Ermine or Boiled-Milk Frosting

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This frosting is so fluffy, creamy and delicious.  It tastes a lot like whipped cream and whipped cream frosting is what it was called when I was introduced to it. Now I know that it’s also called Ermine or Boiled-Milk Frosting.  No matter what you call it, it’s good!

This frosting is fluffy and smooth and perfect.  It starts by boiling milk and flour together to make a paste and that is whipped into butter to make a frosting that isn’t super sweet, but is really light and airy. 

It is a lot like whipped cream, but more stable.  It is a classic topping for red velvet cake, but is great in a variety of applications!

 It is hard to believe, but I have been making this frosting for 10 years now!  I was working with my friend Vicki and her birthday was coming up.  Of course I had to bake her a cake!

She requested red velvet cake with whipped cream frosting.   I had never heard of such a thing, other than the frosting some grocery stores call whipped cream.

As far as I knew, red velvet cakes were topped with cream cheese frosting.  Apparently this is quite a point for debate, is it ermine frosting or cream cheese frosting that is the proper way to frost a red beauty.

Vicki was obviously on team boiled milk frosting and I am always happy to try a new frosting!  She searched for the recipe of the exact thing she was talking about.

I had certainly never made a cooked frosting like this!  I had melted chocolate for frosting before and made Marlene’s Fudge Frosting, but never something quite like this.

I instantly fell in love.  This frosting is not too sweet, it is just right.  

The flavor is subtle, a lot like whipped cream!  However it does have better holding time and you don’t have to worry about mixing it too long and turning into butter… it is already butter!

The key is getting the flour and milk paste correct.  It will still taste good even if it isn’t perfect, but if you don’t cook it long enough the frosting will be loose.

If you don’t stir it well enough, you could get small lumps.  If you scorch it, well then you better start over!

 It really isn’t that hard.  Just don’t be afraid to let it thicken and be sure to stand there stirring it while it happens.

The first time I made this for my family everyone loved it.  I made a couple of brownies, covered them in whipped cream frosting and topped them in berries.

Everyone was asking for the recipe.  Since then I have used the basic a idea for a number of other recipes.  I love the final texture it gets.

If made properly you could certainly frost a layer cake with it with no problem! You can also use it to pipe onto cupcake or do embellishments on your cake. 

I don’t think I would use it to do anything too detailed or small.  It is a softer frosting and likely wouldn’t hold a perfect shape.

However it is perfect for ruffly piles, borders and large rosettes.  If you want to do anything too detailed, I would chill the frosting before and after piping it to make sure it has its best shot at holding.

Of course this frosting is great on red velvet cake and the brownies with berries as I described above.  I also used it on my Rolo poke cake and that was scrumptious if I do say so myself!

This frosting was also the perfect way to wrap a blackberry shortcake cake too! It really gives the feeling of whipped cream but with less worry!

Tips and Tricks for making Ermine/Boiled Milk Frosting

Getting the milk and flour paste just right is the key.  You want it to be a thick paste before you remove it from the heat.

Be sure to keep stirring it, especially as it thickens. You don’t want it to scorch on the bottom of the pan.

Originally I made the paste from just the flour and milk and added the sugar with the butter in the mixer. After a really long mixing period, it dissolves and isn’t grainy.  Lately I’ve taken to adding the sugar to the milk and flour to make sure it is dissolved.

If the frosting seems a bit loose when you are done, there is a chance your butter was over softened or your paste wasn’t all the way cooled.  Try placing the bowl of frosting in the refrigerator for 15 or 20 minutes and whipping it again.

If it is still loose, the paste probably wasn’t thick enough.  A bit of powdered sugar or heat treated flour can help tighten it up this time. Just cook your paste a little longer next time! 

Have you ever made a boiled milk frosting? What is your favorite cooked frosting?

If you are a frosting fanatic like me, check out my Frosting 101. It goes through the different types of frosting and links to all sorts of delicious recipes!

Watch me make this frosting and decorate cupcakes 4 ways using my 2 favorite tips on YouTube.

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