Here is a fun little treat to make for Valentine’s Day- or really for anytime.
Have you ever tried to make marshmallows? I found some fun big fluffy pink marshmallows in the cutest box in a little gourmet shop in Chicago several months ago and I wanted to get them for my girls.
Then I checked the price tag- $18! For a little tiny package of fancy marshmallows! #noway
So I was thinking it would be fun to try and make them with my little ladies- the ones above are peppermint flavor.
You need Peppemint extract which can be found at Walmart (the JR Watkins brand is with the other spices and only costs a few dollars). You can keep the marshmallows vanilla flavor instead if you prefer.
Also I have a swirly marshmallow with a drop of red food coloring but again if you prefer to skip that it will still be really cute. I cut these into heart shapes with a mini cookie cutter in honor of Valentine’s Day but simple squares look fantastic.
So basically you can really adapt this to suit your needs.
- 2 Packages Unflavored Gelatin (.25oz packets)
- ⅓ Cup Cold Water
- 1 Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Light Corn Syrup
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tbsp Peppermint Extract (optional)
- ¼ Cup Water
- Red Food Coloring (optional)
- Equal parts Powdered Sugar and Corn Starch for dusting
- Combine powder sugar and corn starch in a bowl and set aside.
- Grease a 9x13-baking pan and dust with the powdered sugar corn starch mixture. Tap off any excess powder back into the bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ⅓ cup cold water and gelatin. Allow to soften for 5 minutes.
- Over medium high heat in a saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and ¼ cup water.
- Bring sugar mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Heat syrup mixture to 240 degrees and then remove from heat.
- Once syrup has reached 240 degrees, slowly pour syrup into the mixing bowl with the gelatin. Beat on low until all of the syrup has been added.
- Once all of the syrup has been added, turn the mixer speed to high and beat for 10-15 minutes or until mixture is lukewarm and thick.
- While mixture is beating, add in your food coloring, vanilla and peppermint extract.
- Once mixture is lukewarm and thick, pour into your prepared pan.
- To get a swirl effect, add a few drops of food coloring to the marshmallows and using a toothpick, swirl the food coloring around.
- Allow to set at room temperature for 4-6 hours or until firm.
- To cut, dust a surface with your powdered sugar, corn starch mix and turn out marshmallows onto it.
- Using a cookie cutter or knife, slice your marshmallows.
- Once cut, dust in more powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container.
And I love to pop these on top of hot chocolate. You can see my very favorite Copycat Starbucks Hot Chocolate recipe here. I hope you try it– you will never go back to the packet stuff again!
Thanks Charlene for the recipe and I can’t wait to try it with my girls!