Have you been watching all of the Christmas movies? Comment below, tell me your favorite one. I have so many, I think I professed that one particular one was my favorite but the truth is, I love the Grinch. I LOVE the Grinch. The newer one, and I dream of being none of then her highness, Martha May Whovier! The woman with the most, who loves the out casted, ugliest, green, most unChristmas loving Whoville citizen.....the Grinch! What a love story!
Anyway, I don't know about you, but when I was little, we watched these movies with hot cocoa and popcorn. I can still remember the "popcorn" bowl. A big metal bowl, silver, with this odd handle thing. I wonder what ever happened to that old bowl. Is it normal that kitchen items were what I remember most? Anyway we would top them with marshmallows, as many as we could sneak. I carried this same tradition on with Cody. The 3 of us huddles on the sofa, covered in one big blanket, sipping hot cocoa and eating popcorn. I love traditions!
If I knew what I know now, we would have been sipping hot cocoa with HOMEMADE marshmallows. I am never looking back guys. This is SO easy and they are SO good, it is a little bit of heaven. They don't melt and dissolve into your cocoa, they melt, and lay on top like a sweet layer of melted snowman, you simply MUST try these!
(note, I tinted my ever so slightly blue. Because I wanted to...THAT is why) This is not my own recipe, this is a recipe from joyofbaking.com. I guarantee you all of these marshmallow recipes are darn near the same but this one turned out so well, I say go with it my friends!
You will need:
3/4 cup cold water (divided)
3 packets of unflavored Gelatin
2 cups white granulated sugar
2/3 cup white corn syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
powdered sugar
Ok, so prep work is key here. I used a small 9x13 pan. So I guess it is more like maybe 6 or 7x11. You can use a 9x9 square as well. You want to spray WELL with nonstick cooking spray and then dust with powdered sugar much like you would flour a pan. I did this, then I lined it the long way only with parchment paper. I forgot to spray the parchment paper, but you won't forget so do that now. Spray it and re dust a little, but I would still do it on the bottom of the pan as well. Now set aside.
If you have a stand mixer, use the bowl to put in all 3 packets of gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water poured over the top. DO NOT MIX. Otherwise do it in a heat safe bowl you will be using your hand mixer with. Set aside. In a medium-large saucepan combine, sugar, remaining 1/4 cup water, and corn syrup. You will need a thermometer, candy or meat to gauge your temperature.
Mix ingredients and bring to a boil. Now, realize that this is OH MY GOSH, HOT! Keep it in mind. When the temperature gets to 240 degrees F, carefully pour over your gelatin mixture.
If you do not have a thermometer, one recipe says bring to a boil and then let boil for 1 minute. It took mine 2 minutes after boiling to get to 240 degrees. So go with the 2 minutes to be safe. Now, put your bowl onto your mixer with a whisk attachment or get out your handy dandy hand mixer and go to town. You are going to mix until the mixture is fluffy, stiff and has tripled in volume, this will take about 10 minutes. When it is done, add in salt, vanilla and any food coloring if you choose. Mix until combined and then pour into prepared dish. Use a knife or off set spatula to to smooth, dip it into very hot water first and then smooth. Now, let this sit, at least 8 hours but overnight is better.
When you pull it out of the pan, put unto a cutting board and use a pizza cutter, kitchen shears or a knife, dusted in powdered sugar to cut. You can also use cookie cutters for shapes. When you cut them, toss them into some powdered sugar to coat or they will be sticky. Store in a container with a lid. I have no idea how long they will keep because mine aren't gonna last that long!
Enjoy these my friends, they are SO good and you could even change out the flavor!!
Your "movin' to Whoville"chefwannabe
If you like Christmas movies you need to check out the Hallmark channel. Every evening and night they have had on some great Christmas movies. Thank you for the Homemade Marshmallows recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Lia
ReplyDeleteOh boy!! Kiddos got excited when they saw this recipe. Looks like we will be trying it over Christmas break
ReplyDeleteLia, you are so welcome and I will!!! A blessed Christmas to you and your family as well!!
ReplyDeleteLynn they are so easy! If I can make something at home and have it turn out better than store bought (in my opinion anyway) I am doing it, not all the preservatives and junk. THey melt deliciously and don't just desintegrate into your drink! ENjoy! Thank you both for reading!