Ermine frosting (also called roux frosting or boiled milk frosting) is made by cooking flour and sugar with milk to make a sweet paste. This paste is then whipped into softened butter until light and fluffy. Vanilla and salt is added for flavoring. It's especially good on my easy chocolate cake recipe or red velvet cake.
Quick Glance: Ermine Frosting
- Recipe Name: Ermine Frosting
- Why You'll Love It: Lighter and less sweet than any buttercream you've ever had, with a silky whipped-cream texture that's completely egg-free
- Time and Difficulty: 40 minutes, including cooling time / Easy
- Main Ingredients: Flour, granulated sugar, whole milk, unsalted butter, vanilla
- Method: Cook flour and milk into a thick roux, cool completely, then whip into butter
- Texture and Flavor: Silky smooth and cloud-like with a delicate vanilla sweetness and absolutely no flour taste
- Quick Tip: The flour mixture must be completely cold before it goes into the butter. Even slightly warm will melt the butter and the whole frosting will collapse
This might sound like a bizarre process (it did to me at first) but it's actually a delicious frosting! Ermine frosting reminds me a lot of that frosting that you find in a ding dong or twinkie. Very light and almost like whipped cream.
This frosting does not have eggs in it so it's a fantastic alternative to Swiss Meringue Buttercream if you want a light frosting but can't have eggs.
Why This Recipe Works So Well
Ermine frosting is structurally different from every other buttercream, and understanding why helps you make it successfully every time.
Most frostings get their body from powdered sugar, cooked egg whites, or egg yolks. Ermine frosting uses a cooked starch gel instead. When flour and sugar are heated with milk, the starch granules in the flour absorb the liquid and swell through a process called gelatinization, forming a thick, stable paste. When that paste is whipped into softened butter, the starch gel acts as an emulsifier, binding the fat and liquid together into a smooth, cohesive frosting without any powdered sugar at all.
Toasting the flour dry in the pan for a couple of minutes before adding the milk does two things: it removes the raw flour taste that would otherwise come through in the finished frosting, and it partially breaks down the starch so the roux thickens evenly rather than clumping.
Because there are no eggs in this recipe, there is no risk of curdling, no food safety concerns around raw whites, and no need for a candy thermometer. The only thing that can go wrong is adding the roux to the butter before it's fully cooled, which melts the fat and breaks the frosting. Get that one step right, and the rest takes care of itself.
Ermine frosting actually tastes really good! I admit making the roux did not seem very appetizing but after I gave it a taste, I could see why ermine frosting is the traditional frosting used with red velvet cake. It's so good!
Ermine Frosting Ingredients
The frosting is super smooth and creamy. A nice light vanilla flavor and no hint of a flour taste. I promise.
Granulated sugar provides sweetness and also helps thicken the roux when cooked with the flour and milk. Because the sugar is cooked into a paste rather than added as powdered sugar, the finished frosting is significantly less sweet than American buttercream. Do not substitute powdered sugar here.
All-purpose flour is the thickening agent that makes ermine frosting unique. The starch in the flour gelatinizes when cooked with the milk, creating the paste that gives this frosting its structure. Measure by weight for the most consistent results.
Whole milk hydrates the flour and sugar into a smooth roux. Whole milk is recommended because the higher fat content produces a richer, creamier finished frosting. You can substitute 2% milk but the texture will be slightly less silky. Do not use non-dairy milk alternatives as they behave differently when heated with starch.
Unsalted butter is whipped into the cooled roux to create the final frosting. It must be fully softened to room temperature so it whips up light and fluffy before the roux goes in. Unsalted butter is used so the salt level can be controlled. For a slightly richer flavor, European-style butter with a higher fat content works beautifully here.
Vanilla extract is the primary flavor in this frosting. Use a high-quality pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for the best result. You can also substitute almond extract, lemon emulsion, or any other flavoring in the same amount.
Salt balances the sweetness and deepens the overall flavor. It should not be detectable as saltiness, only as a rounding out of the vanilla and butter.
How do you make ermine frosting?
Making ermine frosting is actually pretty simple.
- Add the flour and sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk together and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture smells slightly nutty and looks dry and sandy. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn - you want lightly toasted, not browned.
- Reduce the heat to medium and slowly pour in the milk in a thin, steady stream while whisking constantly. The mixture will look thin at first. Keep whisking and it will begin to thicken.
