Seven-Minute Icing

Photo: flickr user photofarmer

Ingredients

2 egg whites

cup sugar

5 tablespoons water

teaspoon cream of tartar

teaspoon light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Off the heat, combine the egg whites, sugar, water, cream of tartar, and corn syrup in the top of a double boiler and mix until thoroughly blended. Place the top of the double boiler over rapidly boiling water and beat with a hand mixer or energetically with a wire whisk for 7 minutes. Add the vanilla and continue beating until the icing reaches a good consistency for spreading.

Note: Because of concerns over salmonella, some people use pasteurized meringue powder instead of fresh egg whites in any recipe where the eggs are uncooked or only partially cooked.