My mom's Easy and Extra Fluffy Icing is a light, bright and not-too-sweet topping to douse on cupcakes and cakes of all varieties!
The words frosting and icing are sometimes used interchangeably but they have a few differences in texture, appearance and ingredients. Frosting is typically made with a cream cheese or a butter base while icing is usually made with egg whites and sugar as the base. Icing is a lighter, thinner texture than frosting as well. Both are delicious and serve different purposes but I am excited to share this super fluffy icing with you.
Extra Fluffy Icing
This is such a neat recipe and one I have loved since I was a girl. My mom would make this frosting recipe often and she'd top a Devil's Food cake or cupcakes with it. My favorite part was she'd let us do the honor of loading the cake up with sprinkles. It's one of my favorite memories growing up!
People often ask me what this icing tastes like because it's a little different than your typical icing. It has a light flavor and isn't overly sweet. The texture is super puffy and fluffy; it will remind you of an extra-light marshmallow cream spread. It's also crazy and unusual that this frosting recipe is made without butter or powdered sugar. It's so unique!
How do you store white cloud icing?
Because this is SUCH a light icing, it sort of loses its consistency over time if you don't use it right away. I'd recommend icing whatever cake or cupcakes you've made, and then either eating or tossing leftovers if you have any. But it's so good, you won't want to toss it. Get out a spoon, friend!
What do you put white cloud icing on?
This frosting goes so great on so many things. You can pile it high on chocolate cupcakes, like the pictures here, or really any cupcake that vanilla-flavored frosting tastes good on. You can also put it on any other favorite cakes or favorite desserts, including Angel Food cake, vanilla cake, or a cookie cake. I wouldn't put it between the sections of layer cake because it's too light to support the weight.
How do you make white icing not yellow?
This icing is perfectly white because there is no butter in it! If you are finding that your favorite vanilla buttercream icing has a yellow tint, you can use a very, very small drop of violet food coloring to counteract that yellowish tint.
Can I pipe this icing on cupcakes?
Yes! This extra fluffy icing is the perfect topping for cupcakes. Pipe the icing onto the cupcakes or frost your cake right away because once the icing sets up, it's hard to spread and doesn't pipe well.
Can I double this recipe for extra fluffy Icing?
Yes, this recipe doubles really well. If you only make 1 batch it will be enough to frost 12 cupcakes. So doubling will allow you to frost 24 cupcakes.
How do you make the best white cloud icing?
Here are my tips, passed down from my mom, for getting the BEST white cloud icing:
- Use a stand mixer. Because you add a lot of the ingredients as you're mixing, it's way, way easier to use a stand mixer rather than a hand mixer.
- Make sure your bowl and utensils are clean. Egg whites do NOT handle grease well, and the consistency won't end up great if there's butter or oil on any of your materials.
- Slowly add your sugar and corn syrup. When it's time to pour the sugar into the mixer bowl, do it very slowly to allow everything to incorporate well and form the best soft peaks. Same goes for when you add the hot corn syrup!
- Use it immediately. If you don't, it sort of de-fluffs and loses its great shape and fullness. Also, add your sprinkles or other decorations right away because they stick best right after icing!
More icing recipes:
- Light and Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- The Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Royal Icing for Gingerbread Houses
- Cupcakes perfect for this frosting: Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
If you’ve tried this easy homemade fluffy icing recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories AND add your photo to your comment so that other can see your creation.
Print
Extra Fluffy Icing
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-5 cups 1x
Description
My mom's Easy and Extra Fluffy Frosting is a light and bright, not-too-sweet topping to douse on cupcakes and cakes of all varieties!
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites, at room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Use a stand mixer. It will change your life. You can make this using a hand mixer, but it just takes time. In a clean bowl (any grease on your bowl or utensils will ruin the icing -- egg whites hate grease!), beat the egg whites and salt on high speed until foamy.
- With the mixer still running, slowly add the sugar. Beat mixture until soft peaks form (when you pull the mixer out of the white mixture, you should get a little point that bends over).
- Bring the corn syrup to a boil over medium heat in a small saucepan. When the corn syrup comes to a boil, remove from heat.
- Slowly pour the hot corn syrup into the egg mixture while your mixer is mixing on high. Beat the mixture until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla, and mix to combine.
- Use right away.
Notes
- Use the frosting right away and eat any leftovers, as it doesn't store well.
- You can leave a cake that has been iced with this frosting uncovered, since any type of plastic wrap on it will be a mess.
- Add the sprinkles as soon as you are done spreading the icing. A thin crust will form, and the sprinkles won't stick if you wait too long.
- This recipe doubles well.
- This is enough to frost 18 cupcakes or the outside of 1 layered cake. This is not a great icing to fill a layer cake. The cake kind of smashes it into nothing, and you don't have a nice layer in the middle anymore.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Category: dessert
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: frosting, icing, cake, cupcake, dessert, white cloud, egg free, gluten free
Some cupcake, cake, and frosting recipes you might like:
- Sweet Tooth Fairy's VaNIElla Squared Cupcake Copycat Recipe
- Cherry Chip Cupcakes
- Lightened Up Chocolate Cupcakes
- Party Cupcakes
- Pink Lemonade Cupcakes
- Lemon Chiffon Cake
- Rich and Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe
- The Best Easy Apple Cake
- The Best Strawberry Shortcake, Two Ways
- Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes
- Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Caramel Frosting
- Watermelon Cake with Whipped Cream
- Chocolate Zucchini Cake
- Extra Thick Pumpkin Cake
- Grandma Shoaf's Quick and Easy Chocolate Sheet Cake
Easy and Extra Fluffy White Cloud Icing is a recipe that you will use over and over again. You are going to love the bright white color and it’s subtle sweetness. The perfect addition to top cupcakes and cakes of all kinds!
