Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (2024)

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When I was creating my S’mores Cake Recipe, I thought it would be amazing to pipe some pretty marshmallow fluff on top and toast it. The problem was, the jar of Kraft Marshmallow Creme I started with in recipe testing was not pipeable and quickly lost its shape, melting into pools of goo all over the cake. It was a happy accident though, because instead I concocted a homemade version that is pipeable, holds its shape perfectly, and looks amazing when toasted! And this homemade Marshmallow Meringue is so tasty, you’ll forget all about that store bought stuff.

Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (1)

You can totally frost an entire cake with this Marshmallow Meringue, but my favorite way to use it is for piping pretty accents and toasting them with my kitchen torch. The toasted portions of my S’mores Cake Recipe, S’mores Cupcake Recipe, and Banana Nutella Cake all feature this recipe. You don’t have to stop at accents though – this Marshmallow Meringue is super light and fluffy, making it perfect as a filling or frosting for cakes and cupcakes. Feel free to get creative!

Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (2)
Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (3)

There are only four ingredients in this recipe, but they’re all super important. When whipped, the egg whites give structure, the sugar helps bind it all together and sweeten it, the vanilla is responsible for making it taste like marshmallowy goodness, and the cream of tartar helps it hold its shape. Don’t skip the cream of tartar! I know it might be tempting, but it’s truly a must.

Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (4)

This Marshmallow Meringue can be made ahead, but if you want the best consistency for piping and frosting, I recommend using it immediately. That means if you want to use it with any piping tips or frost a cake with pretty peaks, you’ll want to whip it up as a last step in your decorating process vs. a make-ahead recipe. You can store the Marshmallow Meringue for up to two days in the refrigerator if you’re planning on using it as a filling, it just won’t be as spreadable and easy to work with for frosting and piping.

Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (5)
Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (6)
Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (7)

My favorite part about using Marshmallow Meringue is breaking out my kitchen torch and toasting it. It’s exhilarating! If you’re in need of a good butane kitchen torch, here is the one I use. I’ve tried using other things to toast (matches, a lighter, etc), but nothing holds a candle to a trusty kitchen torch. So if you want to toast this meringue, you’ll need one. Something that does not work for toasting this Marshmallow Meringue? The oven. It’ll melt your meringue into soup, so don’t even think about it.

Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (8)

Marshmallow Meringue Frosting

A homemade alternative to store bought marshmallow creme, using only four ingredients. Perfect for frosting cakes and cupcakes, piping decorations, and using as a filling. Tastes even better when toasted with a kitchen torch!

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Cook Time:10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 Cups

Ingredients

  • 4 large egg whites
  • 1 Cup (200g) granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or two of water and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk together the egg whites, granulated sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl, then place it on top of the simmering saucepan. Make sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler for this part.

  • Whisk the egg white mixture continuously until the sugar and cream of tartar are dissolved, about 4 minutes. It will thin out and be very frothy on top.

  • Remove the mixture from the heat and add it to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (you can use a hand mixer for this part as well). Add the vanilla, then beat on high speed for about 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it looks glossy with stiff peaks. To test it, dip your whisk attachment into the meringue and make sure the peak holds.

  • Use the Marshmallow Meringue immediately on cakes, cupcakes, or any dessert. You can frost with it, pipe with it, use it as a filling, or whatever you’d like before toasting with a kitchen torch (it tastes great untoasted too though).

Notes

Make Ahead Tips

  1. If you’re planning on using this Marshmallow Meringue as a frosting or piping with it, I do not recommend making it ahead. Instead, whip it up right before you’re planning on frosting or piping. If you’re using it as a filling, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
  2. After topping your baked goods with Marshmallow Meringue, you can store them at room temperature for up to 6 hours, after which I recommend storing them in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Did you make this recipe? I want to know how it went! Leave a comment below or feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram and show me. I love to see what you create.

Homemade Marshmallow Meringue Frosting Recipe - Sugar & Sparrow (2024)

FAQs

Is marshmallow fluff the same as meringue? ›

Marshmallow fluff is a thick and creamy substance, but it doesn't always hold its shape to the extent desired. Marshmallow meringue, on the other hand, has enough firmness to allow you to more easily create simple structures, such as elegant topping swirls that hold their form when baking.

