Life In Pleasantville

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homemade marshmallows in hot chocolate

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I had never tasted homemade marshmallows until I was well into my 30s, but the moment the light as air sweetness hit my lips, I knew. I had been conned. Marshmallows that you buy, you know the ones in a bag that line the bottom shelf in a grocery store are sad, pathetic imposters.

Breville Bakery Chef Canada
Current Relationship Status: Totally Committed to the Breville Bakery Chef

The problem of course it that true, homemade marshmallows don’t have a fantastic shelf life but holy whipped heaven they are totally worth making. One caveat, you really need a stand mixer. They absolutely can me made with a hand-held mixer but you are going to get very tired, and you’ll need a powerful one to whip fast. Which is why when Breville Canada sent me The Bakery Chef to try out, I knew the first recipe I would be making would be these marshmallows.

I have been without a stand mixer for 2.5 years now and I have been genuinely missing having one. Here’s the quick sob story. When leaving the marital home (that’s not the sad part), I left behind the stand mixer (that is), and so there have been quite a few things I’ve missed making like marshmallows, and homemade mayonnaise, and meringue which really benefit from the fast whipping a stand mixer provides.

marshmallows on cutting board

Now that colder weather is here and the holidays are approaching, the time to make and enjoy these homemade marshmallows is now.

This homemade marshmallow recipe calls for a cup of cornstarch/confectioners’ sugar mix, but don’t hesitate to make more if you run out. This mixture is what keeps your marshmallows from sticking to everything.

homemade marshmallow fluff

I want to pause here to talk about the whipped deliciousness in the mixing bowl BEFORE you put it in a prepared pan. This is the fluff, literally homemade marshmallow fluff. While you can’t jar this version, it’s perfect if you’re going to immediately use it in a recipe, like oh I don’t know, how about these S’More Brownie Bars. I got you lady.

homemade marshmallows in a pan

Final word. Once you make these, you’re ruined for life for store bought marshmallows.

Print

Light As Air Homemade Marshmallows

Course Dessert
Keyword marshmallow, stand mixer

Ingredients

  • 3 packages Knox gelatine
  • 1 cup cold water, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup Crown light corn syrup
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' (icing) sugar
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together cornstarch and confectioners' sugar. Pour into sieve and set aside.

  2. Prepare a 13x9x2 inch baking pan by spraying with cooking spray and adding 1/4 cup of cornstarch/sugar mixture over top and ensuring even coverage of pan. (similar to preparing a cake pan)

  3. Attach whisk to Breville Baker Chef

  4. Pour 3 pouches of gelatine into bottom of mixing bowl and pour 1/2 cup ice cold water over it.

    gelatine for marshmallows

  5. In a medium saucepan add 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cover and cook over medium high heat for 4 minutes. Uncover and clip a candy thermometer on the pan and cook until temperature reaches 240F. Watch closely to prevent boiling over. Immediately remove from heat once it reaches temperature.

  6. Attach splash cover to mixing bowl and turn Bakery Chef to low. Slowly pour hot syrup through splash cover spout. Once all syrup has been added, turn mixer to high and whip until lukewarm and thick, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Add vanilla at very end.

    slowly pour syrup for marshmallows

  7. Using spatula light sprayed with cooking spray, spread marshmallow mixture into prepared pan. Dust with another 1/4 cup of cornstarch/confectioners' sugar and set aside for 24 hours.

  8. When ready to cut, prepare a cutting board by spreading cornstarch/confectioners' sugar mixture on board. Run a warm knife around edges of pan and invert onto cutting board. Tap bottom (be patient, it will fall out).

  9. Mark one inch increments along sides and using either a chef's knife or pizza cutter lightly dusted with cornstarch/confectioners' sugar mixture cut into one inch squares.

    marshmallows on cutting board

  10. Lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with cornstarch/confectioners' sugar.

  11. Store between pieces of wax paper dusted with more cornstarch/confectioner's sugar in an airtight container. Serve with hot cocoa, use for smores, or add to cello bag tied with a ribbon and gift a few.

About Candace Sampson

Candace is founder and editor-in-chief of Life in Pleasantville which isn't half as fancy as it sounds. You can find her sharing travel stories on What She Said Radio and on CTV Ottawa Morning Live.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda Masters

    I’ve showed my husband this and he’s buying gelatin tomorrow 😂 these are incredible looking!

  6. Ronda Mackinnon

    There’s a good chance I already have a cavity just from reading this recipe but if I can be patient enough to make these…the campfire game has just been raised!

  7. Melany Gallant

    Wow – your marshmallows turned out beautiful! I’ve only made them once before and they were so-so. Will def try this recipe!

