To delay setting and make icing easy to work with, the trick of the trade is to add glycerine. For the top and sides of a 24-cm cake, use 500 g icing sugar, 2 egg whites, 2 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tsp glycerine. Cover icing with cling film, let stand overnight and stir before using.
Put sifted icing sugar in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add lightly beaten egg whites and lemon juice.
Whisk until stiff and glossy, about 10 minutes, then whisk in glycerine.
ยฉ 1996 All rights reserved. Published by Le Cordon Bleu.