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You are here: Home / Recipes / Easy Marshmallow Frosting

Easy Marshmallow Frosting

06/24/16 | Cupcakes, Desserts, Recipes

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Light and fluffy marshmallow frosting. Delicious to eat and easy to make!

Cupcakes frosted with marshmallow frosting and toasted.

Growing up, my mother used to wax poetic about the amazing marshmallow frosting she liked to make as a girl. And now ages and ages later, I’m finally giving it a try.

Okay, this isn’t my mom’s recipe–part of the mystique of her frosting is that the recipe was lost to time–but according to her, this one turned out very similar, so win!

This frosting is so much fun. Watching egg whites and sugar go from clear, eggy liquid to light and billowy clouds of marshmallow deliciousness is like watching a magic trick.

I’ll be using this frosting next in a recipe next week and since cooked frosting always intimidated me when I first started baking, I thought I’d give this one its own post before then and walk through it step-by-step.

You will Need:
Heat-proof glass bowl* or stand mixer bowl
Stand mixer* or handheld electric mixer*
Whisk
Medium to large saucepan for boiling water

First, you’re going to whisk eggs, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt in a large heat-proof bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Heat an inch of water (fill the pot up to your first knuckle) in a large pot until simmering and place bowl of egg whites over the water. Make sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the boiling water.

Sugar being poured into egg whites for marshmallow frosting.

Stir eggs over simmering water until they reach 120°F. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes. If you don’t have an instant-read thermometer, one, you should get one*, it will change your life. Two, at 120°F, your mixture will feel hot to the touch, just past the point of comfortable.

Eggs and sugar being heated over double boiler for marshmallow frosting.

Remove bowl from heat and use your stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer to beat the egg whites on high for another 3 to 6 minutes. They should become bright white and fluffy. They won’t be able to form stiff peaks because they are so sticky, but when you lift the beaters out of the mixture, the peaks should stand pretty tall before flopping over.

Collage photo of egg whites being beaten for marshmallow frosting.

Transfer to a piping bag or use a large plastic bag with the tip cut off to pipe onto some delicious cupcakes, like maybe my Gooey Chocolate S’mores Cupcakes…

Cupcake being frosted with marshmallow frosting.

Then very carefully brown under your broiler for a couple of minutes or toast with a kitchen torch. And done!

Collage photo of marshmallow frosting before and after toasting.

More Favorite Frosting Recipes

  • Small-batch Vanilla Frosting
  • Small-batch Chocolate Frosting
  • Small-batch Cookie Dough Frosting
  • Small-batch Cream Cheese Frosting
Cupcakes frosted with marshmallow frosting and toasted.

Easy Marshmallow Frosting

Light and fluffy marshmallow frosting. Delicious to eat and easy to make!
4.85 from 13 votes
Print Pin
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings (Hover or Click to Change Yield): 5 cups
Calories: 71kcal
Author: Tracy

Ingredients

  • 4 large egg whites room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional

Instructions

  • Fill a medium to large pot with 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer.
  • In a large heat-proof bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), whisk together egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt.
  • Place bowl over the simmering water on the stove, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Heat, whisking constantly until eggs reach 120°F.
  • Remove bowl from heat and use your hand mixer or electric mixer to beat the egg whites on high for 5 minutes or until light and fluffy with peaks that mostly hold their shape.
  • If desired, add vanilla extract and beat for another 30 seconds until well-mixed.
  • Transfer immediately to a piping bag or use a large plastic bag with the tip cut off to pipe onto cupcakes.
  • Very carefully brown under your broiler or toast with a kitchen torch. This step is optional, but the frosting is quite sticky until toasted.

Notes

This makes about 5 cups of frosting, enough to generously frost 12 cupcakes.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag @BakingMischief or hashtag it #BakingMischief.

Nutritional Information
Adapted From ChowHound

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.

Comments | 63 comments

« Classic Crepes for Two With Red White and Blue Fixings
Gooey Chocolate S’mores Cupcakes »

Comments

  1. Hayden says

    November 2, 2017 at 3:52 am

    I am going to use this to make marshmallow pops with the extra frosting and I used food coloring and it looked great the red looked amazing

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      November 13, 2017 at 4:16 pm

      So happy to hear, Hayden!

      Reply
  2. Stacie says

    September 1, 2017 at 6:24 pm

    Will it completely ruin it if a tiny bit of egg yolks fell in the whites? Please say no, I only have one egg left!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      September 1, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      Hi, Stacie. Egg yolk in with the whites can cause them not to whip up, but otherwise shouldn’t ruin the recipe. I would try to spoon out that bit if you can, give the rest of the recipe a try, and if they whip up into stiff peaks, you’re golden. Good luck!!