Anisah
I plan to make this recipe but I don’t have corn syrup I looked at corn syrup substitute and there is one that is 1 cup of white sugar and a third cup room temperature water is it fine if it hasn’t been boiled because that recipe crystallizes if cooked.
Melissa
I've had good luck using maple syrup before.
Riki
The key to the best icing, I've always found, is using the best & freshest ingredients. This recipe never fails to delight! I made a winter scene birthday cake using this icing, and it was beautiful! It made the perfect 'snow'. I used crystal clear glittery sprinkles & made a frozen pond using melted Brach's blue crystal mints. I added cute small winter themed toys to finish it. I also use this for winter themed cupcakes. I use the same crystal sprinkles & poke a small candycane into the top of each mound of icing 'snow'. It is important to follow directions & incorporate ingredients slowly while blending. Drizzle the hot mixture into the beaten egg whites in a slow thin steady stream as you mix.
★★★★★
Amy
Is this regular granulated sugar or confectioners sugar?
Melissa
granulated
Angie
Sometimes I brulee the frosting after I have ice the cake and it's like a toasted marshmallow
★★★★★
Lonie
This frosting was my family's birthday cake every year. My mom would add maraschino cherry juice to make it pink and then frost a homemade angel food cake. It's delicious and my all time favorite!
Cath
Hi! I'm planning to make a chocolate flavored frosting. Can I add some cocoa powder in your recipe? And if yes, how much do I add? Thanks for making this!
Melissa
I haven't tried it! I'm not sure how whipped eggs whites react to cocoa powder.
keke
Is this frosting good for frosting cakes?
Melissa
Yes! It doesn't do great as a middle layer to a layer cake (the cake smashes out all of the air and there's nothing left, so fill it with something else like buttercream but it goes great on the outside of a layer cake.
Daphney
I was wondering how long it held its shape, one it was on the cake
Melissa
It holds it's shape great, it kind of air dries in place. You can frost your cake up to a day in advance and you don't need to cover it once you have frosted it, this frosting will keep the cake moist.
Carol
Im thinking of adding this to my cake but I was wondering if there were any substitutions for the corn syrup?
Melissa
I have a friend who used honey with great results!
tara
Would this be a good recipe to use to frost an ice cream cake?
Melissa
Yes! I think it would be really nice on an ice cream cake!
curious_kitty13@yahoo.com
I hadn't baked in ages except for sourdough bread. So I tried a sourdough chocolate cake recipe. While it cooled I decided it needed a light frosting, so tried this. Exceptionally easy! I didn't exactly measure and I couldn't get the top off my vanilla, so I substituted amaretto. Nothing like winging it and yet still spectacular!!! I love the gleam, the lightness and especially that it's not overly sweet. I can't wait for dinner so I can try it on the cake, but straight from the bowl is great. Thank you for sharing😁
★★★★★
Melissa
Ohhh it sounds wonderful! I'm so glad you like this as much as we do!
Irene Criconis
Good Morning, I am looking to make this recipe for a work picnic and was wondering if you can add food colouring to the mixture? I'm trying to get a colourful cupcake situation 😊
Thank you,
Irene
Melissa
Yes! I add it when I add the vanilla at the end, no problem there!
mary
It turned out great. Light and Fluffy, it worked great for the cupcakes. Can the egg yolk be used to? To make a more yellow icing? Just use 1 egg instead of 2 egg whites? Thanks!
★★★★★
Melissa
Nope, the fat in the yolk will ruin this recipe, so just toss it in your scrambled eggs in the morning or making pudding.
maddie
i didn’t get the peaks
Melissa
Your egg whites won't whip up if there's any grease left on your bowl of beaters, you'll need to start over if it won't peak.
K. Sol
This is also called Italian meringue. Delicious, but hardly a new thing. For those hard time, add 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar right after the eggs first get foamy.
Lam
Real Italian buttercream contains butter. This is a different way to make 7 minute frosting or like a meringue type. Great recipe, I never used this method
★★★★★
Lotus
Sol is correct! This is the same as Italian meringue, (not Italian butter cream) but made a bit differently. Using this method has also been called 7 minute icing, but usually done with less corn syrup!
Gracelyn
I think this is a great recipe but do you know what can replace the light corn syrup
★★★★★
Mary
I used honey and turned out amazing, I also added cinnamon to the icing for our banana cake! 🙂 my family loved it. The only thing is I would maybe add half a cup of honey instead of 3/4 but the choice is yours
Rose
Would I be able to substitute pasteurized egg whites in this recipe?
Melissa
Yep, it should work great!
Rose
Thank you! I'll let you know how it works out!
Ava
Hello! My frosting was sticky and watery not sure why, I think it was because I did half of every ingredient because I only had one egg...oh well! I think I’m going to make it again next time! Thanks?
★★★★
Melissa
A half batch actually works, this happens if there is any great residue or grease or fat on your bowl, beater, spoons... or even if you break park of the egg yolk and it gets a drop in the whites.
Dana
Hi Melissa, I love the texture and how easy it is to pipe this frosting. It's still a bit too sweet for me, though. Do you think the frosting would still maintain its shape if I reduce either the sugar or corn syrup?
Melissa
I bet you could reduce the corn syrup by half!