Homemade Marshmallows

I think this recipe has been one of my most requested on 4 hats. Well, in quite a while. I guess it's because no one would think just to make their own marshmallows or to make them and give them out as part of a Christmas gift. Pair these with some homemade hot cocoa mix and a nice mug, and you have a great gift that people will be talking about for years to come.  Just a heads up: this recipe comes out best if you have a candy thermometer, but if you don't, you'll just have to follow the recipe to a tee and keep an eye out on your syrup to make sure it doesn't get dark. You'll see what I mean.


Homemade marshmallows

3 packets of plain gelatin
1 cup cold water, divided into 2 half cups
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup corn starch

Place the gelatin in a clean bowl of your stand mixer and cover with half a cup of cold water. Let sit.
Find a small saucepan with a matching lid. Place the rest of the water, the granulated sugar, salt, and the corn syrup inside of the saucepan. Place over medium high heat cover, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
After 4 minutes, uncover the mixture, place your candy thermometer on the side(if you have one) and continue to cook for 7 minutes. You are looking for the temperature to reach 240 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer, stay near the mixture and take it off heat after 7 minutes.
Once mixture reaches 240 degrees, immediately take off of the heat.
Place your whisk attachment on your stand mixer and turn on low.
While mixer is going, SLOWLY pour the sugar mix into the bowl.
Once all of the sugar syrup is added, turn the mixer to high, and let it continue to mix for about 12 minutes.
While the marshmallow is being formed, mix together the corn starch and powdered sugar.
Spray a 9x13 metal pan with cooking spray and dust it with some of the powdered mixture. Make sure all sides are covered. Place the leftover powdered mixture to the side to use for later.
After 12 minutes, the mixture will look glossy and light, like marshmallow! Pour in the vanilla and let mix for 1 more minute.
Turn off mixer, and with an oiled rubber spatula, pour the marshmallow mix into the prepared pan. Dust the top of the marshmallow with some of the powdered mixture, and save the rest for later.
Now, the marshmallow mixture MUST set for at least 4 hours to overnight. You can leave it out, uncovered, and it will be fine.
Once you've waited in agony, turn out the marshmallow onto a cutting board, and with a pizza slicer(powdered with the powder mix) cut into whatever size cubes you want. Toss the cubes in the leftover powder mixture, to make sure they don't stick together when you store them. As you can see, I make mine big because I can't stand to wait long enough to make small ones.

Place in a tupperware container and they can last up to 3 weeks. Or, place in a cute cellophane bag, tie with holiday ribbon and pass out to your favorite people.


If you like this recipe, check this out: Marshmallow fluff