Plain White Icing

This is a basic white icing for cupcakes, devil’s food cakes, white cakes, or any basic cake. Add sprinkles or fruit for color and variation.

1½ cups sugar

½ cup water

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

teaspoon salt

3 unbeaten egg whites

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Blend the sugar, water, cream of tartar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the icing from the heat and while still hot, slowly blend in the unbeaten egg whites with a handheld electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla.

Makes icing for 1 three-layer cake or 1 (11 x 9-inch) sheet cake