Homemade Marshmallows

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Homemade Marshmallows

Makes 20 to 30 depending on size desired

Basic Marshmallow Recipe

1. Gelatin Mixture for Marshmallows

Bloom in bowl of the stand mixer:

*3 packages Unflavored Gelatin, like Knox

*1/2 cup Cold Water, important that it is very cold

*Add food coloring if desired

Place in gelatin and water in the bowl of the stand mixer with whisk attachment, like Kitchenaid. Let gelatin setup while you make candy mixture to make marshmallows.

2. Candy Mixture for Marshmallows

Add to heavy-duty sauce pan/pot

*1 and 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar

*1 cup Light Corn Syrup, like Karo Syrup

*1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt

**1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract, add when marshmallow mixture is mixing in stand mixer during the last 5 minutes of mixing.

Cook on medium heat in sauce pot and heat to soft ball stage 240*F, use a candy thermometer, no stirring and remove from heat. Candy syrup is extremely hot use special care when pouring.

***While candy mixture cooks prepare your square corner pan/dish. I sprayed mine lightly with Pam and then with sieve, generously sprinkled powdered sugar onto bottom and sides of baking pan/dish. This can be messy.

***3. Coating for Pan and top coating on the marshmallow

*1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

*1/4 cup Cornstarch

Combine by sifting together the powdered sugar and cornstarch

Pour hot candy mixture into the stand mixer with bloomed gelatin, pour a small stream down the side of bowl on low-speed until all mixture is distributed. Then turn up mixer to high-speed for 13 to 15 minutes depending on the power of your stand mixer. Mine was the professional Kitchenaid so, on high for 13 minutes was enough. (Don’t forget to add vanilla before mixture gets to thick and sticky.) Mixture should get thick and is very, very sticky. As soon as mixture is done mixing, use a rubber scraper/spatula and remove marshmallow mixture as quickly as possible into prepared pan/baking dish. Flatten as much as possible and sprinkle top of the marshmallow using the sieve, generously make a layer of powdered sugar mixture and save the rest for removing and cutting marshmallows into squares.

*Let Marshmallows set overnight before cutting. At least 6 hours

Cut into set marshmallow into squares as desired. I dipped the fresh-cut sides of each cut marshmallow into powdered sugar mixture, so they wouldn’t be sticky. Shake off extra powdered sugar from each square.

Marshmallow Pops

Using lollipop sticks, press end of the sticks into one of the sides of the marshmallow and dip into melted chocolate, allow extra chocolate to drip off and sprinkle on desired candy topping. Allow them to set on a Silpat covered baking sheet or parchment paper.

Supplies

*Stand Mixer, like Kitchenaid with whisk attachment

*9 X 9 Square Metal Pan or Ceramic Baking Pan with square corners or as square as possible, also ceramic baking dish will just need powder sugar, no cornstarch or Pam/cooking spray is needed

*Heavy duty sauce pan/pot

*Wooden spoon

*Candy Thermometer

*Food Coloring, if desired

*Cooking Spray, like Pam

*Chefs Knife or Slicer Knife, for cutting

*1 to 1 and 1/2 cups Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers, Ghirardelli, optional. Melt wafers in the microwave in 30 second increments until melted, stir after each increment.

*Lollipop Sticks

*Cellophane Bags

*Colored Ribbon, optional

Toppings

*Butterfingers, chopped

*Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, chopped

*Cashews or other favorite nut, chopped

*Assorted Halloween Candy Sprinkles/Candy, etc…

Also see Halloween Eyeball Party Food

Enjoy!

Lindy

Samoa Halloween Bites

Samoa Halloween Bites

Makes 30 using 1 tablespoon scoop

*1 (11 ounce) Bag Caramel, unwrapped (Kraft)

*2 tablespoons Milk

*2 cups Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

*Mini Vanilla Wafers, 30 or more

*1 to 1 and 1/2 cups Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers, Ghirardelli

*Disposable Plastic Food Gloves, for easy forming into balls

*Bloody Axe Candy, Wilton

*1/4 cup Red Candy Melts, melted according to directions on package

*Pastry Bag, optional for piping on red melted wafers on Samoa bites

*Silpat or Wax Paper lined 1/2 baking sheet

Melt caramel squares in the with milk in a glass bowl over sauce pan filled with 2 inches of water or just make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl aka double boiler, on medium low heat just until melted.

Add to the melted caramel the coconut and stir to combine, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Then wear food safe gloves for scooping out a tablespoon of the mixture at a time and making sure to smooth out the tops of the scooped half circle and place on top of a mini vanilla wafer. Repeat until all the caramel coconut mixture is used.

Refrigerate for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then remove them from fridge and dip in chocolate using the same method as the caramel except place Dark Chocolate Wafers Only Into the double boiler and just until melted, remove from heat and dip the caramel coconut bites. I like to set the bite on a fork and dip bite into chocolate and then tap the fork on bowl and scrap off excess chocolate on the rim of the bowl removing any excess chocolate and slide/place on a half baking sheet lined with Silpat aka baking mat or use wax paper. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes or until set. Remove and add about 1/4 teaspoon of the red melted wafer mixture, allowing it to drip down the sides and add the axe. Allow them to set, serve immediately or store in an airtight container for a few days.

Also see Halloween Eyeball Party Food

Enjoy!

Lindy