I left out the eggs!!
I watched and watched the oven door and could not figure out why the cake looked so funny.
I think too much going on~ I wish we lived closer and could share a cup of tea or coffee and share “war” stories.
Either way these look adorable and delicious. Blessings my dear and a hug. Catherine xo
I’d love that, Catherine! I don’t always make a mess but when I do it’s always because I’m burning the candle at both ends and I need to get something done in a hurry. 🙂
dear Maureen, I am not sure if my last comment took…it was long and I don’t want you to think I a “nuts”. ..so I won’t rewrite the entire thing…the point was I left the eggs out of my cake the other day!
I also wished we could have a cup of tea or coffee together and share “war” I mean cooking…stories.
Anyway, the cupcakes look adorable and delicious!!! Blessings my dear and a hug..Catherine xo
Oh yes, I’ve had many days like you describe Maureen. Something sounds so simple and then hours later it looks like a hurricane hit! I love your icing and can’t wait to try it, I’m a bit tired of the same old same old 🙂
I am sitting here smiling and giggling, you are so adorable. Third time is a charm for sure, you icing looks beautiful!!! AND sounds delicious, Hugs, Terra
Oh I’ve seen this before and thought it was much harder than this. These look adorable – I really like the idea of toasted marshmallow. I would so scoff one of these too in one go!
Ugh, I’ve had baking days like that. But your finished cupcakes look worth the trouble and mess…simply gorgeous! Pinned so I can try your marvelous icing…the family would love it!
Haha, I usually make huge messes regardless of what I’m making. Even something as simple as a smoothie. This definitely looks worth the effort, and is making me want to get a blowtorch 🙂
You should get a blowtorch. They are a lot of fun. 🙂
They look beautiful Maureen! I don’t think I’ve ever seen marshmallow icing before.
Easy you are saying? I would look like a bigger full then anybody else when you see me making still a mess after 5 times trying Maureen. Not so my field but yours for sure, just look at those perfect beauties!
Oh Maureen, just give me a spoon and a bowl of that icing and I’d be one content gal!
Simple and elegant…One of the most beautiful cupcakes that I have ever seen, Maureen!
Don’t you just hate days like that in the kitchen! But your final result is incredible. I just love the way you piped the marshmallow – and don’t be too hard on yourself – marshmallow is so sticky I find it difficult to deal with and it does make a mess – a huge mess xx
I do all the cooking and when hubs is in town he does the dishes. Let’s just say he gets the raw end of the deal on that one. I’m a hot mess in the kitchen. Not one dish is left clean, and every surface gets destroyed. It’s not pretty.
But it would be totally worth it for cupcakes with icing as pretty as these. Just gorgeous. I love them way too much.
Oooh I love this icing, it’s so nice and gooey! I once made 4 dozen cakes and left out the flour altogether- lucky I noticed in the first 5 mins so I just scraped it all out and added it in!
I love my kitchen blowtorch! Can’t wait to try this frosting!
Someone like me!
Definitely know what you mean about getting in a hurry! I forget something every time. UGH! Well, your cupcakes turned out beautiful and have the effect that I’m sure you were going for – I just want to lick that icing right off the top of the cupcake! 🙂
I’m sure I’m not the only blogger to take on more than she can do. I hate saying no but I’m going to have to learn. 🙂
I cannot even imagine in my dreams that you could go wrong with a recipe, but these looks seriously adorable and much much better than those store bought ones..
Gorgeous Maureen – you nailed that icing… really makes me think of marshmallows!
Thanks, Charles and no licorice!
Laughing hysterically as I imagine your kitchens fiasco. Read my own blog post about “third time’s the charm”??? Yep. But boy did your cupcakes and frosting come out perfect! Gorgeous and I need a frosting recipe like that!
Oh My! That pale pink is so pretty. Heavenly angel like.
And now, with this post read & comment made I have caught up on everything I missed while in Vegas. YEA!
So total drooooool!! My boys would love to get their hands on these. of course when I make these, they don’t look anywhere near so pretty.
We love our kitchen blowtorch! That’s when my husband comes in and says “let me do it” besides bbq he does. 😀 My son who’s into marshmallow will go crazy over these cupcakes!
I love that you fight over the torch!
Last time I made marshmallow icing, I ran out of fluid for the torch. It was snowing out, and I was covered in marshmallow icing, so I sure as heck wasn’t going to drive out! However, I’ll make marshmallow icing any day over royal icing. 😉 I like how you added the color, too!
I’m saving the white marshmallow for ghosts for Halloween 🙂
These look & sound orgasmic! 🙂 Love the name of your blog!
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
Thanks, Tamara and so nice of you to visit and leave a comment.
Maureen! These are beautiful!!!
They were so good! I love this icing.
Maureen!! These are GORGEOUS and yummy!!!
I love the pink marshmallow icing.
I loved it!
Hi there –
This frosting looks amazing. Would it keep for a day, or should it be made same-day? Thanks!
We were able to eat these just fine on day 2. Day 3 they were beginning to dry on the edges.