      Reply
  3. Tina says

    August 26, 2017 at 8:00 am

    Can you use it to frost a cake? Will it stay on the sides of the cake?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      August 26, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      Hi, Tina. I’ve never done it, so I can’t say how easy it is to use as cake frosting, but I’ve had people tell me they’ve frosted cakes with it, and their cakes have looked great.

      Reply
  4. Emily says

    August 7, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    Can i add color to this????

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      August 7, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      I haven’t done it before, but I did a little research and it looks like you should be able to. Add a couple drops of coloring when the frosting is at its soft peak stage (peaks are just standing and flopping over at the tip) and keep beating until you get to stiff peaks. I don’t think you will be able to get a very dark color though, as too much coloring might keep the frosting from whipping up. If you try it, please report back and let us know how it works out!

      Reply
      • Natalie says

        June 29, 2019 at 3:05 am

        Hi, I’m wanting to colour this tomorrow morning and noticed it’s been a few years since this post. Any chance you’ve had any luck attempting this? I’m worried it’ll make it too runny but am thinking to not add the vanilla extract to avoid too much liquid.

      • Tracy says

        June 29, 2019 at 3:12 pm

        Hi, Natalie. I haven’t tried coloring it yet, sorry!! I definitely wouldn’t try and add a ton of food coloring for a really deeply colored frosting, but I would think a few drops wouldn’t hurt, and then you wouldn’t need to cut all the vanilla. If you do try, please let me know how it turns out. Good luck!!

  5. Lindsey says

    May 11, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    5 stars
    Can you store the frosted cupcakes with this frosting at room temp after they’ve been toasted?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 12, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      Hi Lindsey, room temp is fine for a little while, but definitely refrigerate overnight.

      Reply
  6. Sarah says

    April 22, 2017 at 5:50 am

    This frosting was DELICIOUS and it looked so cool. Unfortunately, I must have done something wrong because when I opened the fridge this morning (frosted them last night), the frosting was all runny. Looks like a marshmallow completely melted and oozed all over. Now I need to figure out how to fix this. I’m supposed to take them to a party today. I need to somehow scrape all the sticky frosting off the tops and sides and go buy some to replace it. ☹️

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      April 22, 2017 at 7:52 am

      Oh no! I’m so sorry hear that! My guess is that the eggs and sugar weren’t heated quite high enough. If you want to make it again, I would make sure that the egg mixture hits at least 120°F. If it goes a bit hotter than that, it’s not a problem. If don’t want to make it again and still want a marshmallowy flavor, you could always try this Marshmallow Fluff Frosting: http://www.thekitchn.com/marshmallow-fluff-makes-the-easiest-buttercream-frosting-238182. You can’t toast it, but it’s super simple and might be what you’re looking for right now.

      I hope you are able to find a solution. Good luck!

      Reply
  7. Nina says

    March 23, 2017 at 1:35 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, Tracy! This recipe looks amazing, and I’ll definitely try it!
    Will this fluff be able to stay properly in some s’mores macarons, do you think? Or do you think they will deflate and ooze out of the sides?
    Thanks again! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      March 23, 2017 at 3:56 pm

      Hi Nina. Thanks! This is pretty stable on cupcakes, but I don’t think it would hold up well in macarons. You could try straight marshmallow fluff like these here: http://livforcake.com/2015/02/smores-macarons.html Or if you wanted something completely homemade, you could do a Swiss meringue buttercream like: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/12/swiss-buttercream-meringue-frosting-recipe.html which is basically this recipe + butter so you get added stability and richness. Hope that helps! I’ve been meaning to try making s’mores macarons for ages. They sound soooo good!

      Reply
  8. Christine says

    February 20, 2017 at 10:22 am

    This frosting and the s’mores cupcakes look great! Just one quick question.. by heating the egg white mixture to 120F, are the egg whites “cooked”? (Asking as I am an expecting mama). TIA 🙂

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      February 20, 2017 at 6:46 pm

      Hi, Christine. Thanks, and congrats on the little one! 🙂 Unfortunately, no. But, if you still want to make these, you could always try something like a marshmallow fluff buttercream. http://www.thekitchn.com/marshmallow-fluff-makes-the-easiest-buttercream-frosting-238182 You wouldn’t be able to toast it, but it doesn’t have any eggs and is super simple. I would just not do big swirls of frosting since the milk chocolate center in these cupcakes is already quite sweet, so a little marshmallow fluff frosting would go a long way. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Christine says

        February 20, 2017 at 8:12 pm

        Thanks for the tip, I will try it out!

