The TWD group made marshmallows the week before I joined. At that point, I was already reading many of the TWD blogs so I’d seen their marshmallows and I’ve sort of been wanting to try making them myself ever since. So, a few weeks ago when I saw a recipe for homemade marshmallows on Smitten Kitchen that Deb claimed was easy, I knew I had to try it! Plus, it’s summer and I’m craving s’mores and how cool would it be to have homemade marshmallows in my s’mores?
Now that I’ve finally gone and made marshmallows I really wish I hadn’t waited so long to give them a shot. I’d heard so many horror stories about failed marshmallows and sticky messes that I kept putting them off, but my experience with this recipe was not only successful, but really pretty enjoyable. I tried one of the marshmallows immediately after cutting them and found it was a bit too sweet, but the next day, I thought the flavor was perfect! They’re much better than store bought marshmallows. I find myself reaching for another one every time I pass them sitting on the kitchen counter. I’m hoping this weekend I’ll finally get to try making my s’mores with them!
One quick note: Reviewers who tried this recipe with a hand mixer reported mixed results. Some said it was successful while others claimed their hand mixers overheated or were unable to achieve the volume necessary when beating the gelatin/sugar mixture. If you try the recipe with a hand mixer, increase the beating time for the gelatin/sugar mixture to at least 10 minutes.
Marshmallows
adapted from Gourmet, December 1998 via Epicurious.com (as seen on SmittenKitchen.com)
Approx. 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 1/2 envelopes (2 tablespoons plus 2 1/2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water, divided
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites or reconstituted powdered egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla
Spray bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 x 2 metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust bottom and sides with some of the confectioners’ sugar.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold cold water, and let stand to soften.
Meanwhile, in a 3-quart heavy saucepan cook granulated sugar, corn syrup, second 1/2 cup of cold water, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium and boil mixture, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240 F, about 12 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and pour sugar mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.
Using stand mixer beat mixture on high speed until white, thick, and nearly tripled in volume, about six minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate medium bowl with cleaned beaters, beat egg whites (or reconstituted powdered whites) until they just hold stiff peaks. Beat whites and vanilla into sugar mixture until just combined. Pour mixture into baking pan and sift 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar evenly over top. (You’ll want to work fairly quickly getting the mixture into the baking pan because it starts to set almost immediately.) Chill marshmallow (room temperature worked fine for me), uncovered, until firm, at least three hours, and up to one day.
Run a thin knife around edges of pan and invert pan onto a large cutting board. Lifting up one corner of inverted pan, with fingers loosen marshmallow and ease onto cutting board. With a large knife trim edges of marshmallow and cut marshmallow into roughly one-inch cubes. (I sprayed my pizza cutter with nonstick cooking spray and used that.) Sift remaining confectioners’ sugar back into your now-empty baking pan, and roll the marshmallows through it, on all six sides, before shaking off the excess and packing them away.
The marshmallows will keep for 1 week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Marshmallows in Japan are always drier than the ones I buy back home in Canada; I will definitely try the recipe.
I’ve always wanted to try to make marshmallows from scratch, but it seems so hard! Yours look perfect!!!
Homemade marshmallows are so fun and SO good! Glad you tried them!
I’ve been so imtimidated to make marshmallows at home. Now I am going to have to try them because these look fantastic! Great job Tracey.
My hubby is a vegetarian. Do you think the recipe would work if I substitute the gelatin for agar powder?
Your marshmallows look perfect. My attempt at them didn’t turn out so well. I need to try again.
I’ve always wanted to make marshmallows and I don’t really like them because it looks like a lot of fun! A little messy though!
I’ve been meaning to try these very marshmallows, after seeing them on the site, since quite a while. Figured I’d make a BBQ day, and use these for s’mores!! Yours look great, and have pushed me to try them for myself sooner, rather than later!
@Jackie – I’m honestly not sure how the recipe would work with agar powder instead of gelatin. I’d never even heard of agar powder so I had to look it up after reading your comment 🙂
I did a quick Google search and came up with a few links that may be helpful to you!
http://veganmarshmallows.blogspot.com/
http://www.meatandeggfree.com/agar-marshmallows.html
Good luck – I hope you’re able to find a recipe that works for you!
I think marshmallows were the first TWD recipe I made – and while I had great success with the vanilla, the chocolate ones didn’t come out so good.
I think I need to make them again!
Once I made homemade marshmallows, my daughter does not like store bought anymore!
I love how long they take to melt in hot cocoa in the winter!
Those look really awesome! My TWD marshmallows were okay but not great. I really should try them again.
I’ve never wanted to make marshmallows… until recently. Now I think I must b/c these look awesome!
These look incredible! I’ve also wanted to try homemade marshmallows for some time now. But I’ve been intimidated by them – that whole sticky mess thing. I will have to take a deep breath and try them – looks like they will be well worth it!
S’mores are a summer delight here. And you’re right! What could be better than a homemade marshmallow?! These turned out perfectly!
Yum! Ive always wanted to make my own marshmallows! These look spectacular!
Thanks for sharing! Love your blog!
Your marshmallows look so perfect!
I have never considerd making marshmallows until now~
i’ve been too scared to try marshmallows too!! you give me some courage to try
OK Wonder Woman. You made your own marshmallows. Show off. 😉
They look great. I will have to soon follow your lead.
Thanks for the inspiration, Tracey!
You ARE awesome!