Here’s the recipe for the boiled icing I used on my cake yesterday. It is incredibly easy, but it takes about 15 minutes to make. You should try making it at least once in your life! This makes a lot of icing. Perfect for a three or four layer cake.

4 large egg whites
3 tablespoons water
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk egg whites, water, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt in large heat-resistant bowl set over medium saucepan filled with ½ inch of barely simmering water (don’t let bowl touch water). With hand-held mixer on medium-high speed, carefully beat egg white mixture to stiff peaks, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove bowl from heat, add vanilla, and continue to beat until icing is very thick and stiff and cooled to room temperature, about 8 minutes.