- Increase to medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, whisking continuously. Continue cooking for one more minute after it reaches a simmer. The finished roux should be very thick and pudding-like - it should hold a shape when you drag the whisk through it and fall off the whisk in slow, heavy ribbons.
- If your roux has any lumps, strain it through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl now, pressing it through with a spatula.
- Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the roux so no air touches it. This prevents a skin from forming. Refrigerate until completely cold, at least 2 hours or overnight. You can also spread it onto a sheet pan, cover with plastic, and freeze for 30 minutes if you're short on time. The roux must be fully cold - not cool, not slightly warm, but cold all the way through.
- Add the softened butter to the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Whip on high for 2 to 3 minutes until the butter is very pale, light, and fluffy. It should look almost white and increase noticeably in volume.
- Transfer the cold roux into a piping bag. With the mixer running on medium, slowly pipe the roux into the whipped butter a little at a time, waiting a few seconds between additions. Adding it slowly ensures the roux and butter emulsify smoothly rather than curdling.
- Once all the roux is incorporated, add the vanilla and salt. Increase to high speed and whip for 1 to 2 more minutes until the frosting is very light, smooth, and fluffy. It should look like thick whipped cream and hold a soft peak.
EXPERT TIP: Ermine frosting is best used right after it's made. It sets as it sits and loses its light, creamy texture if left too long before using.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adding the roux before it's completely cold. This is the single most common reason ermine frosting fails. Even slightly warm roux will melt the butter and turn everything soupy. Be patient and let it chill fully in the refrigerator. If you're in a hurry, spread it thin on a sheet pan and freeze it.
Skipping the flour toasting step. Untoasted flour has a starchy, raw taste that will come through in the finished frosting. Two minutes of dry toasting in the pan completely eliminates this and is worth the extra step.
Adding the roux too fast. Dumping all the roux into the butter at once instead of adding it slowly almost always causes the frosting to break or look curdled. Pipe it in gradually with the mixer running for the smoothest result.
Trying to use ermine frosting under fondant. Ermine frosting is too soft to support the weight of fondant. It will compress and bulge under the fondant as it sits. Use it as a filling between cake layers or as a finish frosting, and choose a stiffer buttercream for any fondant-covered cakes.
Making it ahead and expecting it to keep. Ermine frosting does not hold well once made. The starch gel continues to firm up, and the texture becomes dense and less creamy within a few hours. Make the roux ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to a week, but whip the frosting fresh right before you need it.
Ermine Frosting FAQs
Ermine frosting tastes like a lighter, less sweet version of buttercream - closer to whipped cream than traditional frosting. There is no detectable flour taste when the roux is made correctly. The vanilla comes through cleanly and the overall flavor is delicate, creamy, and just barely sweet. It's the frosting that people who say they "don't like frosting" actually enjoy.
Both are lighter and less sweet than American buttercream, but they use completely different structures. Swiss meringue buttercream is built on cooked egg whites whipped into a stable foam, then finished with butter. Ermine frosting uses no eggs at all and gets its structure from a cooked flour and milk roux. Ermine frosting is simpler to make and has a slightly lighter, airier texture, while Swiss meringue buttercream is more stable and better suited for warm environments.
Yes. Because ermine frosting contains milk, it should not be left at room temperature for more than a couple of hours. Refrigerate any leftover frosting in an airtight container for up to one week, or freeze for up to three months. The roux base on its own can also be made ahead and refrigerated for up to a week - just whip it fresh into the butter when you're ready to use it. Bring a frosted cake out of the refrigerator one to two hours before serving so the frosting softens back to its best texture.
You can make the roux component up to a week ahead and store it refrigerated. However, the finished frosting is best used immediately after whipping. Once the roux and butter are combined, the frosting begins to firm up and lose its light, creamy consistency within a few hours. For the best results, make the roux in advance and whip the frosting fresh on the day you need it.
Graininess is usually caused by the sugar not fully dissolving during cooking. Make sure you whisk constantly while the roux cooks and allow it to reach a full simmer before removing from the heat. If graininess is still an issue, strain the roux through a fine mesh sieve before chilling. Graininess can also happen if the butter is too cold when the roux is added - always make sure the butter is fully softened to room temperature first.
