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TikTok cloud bread is the most fun I’ve had with three egg whites: a tall, fluffy dome of whites, sugar and cornstarch. It bakes like a soft meringue, golden outside and marshmallowy inside, and tears apart like a cloud.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Beat the whites until the meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks that stand straight up. Under-whipped meringue spreads flat and bakes into a dense, eggy pancake.
Why You'll Love This Cloud Bread
- Three ingredients you probably already have: egg whites, sugar and cornstarch.
- Fun to make, with a tall, swirly dome that tears open into a soft, fluffy center.
- Any color you like, from pastel pink or blue to a marbled rainbow.
What Is TikTok Cloud Bread?
TikTok cloud bread is a sweet, fluffy dome made by whipping egg whites with sugar and cornstarch into a stiff meringue, shaping it into a cloud and baking it until golden. It went viral for the way it tears open into soft, airy, often brightly colored strands.
It's different from older recipes also called cloud bread or oopsie bread, which use whole eggs or yolks with cream cheese to make flat, savory rounds. The TikTok version uses only egg whites, so it's sweet, light and best eaten as a treat, not as sandwich bread.
Ingredients
- Egg whites: three large whites, completely free of yolk. Save the yolks for custard or carbonara.
- Sugar: sweetens and stabilizes the meringue. Superfine (caster) sugar dissolves fastest; regular granulated works if added slowly.
- Cornstarch: helps the meringue keep its height in the oven. Potato starch or arrowroot can stand in.
- Food coloring (optional): gel coloring gives bright pastel clouds without thinning the meringue.
- Extract (optional): a little vanilla or almond extract adds flavor.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Keep the bowl grease-free. Even a speck of yolk or oil stops egg whites from whipping. Use a clean glass or metal bowl, not plastic.
- Use room-temperature whites. They whip faster and to more volume than cold ones. Separate the eggs cold, then let the whites sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the sugar slowly. One tablespoon at a time gives a smooth, stable meringue. Superfine sugar dissolves most easily.
- Don't swap the cornstarch for flour. Cornstarch stabilizes the meringue so it holds its height; flour weighs it down.
- Use gel coloring. Liquid food coloring adds water and can deflate the meringue. A few drops of gel give bright color.
- Bake until set. This is an egg-white dish, so the center must be fully set and springy, not wet or runny. If the outside browns too fast, lower the oven to 275°F and bake a little longer.
TikTok Cloud Bread
1
large cloud (or 4 small)15
minutes25
minutes225
kcal40
minutesThe viral TikTok cloud bread: egg whites whipped with sugar and cornstarch into a stiff, glossy meringue, shaped into a dome and baked at 300°F until golden outside and set inside. Light, sweet and soft like a marshmallowy meringue, with optional food coloring.
Ingredients
- Cloud Bread
3 large egg whites, at room temperature, with no trace of yolk
3 tablespoons superfine (caster) or granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Optional
2 to 3 drops gel food coloring
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Directions
- Whip the Meringue
- Heat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a clean, dry, grease-free bowl, beat the egg whites with a stand or hand mixer on medium-high speed until foamy and opaque, about 1 minute.
- With the mixer running, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating for about 30 seconds after each addition.
- Add the cornstarch and keep beating on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until the meringue is thick, glossy and holds stiff peaks that stand straight up. It shouldn’t slide when the bowl is tilted.
- If using, beat in the extract, then add the food coloring and fold or beat briefly until evenly tinted (or fold just a few times for a marbled look).
- Shape and Bake
- Scoop the meringue onto the parchment and shape it into a tall dome with a spatula, smoothing the sides and swirling the top. For small clouds, shape 4 mounds.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes (15 to 18 minutes for small clouds), until the outside is golden brown and the inside is set and springy, not wet or runny. An instant-read thermometer in the center should read at least 160°F (71°C).
- Let it cool for 2 to 3 minutes, then tear it open and eat right away, while it’s at its fluffiest.
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Common Cloud Bread Mistakes
- Under-whipping: soft peaks aren't enough. The meringue needs stiff, glossy peaks or the cloud spreads flat. That’s exactly why my first one did.
- Yolk in the whites: even a little fat keeps the whites from whipping. Separate each egg over a small bowl first.
- Adding sugar all at once: it can deflate the foam and leave the meringue grainy.
- Underbaking: a pale, wet center means it needs more time. Bake until the outside is golden and the inside is set.
- Making it ahead: cloud bread deflates as it sits, so bake it shortly before serving.
Color and Flavor Ideas
- Pastel cloud: 2 to 3 drops of pink, blue or purple gel coloring beaten in fully.
- Marbled cloud: fold in two colors with just a few strokes for swirls.
- Vanilla or almond: 1/4 teaspoon extract added with the coloring.
- Lemon: 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest folded in at the end.
- Mini clouds: shape 4 small mounds and bake for 15 to 18 minutes.
- More viral treats: try whipped dalgona coffee or sweet, creamy angel milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TikTok cloud bread taste like?
It tastes like a soft, sweet, baked meringue or a toasted marshmallow, with a lightly crisp golden outside and a fluffy, airy center. It isn't bready or yeasty. Adding a little vanilla or almond extract gives it more flavor.
Why did my cloud bread go flat?
I’ve been there. The meringue was most likely under-whipped, or a trace of yolk or grease got into the whites. Beat until the peaks stand straight up and the meringue doesn't slide in the tilted bowl. Opening the oven early or overbaking can also make it collapse.
Is cloud bread cooked all the way through?
It should be. Bake until the outside is golden and the inside is set and springy, with no wet or runny egg white. An instant-read thermometer in the center should reach at least 160°F. If it's still soft and wet, return it to the oven for a few more minutes.
Can I make cloud bread without cornstarch?
Cornstarch is what helps it hold its tall shape, so leaving it out gives a flatter, more meringue-like result. Potato starch or arrowroot can be used in the same amount. Flour does not work as well, since it weighs the whites down.
How long does cloud bread last?
It's best eaten within an hour of baking, because it slowly deflates and turns sticky as it sits. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days, but they will be denser. It does not freeze well.
