Today I found myself pursuing the cold. I didn’t bundle up on our walk to the park after dinner. I did not turn up the heat when I got home. I removed my layers down to a t-shirt and procrastinated putting on my slippers just so that my chill could be cured from the warmth of a cup of hot cocoa topped with homemade marshmallows. I remained in a continuous slightly chilled state until I tucked my sweet boys in bed, so that my enjoyment of my warm treat would be uninterrupted. From there I placed a saucepan on the stove, filled it with milk, brought it to a boil, turned off the heat and added several pieces of dark chocolate. I poured this luxurious concoction into a large mug then topped with two pillowy puffs of whipped vanilla bean studded heaven.
For moments like these I not only welcome the cold, I invite it in like a long lost friend because nothing is more satisfying to remove a chill then with a steaming mug of rich hot cocoa and sweet vanilla scented homemade marshmallows. Now if only I had a fireplace to curl up to.
If you have never met the deliciousness that is a homemade marshmallow I not only encourage you I URGE you to stop what you are doing and whip up a batch. The process is simple. Don’t let the cooking of sugar scare you off – just don’t burn yourself because that would definitely hinder your enjoyment of this intoxicating treat.
Ingredients
adapted from Alton Brown
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 cups cold water, divided
12 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups
1 cup light corn syrup (or glucose)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 vanilla bean, seeds removed
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Nonstick spray
Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.
Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Add the vanilla seeds. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.
Combine the confectioners’ sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Line a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with aluminum then spray with pan spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel or sharp knife dusted with the confectioners’ sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. (I suggest doubling the recipe – yes, they are that good.)
24 comments
October 9, 2008 at 10:52 am
elizabeth
beautiful! and delicious, I’m sure! It’s not quite cold enough here for hot chocolate, but when it is, I’ll be making these little gems to go along…thanks for sharing it! Lovely photos, too!
October 9, 2008 at 1:36 pm
cheryl
Ahh there is just nothing like homemade marshmallows!
Heavenly
October 9, 2008 at 7:15 pm
carojen
love love love these! I’m thinking these will pair nicely with some Christmas gifts. I love the mugs. Especially the one with the little, what are they, dancing musician bugs? 🙂
October 10, 2008 at 3:15 am
artisansweets
cheryl – if I remember correctly I hear/saw that you make a mean marshmallow?! I will have to ask Brandi about them!
carojen – yes. I borrowed my sons mug for the photo shoot. Speaking of photo shoot… my husband gave me a lesson and let me take/edit the photos on this one! Fun stuff.
October 13, 2008 at 2:53 pm
My First Kitchen
These definitely look heavenly. Time to make some hot chocolate to go with them. Can’t wait to try them out.
October 13, 2008 at 5:00 pm
My Sweet & Saucy
Ever since made this in pastry school I have been in love! Yours turned out simply gorgeous!
October 14, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Eileen
Aren’t homemade marshmallows just the best? I made my first batch of the season last week and they disappeared in no time. I’m looking forward to winter and cups of hot chocolate topped with these… no whipped cream for me!
October 18, 2008 at 5:20 pm
laurelplumonline
My First Kitchen sent me over. Hot chocolate is my ultimate, absolute, most perfect comfort food. I’ll even take it in the summer. But what would it be without the marshmallow? I can not wait to try this recipe!
October 18, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Kim
I love homemade marshmallows! Yours look especially light and fluffy. Very nice photography.
October 20, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Blushing Hostess
I love Ab’s recipe also! Has been a winter staple in our home for two years. If only we were in a place cold enough for hot chocolate at the moment!
October 20, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Brooke
Oh! Joy!
I just yesterday told my son I was certain we could make our own marshmallows. Aren’t these just DELIGHTFUL! We’ll be sure to try them, and will try to post them on my blog. Please stop by for a visit anytime! We’d love to have you!
October 21, 2008 at 7:22 pm
cakewardrobe
WOWOWOW! Your BEAUTIFUL photos are starting to convince me to like marshmallows again!! They look so fresh and wonderful!
October 28, 2008 at 12:51 am
veron
I have yet to make marshmallows at home. They look so appetizing and so tempting to sink my teeth into!
October 31, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Gemma
This is my first visit to your beautiful blog and you have reminded me of yet another reason why I need a stand mixer, how many do I need before I can justify the over £300 that they cost in the UK?!
November 11, 2008 at 2:09 pm
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November 11, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Rachael
Oh my yummy!!!
November 12, 2008 at 6:51 am
bbjeanevents
I stumbled upon your blog and I love it (anyone who feels the need to share topics on good food is welcome with me!) Ironically, a girl friend and I were talking about homemade marshmallows yesterday and I discovered your recipe. Perhaps it’s fate telling me to whip up a batch 🙂
November 12, 2008 at 5:42 pm
raven
Thank you for posting this, they look fantastic. Just perfect for the holidays.
November 13, 2008 at 5:12 pm
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November 22, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Patricia Shea
Thanks so much for this posting. I have been thinking about making marshmallows for YEARS and I have it on my list to do for this upcoming winter. We are lucky enough to have a wood burning stove in the kitchen and this along with three sleeping dogs, a newly acquired kitten (found in a pile of leaves in the woods round our home) and homemade hot chocolate will probably have me ascending to some form of sugar heaven when it actually comes to fruition. Thanks for the encouragement! Patricia
December 3, 2008 at 2:55 pm
cait and the bean
We just finished making these marshmallows. They were awesome and not hard to make….although it did involve a trip out to buy a candy thermometer. We didn’t have cornstarch so we just used powdered sugar in all the steps and it worked fine. We cleaned the pizza wheel a couple of times to get better edges. They just melt in your mouth! We are going to make hot cocoa mix to go along with these for gifts……if there are any left! It made about 65. Thanks for the recipe we never even thought of making these before but now that we have we will be making them again and again!
December 9, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Frog's Mom
Just what I was looking for! Thanks for the recipe – we’ll be making a lot of them next week for gifts and for us :0) Happy Holidays!
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