Yes. Add gel food coloring in the final step after all the roux is incorporated. Use gel or paste colors rather than liquid since liquid can thin the frosting. Add a small amount at a time and mix on low until you reach the desired shade. Because the frosting is so light in color, it takes color easily and produces bright, clean shades.
Yes. Once the frosting is fully whipped, add a quarter cup of sifted unsweetened cocoa powder and mix on low until fully incorporated. The cocoa will deepen the color and add a light chocolate flavor without significantly changing the texture.
Yes, ermine frosting pipes well when used immediately after making. It holds swirls and rosettes cleanly with a piping bag and tip. Because it softens quickly at room temperature and doesn't hold up well over time, pipe decorations right before serving rather than hours in advance.
More Frosting Recipes To Try
Watch: How To Decorate A Cake Step-by-Step
Before you start decorating, watch the video below where I show you every step of decorating a cake from start to finish. Seeing the process in action makes it much easier to follow along
- Liz Marek.
Recipe
Ingredients
Ermine Frosting Ingredients
- 14 ounces granulated sugar
- 3 ounces flour
- 16 ounces whole milk
- 16 ounces unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 ounces vanilla extract
- ¼ ounces salt
Instructions
Ermine Frosting Instructions
- Whisk together your flour and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes to toast the flour. Be careful not to burn it!
- Slowly add in your milk, whisk to combine, and bring your heat to medium-high. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisk continuously until it is thick and pudding-like. Once it's simmering, cook for one minute more.
- (Optional) If your mixture has any lumps, place a colander on top of a heat-proof bowl and push your mixture through and into the bowl. Transfer the mixture into a heat-proof bowl. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap so that it is touching the surface without any air bubbles in between, this will prevent a skin from forming on the top of the mixture. Let cool in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. You can also transfer the mixture to a sheet pan, spread it out, cover it with plastic, and put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes to cool faster. Make sure the mixture is completely cool or it will melt your butter.
- Add your softened butter to the bowl of your stand mixer and whisk on high until very light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Once the butter is fluffy, place the cooled flour mixture into a piping bag and slowly pipe it into your butter as your whip. Incorporating slowly ensures a smooth buttercream.
- Add in your vanilla and salt, then mix until everything is creamy. Use it to frost your cooled cake. This buttercream will set quickly, so it's best used immediately.
Video
Notes
- Toast the flour and sugar dry in the pan for 2 minutes before adding the milk. This removes the raw flour taste from the finished frosting.
- Whisk the milk in slowly and stir constantly to prevent lumps. If lumps form, strain the roux through a fine mesh sieve before chilling.
- Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the roux before refrigerating. This prevents a skin from forming on top.
- The roux must be completely cold before adding it to the butter. Even slightly warm will melt the butter and break the frosting.
- Make sure your butter is fully softened to room temperature before whipping. Cold butter will not whip up light and fluffy.
- Add the roux to the butter slowly using a piping bag with the mixer running. Adding it all at once can cause the frosting to curdle.
- Use ermine frosting immediately after making it. It sets as it sits and loses its light, creamy texture within a few hours.
- Do not use ermine frosting under fondant. It is too soft to support the weight and will compress and bulge.
- To make chocolate ermine frosting, whip in ¼ cup of sifted cocoa powder at the end.
- The roux can be made up to one week ahead and stored refrigerated. Whip fresh into butter the day you need it.
Viv Nunn says
Hi there
When you say it has to be used immediately do you mean that once it is piped it has to be eaten the same day and I cant refrigerate for a party the next or do you mean it isn't workable after the same day please?
Elizabeth Marek says
I mean that the frosting should be used right away but you can store the cake and eat it later.
Havilah says
I definitely prefer this to classic butter cream! I made the exact recipe for a classic vanilla birthday cake and it was very good just a touch too sweet still. So for the next cake (butter-less chocolate zucchini cake) I reduced the sugar called for taking off 1/3 of what was in the recipe and I doubled the vanilla and added a tiny bit more salt as well. It was out of this word.
It is my new go to frosting recipe.
Suzi says
I’m making this frosting and I did see that it DOSENT work well under fondant but DOES work well filling the layers so I was just wondering if I fill my cake the day before, will the frosting taste weird the next day after being refrigerated overnight?
Sugar Geek Show says
Nope, it will be just fine! Just make sure to bring your cake to room temperature by leaving it out for a few hours. The frosting and cake will have the best consistency at room temp.
