Did you know you can make marshmallows in your own kitchen? It’s really simple with this Homemade Marshmallows Recipe! There’s really nothing like a homemade vanilla marshmallow melting into your mug of hot chocolate on a chilly winter day.
Homemade Marshmallows
As a newlywed I was given a Christmas cookbook and in it I found a recipe for homemade marshmallows. Like most people, I had never made marshmallows from scratch and was really intrigued by the idea. They were amazing! I took them to work and everyone oohed and aahed over them and so it became a tradition for me to make homemade marshmallows. It’s also not too difficult to do!
Whip up a batch the day before you need them (they need to set for 8 hours) and then you’ll be enjoying the most wonderful little puffs of marshmallow that melts into marshmallow creme in your mug of hot chocolate.
Bonus: while some marshmallow recipes use eggs, this recipe is egg-free which means it’s a good option for anyone with egg allergies.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make the Homemade Marshmallows Recipe:
- Water
- Unflavored gelatin powder
- Granulated sugar
- Light corn syrup
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
Be sure to get the full ingredient list with measurements and recipe instructions toward the end of this article in a printable format.
How to Make Homemade Marshmallows Recipe
STEP 1: Pour ½ cup of the water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin powder into the water; stir, then set aside.
STEP 2: In a large pot, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the remaining ½ cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring often, until the candy reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer.
STEP 3: Very carefully, pour the hot candy mixture into a large mixing bowl. Safety note: be extremely cautious to not splash the very hot candy onto your skin!
STEP 4: Add the gelatin and water mixture to the candy. Beat the candy with an electric mixer (a stand mixer is preferable if possible), starting on low speed and gradually increasing the speed to high as the mixture thickens. When the marshmallow has thickened and turned white, add the vanilla extract. Continue to beat the marshmallow on high speed until it has more than doubled in volume.
TIP: This whipping process is really best to do with a stand mixer if at all possible. Maybe ask for this KitchenAid for Christmas!
STEP 5: Prepare an 11×7 inch glass dish by completely covering the bottom and sides with powdered sugar. Use your fingers to press the powdered sugar up the sides of the pan. You’ll want every bit of the pan to be coated in powdered sugar so that the marshmallow does not stick.
I’ve tried just generously dusting powdered sugar into the dish, but then I can’t get it to stay on the sides and the marshmallow sticks like crazy to anything not completely coated in the sugar.
STEP 6: Scoop the marshmallow into the pan prepared with the powdered sugar. Use a lightly oiled spoon to smooth the marshmallow out, then sprinkle the top of the marshmallow generously with powdered sugar.
STEP 7: Place the pan of marshmallow in a cool, dry area to set for 8 hours.
How to Cut Homemade Marshmallows
Cutting marshmallows is a sticky process! Start by cutting the marshmallow lengthwise into 5 long strips, then cut each strip into 10 pieces to create a total of 50 marshmallow squares.
Be sure to roll each marshmallow in powdered sugar until they’re not sticky anymore.
Look how cute these marshmallows are! That rustic square shape is a sign of a homemade marshmallow.
How to Store Homemade Marshmallows
Store marshmallows at room temperature in an airtight container. They do dry out if you don’t keep them covered well.
How to Use Homemade Marshmallows Recipe
- Hot chocolate
- Coffee – seriously! It’s so yummy.
- Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
- Dipped in chocolate
- Dipped in homemade caramel and then chocolate
- Dipped in white chocolate with crushed candy canes on top
- Packaged in Christmas baggies and given as gifts with a container of hot chocolate
Homemade Marshmallows Recipe
Description
Did you know you can make marshmallows in your own kitchen? It’s really simple with this Homemade Marshmallows Recipe! There’s really nothing like a homemade vanilla marshmallow melting into your mug of hot chocolate on a chilly winter day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, divided
- 2 ½ tablespoons unflavored gelatin powder
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Pour ½ cup of the water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin powder into the water; stir, then set aside.
- In a large pot, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and the remaining ½ cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring often, until the candy reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer.
- Very carefully, pour the hot candy mixture into a large mixing bowl. Safety note: be extremely cautious to not splash the very hot candy onto your skin!
- Add the gelatin and water mixture to the candy. Beat the candy with an electric mixer (a stand mixer is preferable if possible), starting on low speed and gradually increasing the speed to high as the mixture thickens. When the marshmallow has thickened and turned white, add the vanilla extract. Continue to beat the marshmallow on high speed until it has more than doubled in volume.
- Prepare an 11×7 inch glass dish by completely covering the bottom and sides with powdered sugar. Use your fingers to press the powdered sugar up the sides of the pan. You’ll want every bit of the pan to be coated in powdered sugar so that the marshmallow does not stick.
- Scoop the marshmallow into the pan prepared with the powdered sugar. Use a lightly oiled spoon to smooth the marshmallow out, then sprinkle the top of the marshmallow generously with powdered sugar.
- Place the pan of marshmallow in a cool, dry area to set for 8 hours.
- Cut the marshmallow lengthwise into 5 long strips, then cut each strip into 10 pieces to create a total of 50 marshmallow squares. Roll each marshmallow in powdered sugar.
- Store marshmallows at room temperature in an airtight container.
Tell Me How You Like the Marshmallows!
After you make this Homemade Marshmallows Recipe, come back and tell me how you like it! You can leave a comment and recipe rating in the comments section below. You can also click here to see this on Pinterest and leave a comment there or even your own picture. Another option would be to tag me on Instagram @MomNeedsChocolate. Can’t wait to hear from you!
MORE GREAT RECIPES
If you like this recipe, here are some other top Mom Needs Chocolate favorites to check out:
- The Best Chicken Fried Rice
- Homemade Granola with Cranberries
- Carrot Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Great! I actually have several marshmallow recipe also, and found if you lightly spray your pan with cooking spray and then lightly cover it the powdered sugar, they come out of the pan easy and you don’t have so much powdered sugar on your marshmallows.