So, I've been following my new favorite blogger of all time, Stella at www.bravetart.com like an obsessive fool! I found a tempting recipe for homemade marshmallows I just had to try! I had to adapt it a bit to suit what ingredients I had on hand (no vanilla beans, bah) so if you want the original recipe that uses vanilla beans, go to her gorgeous amazing blog! Warning, it's addictive and makes the clock do funny things like skip hours at a time in the blink of an eye.
I've been wanting to learn to make these things for about 6 years now, what on Earth has stopped me? I have no idea! For some reason they have always just seemed so...scary! Complicated? Impossible? Everyone has irrational kitchen fears, and for me, right next to my past fear of tempering chocolate (recently conquered!) this was at the top of my list.
I am so very glad I finally bit the bullet and jumped right in, because I will never be buying these things ever again! They are so beautiful, and according to my family, taste even better than the ones you can buy at the store. Since I haven't been able to taste them (Nutritarian baker, haha) I have to go on my family's assessment that they are absolutely fantabulous :) I can say, they do smell amazing, familiar, and enchanting! They really shocked me when I went to take them out of the pan for dusting and cutting. So amazingly soft! I bet they would be mesmerizing in some hot cocoa, or roasted over a camp fire for s'mores!
Without further small talk, here is the recipe, Stella's link and my very own photo. Of course, I don't have a professional photographer at my disposal so please, if you go to her site don't laugh *too* hard at mine! LOL I am a proud Mallow-Momma!
Homemade Marshmallows
(adapted from Bravetart)
1.5 oz Gelatin
8 oz Cold water
11 oz Corn syrup
8 oz Water
28 oz Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1-2c Powdered sugar for dusting
Mis en place: Weigh all ingredients and have them ready to go. Grease a 9x13ish rectangular pan and set aside. Have a few spatulas ready and greased, a medium pot w/lid handy and a stand mixer ready to go with the whisk attachment. Grab your candy thermometer. GO!
Step 1
Bloom the gelatin and cold water in a stand mixer bowl. Ignore it for a while :)
Step 2
In a medium saucepan combine the corn syrup, water, sugar and salt. Over low/medium heat bring to a simmer while stirring very gently, being careful not to get sugar crystals up the side of the pan. Cover once simmering and allow to steam itself for 5 minutes.
Step 3
Uncover and fit with candy thermometer. Continue to cook undisturbed until the mixture reaches 240 F. Turn off heat, cool until 210F.
Step 4
Very carefully (HOT!) pour 210 F candy mixture into awaiting stand mixer bowl, add vanilla extract, and whisk on medium high for as long as it takes to triple the volume and become as fluffy as a cloud. It will nearly exceed the capacity of the bowl. I have the Kitchen Aid Pro 600 w/6 quart bowl and it filled it nicely.
Step 5
Using the oiled scraper, scrape the fluff into the prepared 9x13 pan. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top and cover with plastic. Place in the fridge to set for 4 hours!
Step 6
Remove from fridge and reach in with your fingers, between the pan and the mallow, and pull it out and onto the counter, powdered side down! Cool is right! Powder the bottom, which is now facing up.
Step 7
Using a sharp knife or your other preferred medium for cutting sticky things, slice into long strips and then little pieces/shapes to your liking. I tried using a hot knife (knife set into hot water, wiped off), using floss to cut the strips, and using an oiled bench scraper. I found the floss to make the prettiest cuts but the sharp oiled knife to be the most efficient. Either way you slice it, heh, it's gonna be sticky and slightly challenging. Going slow and cutting cautiously is the road to success, I think. Play around.
Step 8
Eat and store them! They keep just like store bought mallows. Place them in an air tight bag or container. Voila! Congratulations! You've just made your first marshmallow! Wasn't that fun? Now clean up this mess!
I hope you enjoy making these bad boys! They were so fun to make, and honestly, I've never seen my Husband and son more excited about something I've baked! Especially my Husband!
Yours,
Jemoiselle