  8. Jan

    I have never really liked marshmallows finding them to be all gummy and yucky chemical sweetness. These on the other hand look like a completely different beast! All airy and wonderful.

  9. Lisa C

    I have to try these, my son loves loves loves marshmallows! Thanks for sharing

    Cheers Lisa
    Insta @LittleMama71

  10. Christina F

    Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe! With 3 kids we eat a lot of marshmallows and I always wondered if there was a healthier way. I do love how fluffy these are and that machine is so amazing! It sounds like the appliance I’m missing in my life for my family and all the baking we do – @mama.faria on IG

  11. Darlene Burns

    Wow ,Your homemade marshmallows looks so light and fluffy .I have 4 granddaughters who LOVE marshmallows and i will be trying this recipe over the holidays .Thank you for sharing .

    Ig gramma_llama_28

  19. Heather

    Holy smokes!! These look amazing!! I can’t wait to try this recipe out. I’m thinking marshmallows won’t just be for roasting over the campfire at the cabin anymore!! 💗

  22. Tricia Hosking

    Oh my goodness. I love ❤️ marshmallows- but am not thrilled with the bagged grocery store mallows. I will be making these for my nephews & my husband and of course me. They’ll be so special as they’ll be home made. Thanks so much lovely 😊 lady. Trish

  25. Tanya

    I LOVE homemade marshmallows and you’re right, you can’t go back. Sometimes if it fits what I’m making I’ll add just the tiniest bit of peppermint extract (like really tiny it’s got punch!) and they come out amazing.

  26. Helena

    My daughter and I are going to have to try this recipe. Shes obsessed with marshmallows. Thanks for sharing this, it looks delish.

  28. September Dee

    Your marshmallows are absolute perfection. I don’t have a mixer and mix by hand so this isn’t something I could make right now but I would try it with a mixer for sure. Jaxxerama on Instagram.

  31. LILLIAN BROWN

    You make this recipe look so easy I will be saving it and adding it to my Christmas list thank you

  48. Sherri Gelbart

    These look and sound delicious! I have never owned a stand mixer and if I had one, this is definitely a recipe I would try. I hate how store bought marshmallows have a plastic aftertaste.
    IG handle is @2morrowis42ndchances

  50. Caroline Lozinski

    Wow these look fabulous! I love marshmallows and I’ve. Ever tried making them , will definitely try your recipe ! Yum 🤤 😍

  55. Danica

    Omg would love to try this recipe perfect for s’mores and hot chocolate! May even add cocoa for a chocolate version of it!!!!

  57. Nicole Graham (@nicolthe_pickle)

    I’ve made marshmallows before, but not for a long time. Now I want to make some this minute. Your recipe is beautiful.

  63. Sarah

    A couple years I was told that homemade marshmallows are over the top divine. Somehow I forgot all about it until now! I know I’ll be hooked and will stick up my nose to store night marshmallows. Thanks for the recipe. @raisingakindsoul on ig

  65. Ashley

    I have never even thought of making marshmallows before!! Game changer! And you know what’s going in them and what you’re putting in your body-who knows what’s inside store bought marshmallows :/

  68. janicour

    I will be making these today, and will let you know how they turn out Looks like using good equipment would make it so much easier. I tried these years ago, but I am not sure if it was the recipe or me, but they did not turn out so good. Thanks for the step by step instructions.

  69. Simone Knott

    I made these last week!!! I don’t have a mixer so my baking is a slower process but they were delicious. I think I need to use smaller pan next time to make them bigger but I have made homemade hot chocolate all week to enjoy them.

  71. Di

    Look what abundance you have now! All those awesome marshmallows. I’ve never tried homemade, but I bet my girls want to do maybe we’ll have to give it a go!

  74. Laurie

    Those marshmallows look amazing. They would definitely be in my list to try if I ever owned a stand mixer.

  75. Michelle Policelli

    Oh wow these marshmallows look amazing!! Thank you for sharing the recipe, I actually have always wanted to make homemade marshmallows so i am definitely going to be making these soon – i just need to get the gelatin 🙂
    IG name is: @michelle_policelli

  83. Branka Stefanovic

    WOW Candace, you’ve brought the clouds down from heaven 😍 I’ve never met or seen any one making marshmallows. I definitely need a stand mixer in my life more than ever. 🙏 @luckybgirl

  84. Debbie S.

    I forgot to pick up gelatin when I did my weekly shopping trip. I was so excited to make these too. Well I will get some as soon as I run out of milk.

  85. Vangelina Barrow

    Is your splash guard plastic? Mine is and I worried about the hot candy mixture on it. Also, anyone tried this with a thermomix?