Where I make Marshmallows

Marshmallows. Light, fluffy puffs of sugar. Make your own, its totally worth it. They taste nothing like store bought. P.S I roasted my first one today. O.M.G. utter bliss.

Now, it is a messy process. The marshmallow fluff is sticky and transfers easily (but dissolves quickly in water, so don't worry!). And when you cut it up the powdered sugar will get everywhere (make sure you wear an apron). But in the end the are delicious. S'mores, in hot chocolate, or just on their own they are a treat.

Ingredients:

3 envelopes gelatin
1 cup water
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar

Special Equipment:

Candy thermometer
Stand Mixer
Kitchen Shears


Sprinkle the 3 envelopes of gelatin over 1/2 cup on water in the bowl of the stand mixer.

Place the remaining 1/2 c water, 1 cup corn syrup, 1 1/2 cup sugar, and the salt in a pot over medium heat. Mix to combine. Once the sugar has dissolved place the candy thermometer into the mixture. Do not stir the mixture once it is heating.

Heat the mixture until it reaches 240 or the softball stage. Once it reaches softball, start the stand mixture. With the whisk attachment running on low add the sugar syrup. Once it has been added turn the mixer to high and whip the fluff for about 10 minutes. At the 9 minute mark add the vanilla.

 While the sugar syrup is mixing prepare a 12x9 inch pan. Coat the pan in cooking spray and then sprinkle powdered sugar over the pan, tapping to cover the entire pan.

After 10 minutes of mixing pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Spread quickly as it will be very sticky.

Let the mixture cool 12 hours to overnight. It will firm up and become less sticky.  After 12 hours you can cut the mixture up into individual marshmallows.The only thing I have found that works is kitchen shears. I find that about every other row I have to wash them off again.

Coat each individual marshmallow in powdered sugar. You could use a mixture of corn starch and powdered sugar but I find I don't like the taste of the corn starch so I used straight powdered sugar.

And voila! you have light and fluffy vanilla marshmallows.

If you wanted other flavors you could substitute those extracts for the vanilla. I've done orange and mint marshmallows before with good success.