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If you’ve ever wondered how to make marshmallows, I have an easy marshmallow recipe for you! It takes a little bit of patience, but making your own marshmallows isn’t hard at all!
Hold on just a second there. I can see your clicky finger hovering over that red X while you roll your eyes at me for making something as ridiculous as homemade marshmallows when it would be easier, faster, and cheaper to just run to the grocery store and buy a bag.
Trust me, people. Have a little faith. I would not lead you astray.
Everyone should make these once in their life.
Homemade marshmallows are not something you’re going to go putting in your Rice Krispies Treats. These are meant for pure unadulterated marshmallow enjoyment. Eat them plain, eat them dipped in melted chocolate, smoosh them between a couple of graham crackers if you must, but don’t go wasting them on something where the flavor isn’t going to shine.
These little marshmallows are light, fluffy and springy. They’re full of sweet vanilla flavor and each bite is like a little burst of love right in your mouth. (I will not turn that into a naughty joke and neither will you. Unless you really want to, in which case I’ll laugh like the 13 year old boy child that I am.)
I made these for my mama for her birthday this year. Every time we go to Whole Foods (which, sadly, is not very often since it’s about a 3 hour drive) my mom comments on the square marshmallows they sell in the little plastic container. I knew I had to make these for her when I saw them over at Smitten Kitchen. If you don’t have a mama in awe of homemade marshmallows with a birthday right around the corner, you might consider gifting someone these for Valentine’s Day. Nothing says love like a handcrafted marshmallow.
These were surprisingly easy, too. Just don’t touch the marshmallow goo or you’ll end up a sticky mess. Luckily everything dissolves easily with a bit of water.
Homemade Marshmallows
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 envelopes unflavored gelatin 2 tablespoons plus 2 1/2 teaspoons
- 1 cup cold water divided
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 tablespoon vanilla I added 1/2 of a scraped vanilla bean as well
- Powdered sugar as needed, about 1 cup
Instructions
- Liberally spray a 9x13 glass or metal pan with cooking spray. Dust the pan with powdered sugar.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over a half cup of the cold water in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the wire whisk. Let soften.
- In a 3 quart heavy bottomed sauce pan, cook the second half cup of cold water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium and boil until mixture reaches 240 degrees, about 12 minutes.
- Remove pan from the heat and pour the sugar mixture into the stand mixer with the gelatin. Stir to dissolve the gelatin.
- Beat on high speed until white, thick, tripled in volume, about 6 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks have formed.
- Mix the egg whites and vanilla into the sugar mixture until just combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, using a rubber spatula to scrape it out as needed, but being careful not to touch the goo with your hands. You won't get it all out of the bowl and that's okay.
- Sift 1/4 cup of powdered sugar over the top of the marshmallows and chill uncovered in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight.
- Run a knife along the edges of the pan and turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board. Cut marshmallows into 1-inch cubes with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
- Sift about 1/2 cup of powdered sugar back into the baking dish and toss the cut marshmallows in it to coat all sides and prevent them from sticking to each other.
- Shake off the exceess powdered sugar and store in an airtight container for up to one week.
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
I just had homemade marshmallows not too long ago and loved them! I’m going to have to try making them myself!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I haven’t tried my hand at homemade marshmallows yet, but I do love them. And you are right that they are perfect to give away on Valentine’s Day!
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
yum! i need to do this!!!
stephanne says
I was so scared to make homemade marshmallows at first. I even put it on my 30 before 30 list! I made peppermint marshmallows last Christmas and they were a hit and super easy to make! Now I’m excited to try different flavor combinations!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I haven’t made homemade marshmallows in about a year. Need to change that! I made some for a book launch/contest I was in about a book called Marshmallow Madness that has like 50 recipes, all for homemade ‘mallows. Some crazy amazing flavor combos. But I think vanilla…is always…the winner!
Yours look amazing, Karly. And yes, you can’t touch that goo or what a mess!
Elise @ elisebakes says
I Love homemade marshmallows – I made my first batch for Christmas and they turned out so wonderfully! And I used a handmixer – it got a little messy but cleaned up with some hot water and dish soap! So much better than store-bought!!
Joanne says
I HATE storebought marshmallows, but homemade? A whole other story. The.Best.
tijuana (po' man meals) says
i am intimidated by the ‘thought’ of making marshmallows! then i see your purty, heavenly balls of goodness trying to convince me to make my own. so i have a solution. can you just send me some? i’ll pay for shipping. i promise. 🙂
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl. I need a candy thermometer.
Karly says
240 degrees is also the soft ball stage, so you could also just test often by dropping a bit in a glass of cold water and testing that way. I’ve never done that and I’m not even entirely sure that’s how you test, but I’m sure google can help you. 🙂
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
omg the cute little heart! I NEED to make these! I’ve never made homemade marshmallows before and if I do make them, one can only hope they’d be as pretty as yours Karly! Gorgeous!
Karly says
Pretty sure they’ll knock mine out of the park. Your stupid sweet rolls make me feel all stabby with their perfectness. Mine are always so misshapen! (And I only call your rolls stupid because they’re better than mine and that makes me grumpy.)
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
I made homemade marshmallows last year, and you are right–everyone needs to make these at least once! There is simply nothing like ’em. Now that I see your amazing pictures, you’re tempting me to make them again. Beautiful!
Amy Jo | Pure and Simple says
Your photography is so creative and beautiful! And these marshmallows look heavenly.
Karly says
Thank you! 🙂
Nancy P. says
I tried, i failed. My mixer is not the best. But love it and can’t wait till I can really make these!
Karly says
Oh, bummer! Apparently these can be done with a hand mixer, but I do that that would be a lot of work and take a loooooooong time.
Cookbook Queen says
I have GOT GOT GOT to make these. I don’t know why I keep putting it off…they’re gorgeous!!
Karly says
They really are easy to make! Do it! 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Homemade marshmallows were supposed to happen in my kitchen this week. But then I did something crazy, I cleaned my floors. I hear it can be messy so I’m giving it another week for everything to dirty up around here. Wait. Want to come over and eat? hehe.
ANYWAYS, your marshmallows looks gorgeous! I will tackle them one day. Not yours. I will tackle making them. Just to be clear. I hear how you take people down, and I’d be too afraid to take yours!!
Karly says
Oh, yeah, wait a week. If you’re anything like me, you’ll sift powdered sugar all over your floors. That was honestly the only mess though. The goo wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be.