  9. Katie Englund says

    February 12, 2017 at 1:35 pm

    Looking forward to trying your recipes

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      February 13, 2017 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks, Katie! I hope you enjoy them!

      Reply
  10. MandyD says

    November 7, 2016 at 1:18 pm

    How long will this frosting hold its shape without melting at room temp?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      November 8, 2016 at 11:53 am

      Hi Mandy, this frosting won’t melt at all at room temperature.

      Reply
  11. Gale says

    November 3, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    Would this recipe work on a pie or would that be thick and melt?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      November 4, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      Hi Gale, this should work just fine on pie since it’s basically meringue topping.

      Reply
  12. Sofia says

    October 10, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    Hi i really like this rwcipe but my frosting is nos coming fluffy wha t can i do to make it fluffy? Help!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      October 10, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Hi Sofia, make sure you are beating it until peaks form, so when you lift your beaters out, the frosting stands before flopping over. It can take as long as 6 minutes using a handheld electric mixer. Hope this helps!!

      Reply
  13. Criske says

    October 4, 2016 at 3:02 am

    Hi Tracy, must I toast the frosting?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      October 4, 2016 at 9:04 am

      Hi Criske, you definitely don’t have to, but it’s pretty sticky until it is toasted, so just something to be aware of. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  14. Jenn says

    August 24, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    How long will this keep its shape once toasted?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      August 24, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Jenn, It should be fine in the refrigerator for a couple of days. I made a batch on a Friday afternoon and they still looked (and tasted) good, with no weeping or deflating when we finished them off on Sunday night.

      Reply
      • Emilie says

        July 30, 2017 at 11:23 am

        How did you store them in your refrigerator? In a cupcake Tupperware? Do they need to be sealed in a Tupperware to stay good or will that cause the frosting to melt?

      • Tracy says

        July 30, 2017 at 1:03 pm

        I store the cupcakes in the fridge in tupperware. This frosting is pretty stable, especially once toasted, so I’ve never had problems with it weeping, but I’m in dry Southern California. I haven’t ever tested it overnight in a more humid environment.

  15. Anita C says

    August 9, 2016 at 8:55 pm

    Hi have you tried doubling or even tripling this recipe?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      August 9, 2016 at 9:04 pm

      Hi Anita, doubling will work just fine, but tripling would most likely be too much for a stand mixer to process all at once.

      Reply
      • Anita C says

        August 9, 2016 at 9:18 pm

        Thanks! Going to make it this weekend with your S’mores Cupcakes.

      • Tracy says

        August 9, 2016 at 9:21 pm

        Fantastic. I hope you enjoy them!

    • Jana says

      October 22, 2016 at 4:53 am

      Hi Tracy,
      I was wondering if I have to use the cream of tarter and if I do, do you know any alternatives

      Reply
      • Tracy says

        October 23, 2016 at 11:30 am

        Hi Jana. The cream of tartar helps stabilize the egg whites. Generally, you can substitute the same amount of lemon juice or white vinegar for cream of tartar, but I’ve never tried the substitution with this recipe. If you do try it, please let me know how it works out!

      • Zoe says

        December 23, 2017 at 2:24 pm

        5 stars
        I used this tonight to top some chocolate cupcakes for my dairy free daughter. I didn’t have cream of tartar so I sprinkled in just a tiny amount of plain, powdered gelatin. It set up beautifuly and has a nice glossy shine to boot.

      • Tracy says

        December 24, 2017 at 9:33 am

        Awesome! I’m so glad the frosting worked out for you!

  16. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says

    June 24, 2016 at 4:48 am

    YUM YUM YUM, Tracy! Great recipe so totally pinning, of course! Your piping work? Spot on, girl! My piping is a tad sad, but I would definitely work on to try to make my frosting as pretty as yours 😉 ! Can’t wait to try this recipe 🙂 Have a great weekend!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 26, 2016 at 8:55 am

      Ha, thanks, Dawn!! Unfortunately, I’m afraid this frosting is so easy to pipe, it makes anyone look good–my piping skills need all the help they can get. 😉

      Reply
      • Hayden Calmese says

        November 2, 2017 at 3:43 am

        5 stars
        freeze it for a little bit

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Hi, I'm Tracy! Welcome to Baking Mischief, where we realize that not everyone is cooking every night for a family of four. We have delicious sweet and savory recipes, mostly scaled for one or two, and we love our pop culture around here, so keep an eye out for film, book, and TV-inspired treats as well! Read more»
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