Can I refrigerate marshmallow meringue? ›

Cover and store leftovers for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Baked goods topped with this marshmallow meringue can be left at room temperature for up to 6-8 hours. After that, it's best to refrigerate or else the topping will begin to wilt.

Are marshmallows just meringue? ›

Marshmallows are different from meringues, but they weren't always. Marshmallows are made in a very similar manner to meringues, with one key difference: the sugar is not whipped into egg whites to make an airy suspension; rather, it is whisked with gelatin.

Does Swiss meringue taste like marshmallow? ›

Cindy began contributing to Simply Recipes in 2017. Swiss meringue is a stable, fluffy frosting that only requires a few ingredients and a smidge of patience, but results in something that's spectacular. It's reminiscent of a marshmallow with a spreadable consistency.

What is the difference between Jet Puffed marshmallow creme and marshmallow fluff? ›

Is Fluff the same as Marshmallow Creme? Generically, they are the same, but Fluff is made by a costly, batch-whipping process. Creme is whipped in a continuous mixing process.

Can I use melted marshmallows instead of fluff? ›

You may also see it as marshmallow Fluff in recipes, but marshmallow Fluff is actually a specific brand of marshmallow creme. If you do not have access to marshmallow creme, you can melt 14 ounces of marshmallows in the microwave and then add the remaining ingredients.

What is a substitute for corn syrup in meringue? ›

Sugar-water solution

This sugar solution will indeed recrystallize, but it's a particularly apt choice for substituting light corn syrup in baked goods. Its neutral-flavored sweetness means it can seamlessly stand in for corn syrup, rather than introducing its own additional flavor.

Do meringues go bad? ›

If you have leftover meringues, you can store them at room temperature or in the freezer for up to 1 month. If it's a warm or humid day, place your meringues in the fridge for 30 minutes first to make sure they're cool.

Which meringue is most like marshmallow? ›

Perfect Swiss Meringue is a silky, glossy, and smooth-textured meringue that pipes and decorates beautifully, and it tastes like the best homemade marshmallow in spreadable form.

Are Lucky Charms marshmallows made of meringue? ›

Though Lucky Charms' exact process is proprietary, the cereal marshmallows are made with ingredients that include sugar, modified cornstarch, corn syrup, dextrose, gelatin and calcium carbonate, according to the product's packaging.

What is whipped marshmallow called? ›

Marshmallow creme (also called marshmallow fluff, marshmallow stuff, marshmallow spread, marshmallow paste, or simply fluff,) is a marshmallow confectionery spread similar in flavor, but not texture, to regular solid marshmallow.

Is Italian meringue the same as marshmallow? ›

Marshmallows are made exactly the same way as an Italian meringue – adding hot sugar syrup to stiff egg whites – but with the addition of gelatine to make them set. We suggest making this with friends, as the marshmallow mixture sets quite quickly and you need a few hands on deck to pipe the ropes before it does.

What does cream of tartar do to Swiss meringue? ›

Cream of tartar is an acidic ingredient that helps unstick the sticky egg white proteins in the white from each other, yielding a fluffier meringue. If you don't have access to this, you can sub lemon/lime juice. Just double the amount listed in the recipe. Unsalted butter contributes to the body of the buttercream.

Is marshmallow fluff the same as marshmallow creme? ›

While they have similar consistencies and flavor there is one notable difference between creme and fluff. Creme contains cream of tartar while fluff does not, making it ideal for use in fudge. What is a substitute for marshmallow cream? You can make marshmallow cream by melting down marshmallows with corn syrup.

Can you torch marshmallow fluff? ›

Using a kitchen blow torch, scorch the marshmallow fluff until the desired colour is achieved (Image 14). (This bit is personal, some like it lightly coloured, like me, whilst others like a charred marshmallow.

What can I substitute for marshmallow puff? ›

directions
  • In a large bowl, combine egg whites, corn syrup and salt; beat with mixer in high speed for 10 minutes or until thick.
  • Add in icing sugar; beat on low speed until blended.
  • Beat in vanilla until blended.
  • Use this in any recipe called for marshmallow creme.

Why is my meringue like marshmallows? ›

It doesn't have to be perfect, but if there are too many undissolved pieces of sugar, it means it's not fully dissolved into the protein layer of the egg whites. When this happens, your meringues won't come out crisp and they might seep liquid during baking as the sugar melts out of the meringue.

References

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