Marshmallows

Another Pinterest recipe I was dying to try was this one for homemade marshmallows. I am a marshmallow freak. Jet Puffed, chocolate covered, Peeps--you name it, I covet it. One time, I went on a big camping trip and one of the girls that went was a baker of some sort, and she brought homemade marshmallows, homemade graham crackers, and some fancy chocolate for fireside S'mores. Not being a spawn of Betty Crocker, I had never even dreamed that marshmallows could be made (gasp) from home. Why this never occurred to me, I don't know, but anyway, fast forward to now and ... ta-da! Homemade marshmallows. They were relatively easy and ... DELICIOUS. But don't take my word for it (remember, I love Peeps) and make them yourself. Let me know how it goes.

Marshmallows

Ingredients

.75-oz unflavored gelatin (3 envelopes of Knox gelatin)
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Line 9 x 9-inch pan with plastic wrap and lightly oil it. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil and boil hard for 1 minute.

Pour the boiling syrup into soaked gelatin and turn on the mixer, using the whisk attachment, to high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, add in the vanilla extract beat to incorporate.

Scrape marshmallow into the prepared pan and spread evenly (Lightly greasing your hands and the spatula helps a lot here). Take another piece of lightly oiled plastic wrap and press lightly on top of the marshmallow, creating a seal. Let mixture sit for a few hours, or overnight, until cooled and firmly set.

In a shallow dish, combine equal parts cornstarch and confectioners’ sugar. Remove marshmallow from pan and cut into equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef’s knife. Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners’ sugar mixture.

Store in an airtight container.  Thank you to Baking Bites for this recipe.