Homemade Marshmallows
Homemade Marshmallows
Makes: 40-50
Did you know that you can make your own marshmallows in less than an hour? They’re a fun project to do with kids. The finished product is yummier than store bought. You can even make them in different colors if you want.
3 packets (about 3 tablespoons) unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
1 -1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions:
Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in a medium sized heat-proof bowl. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/3 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Turn stove to high and heat until mixture comes to a very brisk boil, stirring occasionally. Let boil for about 2 minutes. If you have a candy thermometer, the temperature should reach about 240 degrees.
Take pan off heat and very carefully pour contents into the bowl containing gelatin. Add vanilla extract. Set timer for 10 minutes. Using an electric mixer, beat mixture on high speed for at least 10 minutes. When the mixture becomes very thick and white and has at least doubled in size, it is done.
Using a rubber spatula, scoop mixture into a 9×12 casserole dish that has been generously dusted with powdered sugar. Let marshmallows sit at room temperature, uncovered, for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Don’t panic if they look incredibly sticky at first. They will thicken up as they cool. Cut into squares. They’ll still feel quite sticky as you cut them, but cut them as cleanly as possible with a wet knife. Then dust cut edges with additional powdered sugar, and they will feel like ‘real’ marshmallows.
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Note: For marshmallows with different colors and flavors, add a small amount of unsweetened kool-aid powder to the mixture on the stove as you are heating it.
I did not know that this could be done. I think I’ll give it a try!!!
I’ve seen several recipes, but I haven’t tried any yet. I’d like to try to make flavored marshmallows. Thanks for sharing.
A friend of ours made these for a game day get together just before New Year’s. He used Candy flavorings too , so we had chocolate, mint, vanilla, and various fruit flavorings. They were definitely a hit.
We’ve made marshmallows and put them in a pan lined with greased plastic wrap and it’s a nightmare to cut them and dust them. I’m going to try your idea of putting them in a pan w/ powdered sugar instead!
We made homemade marshmallows at Christmas time and the kids loved it. I do not like store bought marshmallows but I do the homemade.
for peppermint marshmallows add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of pure peppermint extract and just before you move batter to the pan, swirl in several drops of red food coloring to leave red and pink ribbons in your marshmallow. (don’t over mix or they will become pink) we make peppermint marshmallows at christmas time for our christmas cocoa
hmmmmm..Ms. Mary I do believe that you have made my resident Diva/Princess/Doctor Six year old very happy…I am going to try these this week end as a treat…If I am able to do justice to your directions then she will be one happy camper. Woot!
We’ve made them several times. Last year we made them for Valentine’s Day–the day after they were made, we dipped them in dark chocolate and rolled them in crushed nuts or toasted coconut. I swoon just thinking of our tasty little beauties–they were a big hit!
That sounds great. Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if you could use food coloring instead of kool-aid? Do you think it’d mess it up (just a few drops?)
I really enjoy seeing all of your recipes … they all look so good.
Coourtney,
I did a batch with a bit of gel food coloring, and it worked fine. The only thingto keep in mind is that as you whip the marshmallows, they take on so much air that the color is much more muted than it looks at first.
Sounds great! I bet they would be good with fondue…especially the flavored ones…
We inherited several recipe boxes from my MiL. In them are a lot of recipes from her mother, grandmother and aunts, all written on yellowed cards in spidery old lady handwriting. One of them is for homemade marshmallows and it is fantastic! It has measurements like “the size of a hazelnut” but it came out pretty tasty!
Are they better than the store-bought kind? ‘Cause I hate that stuff.
I posted about marshmallows today, too. What’re the odds?
I love making marshmallows! I cut mine with a large pizza cutter and it works wonderful. I spray it with cooking spray and it’s good to go. I also make small marshmallows by whipping it for 7-8 minutes and then putting it in a piping bag. I sprinkle parchment paper with powder sugar and pipe long lines about 1″ apart. Once they set for 4 hour or more then I go back and cut several rows at a time with the pizza cutter and toss in powder sugar. I love to give these as gifts!
We tried these this afternoon, they are soooo good! Much better than store bought.
oh my gosh, lily will love this! i’ll try it. how do they handle being roasted over an open fire? maybe we’ll try it and i’ll report back….
We made marshmallows often when I was a kid in Ethiopia. I remember them as being great but not tasting like store bought.
They are wonderful dipped in chocolate at Christmas, too.
These tasted like store marshmallows but better– freshier and springier. I also used very good vanilla which prob made them extra yummy.
Mary
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I check the two recipes. They are slightly different. Mine doesn’t have corn syrup. Less salt and less vanilla. To me they are just two different things. And you’re right. We didn’t probably have 2008 American vanilla in 1960 Ethiopia. We never tried to make s’mores with the homemade ones.
You have to try them dipped in chocolate. They are so yummy. We used to make a lot of chocolate covered candies—peanut butter, etc.
Totally doing this. I found a couple recipes on Food Network but they were so involved. They had some with mint extract as a variation. Yum!
I did this once when I was a teenager, and I was JUST thinking I should do this with my kids!
That recipe looks so cool! I can’t wait to try it with my kids. It’s sure to be a hit.
I’ve never done this, I will try it.
I don’t like the store bought ones because they are too sweet for my taste. Is this just as sweet? Do you think I can cut down on the sugar in this recipe?
Wow. I never knew you could do that. I’m not a big marshmallow person, but I just might have to try these!!!
Melissa
I just realized you asked me about this, um, days ago, on Twitter. I didn’t know you could see who’s replied to your tweets. I guess nine months using the dang thing accounts for nuthin’.
Sooo, anyway! I’m going to try this with the boys, sleet or not. It does sound fun and they worship marshmallows.
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