Simply So Good

Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

9 Comments

Pin71
Share18
Tweet
Reddit
89 Shares
Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing043 685x1024 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing
Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing079 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing
Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing042 685x1024 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing
I am lucky enough to have my grandmothers old wooden recipe box.  I was thumbing through this old box looking for her recipe for chili sauce.  I carefully pulled out recipes that had been handwritten on recipe cards, torn sheets of paper, and even napkins.  I can see her sitting at a ward church potluck and using her napkin to write down the recipe of a new dish she had never had before.  I found a recipe written on a piece of paper from a small desktop calender dated back to 1954.  Many of the recipes did not have instructions or specific amounts.  I chuckled to myself when I read things like a “handful of…” or a “box of…” 
 I
I stumbled upon a recipe for Boiled Icing. I remember my mom making this icing to top Grandma’s recipe for Devils Food Cake.  I haven’t had this for years!  
I thought it would be fun to turn the icing into a fun cupcake for Halloween.  I was lucky enough to have my grand kids visit last week and thought how fun it would be to make this recipe with them.  I had forgotten how much chaos is involved with these cuties.  I told my daughter that the Midwest tornadoes had nothing on her kids.  We had fun times with some fun memories and I’m just getting around to making the cupcakes and the grandchildren are hundred of miles away (self pity). 
4 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

You will need the following to make Grandma’s boiled icing recipe:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla

18 chocolate cups cakes  Here are two great recipes to choose from:  Grandma’s Devils Food OR Mumma’s Chocolate Cake
mini chocolate chips or candy eyes

5 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

In a small sauce pan add 1 1/2 cups sugar.

6 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Carefully add the 1/2 cup hot water.

7 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Add 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar.

Sorry about the blurry pics on this post.  I had a few camera setting issues.  I’m still trying to figure out this new camera that I’ve had for 7 months.

8 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

This is very important.  Carefully stir the water, sugar and cream of tartar.  I try very hard not to let any sugar crystals stick to the sides of the pan.

Because there isn’t any fat in the recipe, if sugar crystals form then the icing could turn to sugar. Gently stir while warming over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.

9 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

When the mixture begins to boil, clip on a candy thermometer.  Notice that no sugar is around the edges of the pan.  If there are sugar crystals present, just wet a pastry brush with water and wash the sides.

10 1 683x1024 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

11 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Let the mixture gently boil over medium heat until it reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit.

12 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

When the temperature has almost reached 240 degrees, add the 3 egg whites and 1 teaspoon vanilla into a large mixing bowl.

13 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Mix until egg whites begin to foam.

14 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

When the temperature of the sugar mixture reaches 240 degrees, remove from heat and pour into a heat proof measuring cup.

15 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

With the mixer running slowly pour the hot mixture into the egg white mixture.

18 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

 Beat for about 10 minutes until very thick and shiny and just barely warm.

16 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Another blurry pic…

I like to use a disposable pastry bag fitted with a large round tip.

17 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

It helps to place the bag into a large cup to fill.

19 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing
20 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Pipe onto cooled chocolate cupcakes.

21 1 1024x683 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Add candy eyes or mini chocolate chips.

I can’t believe that I was out of mini chocolate chips, but found some candy eyes.

CUTE!

Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing026 1024x685 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing044 685x1024 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

 Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing055 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Ghostcupcakeswithboiledicing078 - Ghostly Cupcakes and a recipe for Boiled Icing

Ghostly Cupcakes with Boiled Icing

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla

18 chocolate cups cakes  Here are two great recipes to choose from:  Grandma’s Devils Food OR Mumma’s Chocolate Cake
mini chocolate chips or candy eyes

Print recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. As you can see I'm "piping challenged". Every time I try to pipe icing I wonder why on earth I post them on my blog. Someday I just might get the hang of it. Thanks for your kind comment.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.