Lesa says
Love the frosting! What is the best frosting for piping? I have tried several kind but they were not stabilized enough
Sugar Geek Show says
Easy buttercream is always my go-to! https://sugargeekshow.com/easy-buttercream-frosting/
Kelly Head says
I made this for a gift for a family member, it was absolutely Delicious! Thank you for the recipe 😍
Winter says
Hai Liz, this such a great recipe. I tried it and it was so good. My family loves it very much.
Btw, Can I add flavours to this frosthing? Like coffee flavour. Do you have any suggestions?
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can, instead of the vanilla or in place of
Lily says
I already try this recipe and my family loved it, even my grandparent does.
Now, I want to make it coffee flavoured. Do you have any suggestions?
Either I add my coffee mixture at end but I'm afraid it will get runny. Or add in the flour paste?
Elizabeth Marek says
You could replace some liquid with espresso
Hannah says
Hi Liz, would this recipe be enough for the rainbow cake. I was thinking of only using it for the inside layers and then using american buttercream on the outside.
Thanks
Sugar Geek Show says
Hi! Yes I think it would be plenty for the inside
Diana Diaz says
Hi Liz! I am a huge fan of your work. God bless your hands and talent!
How is it that you keep your cupcake wrappers and cupcakes themselves unbrowned while ensuring they are fully baked? I know this isn't a frosting question, but your picture of cupcake up there is pristine... mine always come out brown, even if they cupcake itself is not overbaked.
Thanks!
D
Elizabeth Marek says
Hmm I'm not sure I've ever tried. It could be over-baking.
Amy says
I’m wondering how you got your frosting to look so pure white.
I’ve started making ermine frosting only recently, and my lord it is so delicious, but mine has never come close to being that white.
Obviously the butter will factor, and I use grass fed butter which is a bit more yellow from the vitamin A… but I’ve made it with regular butter too and it’s never come out like that, and yours is SUPER white!!
Just wondering if I am missing something. I know I’ve read comments where people discuss adding in a white… ___ something, just don’t know what.
Elizabeth Marek says
Hmm I dont know, mine just is that white. You can always try adding some white food coloring
Kav says
Thank you for the recipe.
I was wondering if I could swap the granulated sugar for icing sugar?
If yes, would i use the same amount in weight of icing sugar as you used for the granulated sugar?
Sorry if this has already been asked and thank you very much for your reply.
Elizabeth Marek says
I think that would be ok, the weight would be the same.
Mary eileen Loscos says
This has been my go to frosting recipe eversince I tried it a year ago. It is less firm compared to swiss meringue, which makes it more challenging to frost my cakes, but the taste is so good it is worth it. I wonder why this frosting is not used by more cake business owners. Is it because this frosting has a shorter shelf life comapared to other buttercreams?
Sugar Geek Show says
Possibly! It's a very old fashioned recipe so sometimes different frostings go in and out of style. It's also not great underneath fondant either so maybe that's why it's not as popular.
Alina W says
Seriously the best frosting ever! Made this to frost my sons birthday cake. I needed it to be blue so I added gel food coloring to the roux and did 4 oz shortening and 12 oz of butter. It frosted like a dream and I was able to get smooth edges! I also added some fondant decorations and it held up beautifully! Thank you Liz for another great recipe!
Jennifer T says
My grandma had a recipe for this frosting but it used shortening. I always had trouble with it. I’ve made this recipe 2 times and it is just beautiful! This time I added cocoa to make it chocolate, it was fabulous! Thank you. I’ve shared with my family so that others can pair it with grandma’s red velvet cake recipe like she would!
Lisa says
Hi Liz ... I love this recipe and I've tried the chocolate one too .... I love the fact that's its eggless and I would like to make a caramel flavoured frosting using and ermine frosting ... how do you think I could go about doing it ?
Thank you××
Elizabeth Marek says
You could whip in some caramel during the final step 😀
Martha says
Have you every made this with a sugar substitute or at least part sugar substitute and part regular sugar maybe? I have diabetics in my family and I've been looking for a way to make a frosting that's more friendly for anyone who is watching their sugar intake but still want to eat what everyone else is eating.
Elizabeth Marek says
I haven't but you should be able to replace sugar in baking recipes with something like swerve's baking mix without problems