Can you make marshmallows?
Make your own marvelous peppermint marshmallows? Is it even possible to make marshmallows? Don’t I have to buy them by the bag full from the store?
Imagine my surprise when I first heard my friend say she made marshmallows. They were chunky cut and so good in hot chocolate. I was totally intrigued. How do these yummy sugar puffs work?
How we got recipes before Google...
Well that was in the day before Google and she graciously offered a recipe (yes, Google wasn’t a thing yet, I’m that old). I’m not sure where the recipe came from, but it is similar to many I’ve seen online.
Food Science geek info alert
Now that I know the key is gelatin, we make it in my Food Science class to demonstrate how the protein structure sets up.
Geek note- That is called denaturation which is more than you wanted to know I’m sure. But knowing that, you could make it a kids science experiment that you eat- which is the cool part about Food Science!!
Marshmallow Magic Moment
Oh, I’ve totally lost the magic of the Make Your Own Marvelous Peppermint Marshmallows moment, haven’t I?
Well, just look at that awesome picture of homemade marshmallows and imagine one in your mug full of hot chocolate…am I doing better?
Marshmallow treat or gift
What a treat on a cold night after Christmas carols or gift opening.
Imagine your child giving a teacher a small basket of hot chocolate mix and a bag of these cute star cut marshmallows. Wouldn’t that be cute?
You have to try these at least once. The kids will love making them and eating them! So will you.
Start by prepping your pan
Choose a 9" x 9" pan
for thick marshmallows best cut into squares or a 9 x 13-Inch Pan
if using a cookie cutter to make shapes. Line the pan with aluminum foil and then sprinkle very generously with powdered sugar.
Making marshmallow magic
Pour the recipe’s first ½ cup of cold water into a large mixing bowl, sprinkle the gelatin powder on top and let it sit while you do the next steps.
Combine the recipe’s second ½ cup of water, sugar, corn syrup and salt in a 2 quart saucepan and stir till dissolved.
Heat this second mixture (stirring with a whisk) until it reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit on a Candy Thermometer
. Take off the heat.
Mix the marshmallow
Use a Hand Mixer
with the first gelatin mixture and while the mixer is on low, slowly add the hot mixture to the gelatin mixture. It may work best for one person to hold the mixer and a second person slowly pour in the hot mixture.
Add the Peppermint Extract
.
Note: You do not have to use a flavoring if you don’t want to. They can be made plain if you prefer. It’s a fun addition to Christmas marshmallows.
Beat till fluffy
Increase the Hand Mixer speed and beat the mixture until it is fluffy and stiff like a thick marshmallow creme.
Pour two thirds of the marshmallow mixture into the pan.
Into the other third, fold in several drops of red food coloring.
Tip: The color in this third will get pinker in the next step. If you want the swirls to be more red, add more coloring now.
Dot this red mixture on top of the white mixture.
Swirls of red and white
Use a knife and cut through the pan of "marvelous peppermint marshmallows" several times back and forth from right to left and then from top to bottom. This will make the mixture swirl.
Tip: take care not to cut the foil on the bottom of the pan.
Sprinkle the top of the marshmallow mixture with some of the powdered sugar.
Let set up
Let sit for about 8 hours or overnight to set up.
Tip the pan of marshmallows out onto a board sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Carefully tear off the foil.
Cut or cut out shapes
Cut the marshmallows with a knife sprayed with cooking spray or use Cookie Cutters
dipped in powdered sugar. A star cookie cutter is so cute for Christmas.
Note: These things spring back while you try to cut them! My first recipe was in a 9x9" pan that I cut into squares and it worked well to cut them with kitchen shears.
Drop the cut marshmallows into a plastic bag with the rest of the powdered sugar and give them a gentle shake.
Place the Make Your Own Marvelous Peppermint Marshmallows in an airtight container. They stay fresh for quite a while.
Hot Chocolate Recipe please...
A simple homemade hot chocolate recipe you say? Why yes, there is one on Welcome To Nanas!! Head right over and get this recipe that is sure to be a perfect partner to these marvelous marshmallows.
Click here to get the Simple Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
Now, gift them or use them with joy!
I’m so grateful for all of you. You make my life even more marvelous than these marshmallows!
Make Your Own Marvelous Peppermint Marshmallows
Equipment
- 9x9" or 9x13" pan
- 2 quart saucepan
- Whisk
- Mixer
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 3 envelopes plain gelatin powder
- ½ cup water
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract optional
- red food coloring
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Line 9x9 or 9x13 inch pan with foil, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar
- Pour ½ cup water into large mixing bowl, sprinkle the gelatin powder on top. Let sit.
- Combine ½ cup of water, sugar, corn syrup and salt in 2 qt saucepan and stir till dissolved
- Heat this second mixture to 240 degrees, stirring with whisk. Then take off stove.
- Use a mixer, mix the gelatin mixture on low, slowly add the hot mixture.
- Add the peppermint extract
- Increase mixer speed, beat till fluffy and stiff like a thick marshmallow creme
- Pour ⅔ of mixture into the prepared pan
- Add red food coloring to the remaining mixture, dot this on top of the white mixture in the pan
- Swirl these two together with a knife, sprinkle on top with powdered sugar
- Let this sit for at least 8 hours then cut with knife sprayed with cooking spray or with cookie cutters. Place in plastic bag with some powdered sugar.
- Store in airtight container. Enjoy!!
Video
Supplies:
Enjoy!
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Shelly says
Homemade marshmallows are easy to make- who knew??? People are so intrigued with this recipe.