Instructions: 1. Stir the hot water and the confectioners sugar, then boil in a covered pan until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Place the unbeaten egg white, cream of tartar, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Add the hot sugar syrup. Beat these ingredients at high speed until the icing is the right consistency to spread, 3 to 4 minutes. While beating, add the 1 teaspoon vanilla.

It might be necessary to double this recipe to cover a 9" round tube cake completely. On page 721, the authors recommend that 3 cups icing be used to cover the top and sides of a 9 or 10-inch tube cake. Unfortunately, the recipe text does not include the amount of icing produced, and I keep forgetting to measure before having my husband cover the cake with icing.

Last time I made this, I did cook a double batch, and there was at least 1/2 cup of icing left over (and thrown out) after the cake was completely covered, but if we had been making a layered cake, the amount would have been just right.

The single recipe contains about 500 Calories but is very low in fat.

OPTIONAL: Melt 2 ounces chocolate (semi-sweet, non-dairy) and spread with a broad knife or spatula over the white icing, once that icing has set.

Allow several hours for the chocolate to harden. To speed this up, refrigerate the cake after applying the chocolate. This is not recommended for use in damp hot weather.

NOTES : Since Im allergic to corn, which is used in confectioners sugar

(also called icing sugar), I measure 1 cup of superfine sugar

(also called
berry sugar) into a small food processor and process for a few minutes to
grind the sugar to a fine texture, similar to confectioners sugar.

I found these two recipes for low-fat vanilla icings in my 1975 Joy of Cooking. Ive tried the electric-mixer version a few times.

It is very sweet. Since egg whites are used, there is virtually no fat in these recipes. However, with all the sugar, these are not low in calories. Of course, most of the icing recipes in that edition of Joy are made with butter, and would be totally inappropriate to post here :)

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