Marshmallows Recipe - VIDEO | Hungry Happenings (2024)

You can make amazingly soft, delicately chewy, deliciously sweet marshmallows at home.

These fluffy homemade marshmallows taste so much better than any mass-produced store-bought marshmallows and they are easier to make than you'd think using just six ingredients..

If you have never tasted a homemade marshmallow, you are missing out! Not only is the flavor superior to store-bought marshmallows, but the texture is too.

Each soft billowy square of vanilla-flavored candy is perfect on its own, but you can use them to make extraordinary s'mores. You can also add them to a cup of hot chocolate or even cut them into small pieces to add to hot chocolate bombs.

Below you will find a step-by-step tutorial including pictures so you can easily make these delicious marshmallows at home. I've also shared a video.

Video

Be sure to watch this video to see how to make marshmallows.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="el3mECBf" upload-date="2021-04-25T22:05:28.000Z" name="Homemade Marshmallows Recipe" description="You can make billowy soft, delicately sweet marshmallows at home using six ingredients. These homemade marshmallows are so much better than store-bought marshmallows." player-type="default" override-embed="default"]

See more Homemade Candy Recipes.

So, let's make marshmallows.

Pan Prep

• butter or non-stick baking spray- Grease the inside of a 9X13-inch pan well. I prefer the flavor of butter but the non-stick baking spray works well too.
• a blend ofpowdered sugarandcorn starch- Some recipes tell you to dust your marshmallows with just corn starch. I'm not a fan of the flavor, so I blend my cornstarch with powdered sugar. Powdered sugar already has cornstarch in it, but it's best to add a bit more.

Ingredients

• water -You will dissolve the gelatin in water then use more water to make a sugar syrup.
• gelatin- Use unflavored gelatin. You'll need 2 ½ tablespoons for this homemade marshmallow recipe. If you use packets of unflavored gelatin, it's best to measure the gelatin as packages don't always contain the same amount from brand to brand. You'll need approximately 3 packets.
• granulated sugar- Adds sweetness and structure to the marshmallows.
• light corn syrup- This will not only add sweetness but will also keep the sugar from crystallizing. Crystalized sugar will make your marshmallows gritty. By adding corn syrup your marshmallows will be nice and smooth.
• vanilla- I suggest you use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for the best flavor. I love using vanilla bean paste as it is loaded with real vanilla bean seeds. When you make your marshmallows with the paste they will be speckled with vanilla bean seeds.
  • other optional flavorings- You can swap out any candy oil for the vanilla extract. There are so many possibilities. Imagine making orange, cotton candy, cherry, root beer, or butterscotch-flavored marshmallows. Start by adding ¼ teaspoon of the candy oil, then add more drops until your marshmallows taste like you want them to.

Supplies and equipment:

stand mixer
small saucepan with a lid
candy thermometer
9" x 13" pan
rubber spatulaand/or anoffset spatula

You can find items to make these homemade marshmallows on Amazon. I earn a small commission when you use the affiliate links in this post at NO extra cost to you.

Unflavored Gelatin - 1 lbShop on Amazon Imperial Extra Fine Sugar/1...Shop on AmazonChicago Metallic Commercial...Shop on AmazonWilton Recipe Right Non-Sti...Shop on Amazon Taylor Stainless Steel Cand...Shop on Amazon All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless...Shop on AmazonKitchenAid RKP26M1XWH 6 Qua...Shop on AmazonClabber Girl Corn Starch, 6...Shop on Amazon 365 by Whole Foods Market, ...Shop on Amazon

Instructions

Bloom the gelatin and boil the sugar syrup.

1. Pour ½ cup of water into the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Sprinkle 2 ½ tablespoons of gelatin over the top of the water and allow it to soften (bloom) for 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, pour the remaining ½ cup water, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, and a pinch of salt into a small saucepan.
4. Stir just to combine the ingredients.
   • You don't want to get sugar crystals on the side of the pan, so stir slowly.
5. Cover the saucepan, place over medium heat, and bring to a boil. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
   • Condensation will build up in the pan and when you remove the lid, the water will help to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. If you notice lots of sugar crystals, you can put the lid back on the pan for a few more minutes or you can dip a pastry brush in water and brush the water around the side of the pan to push the crystals back into the boiling sugar syrup.
6. Remove the pan lid, and clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan.
7. Continue to cook, without stirring,until the mixture reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit (about 7-8 minutes.)
   • Be very careful not to touch or spill any of this hot syrup on your skin - it will burn badly!

Whip the marshmallows until light and fluffy.

1. Place the whisk attachment on your stand mixer.
   • You will need to whisk this marshmallow mixture at high speed for 12-15 minutes so it is imperative that you use a stand mixer. If you use a hand-held mixer, be sure to use a heavy-duty mixer and stop to give the motor breaks while whipping the marshmallows.
2. Turn the stand mixer to low speed.
3. Very carefully and slowlypour the hot sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the softened gelatin.
   • This hot liquid can burn your skin badly, so be very careful with this step.
4. Once all of the sugar syrup is in the bowl, slowly increase the mixer speed to high going up a few steps at a time.
5. Whip until the marshmallow becomes very thick and cools to a lukewarm temperature, about 12-15 minutes.
6. Add the vanilla or other candy oil and whip just to combine.
   • Adding your flavoring after your marshmallow has whipped and cooled off so the flavor does not evaporate is best.

Spread the marshmallows in the pan.

1. While the marshmallow is being whipped in the mixer, prepare your pan.
2. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9" x 13" pan if you want thin marshmallows (pictured on the left) or a 9-inch square pan if you prefer thick marshmallows (shown on the right).
3. Combine ¼ cup of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a bowl.
4. Pour about half of the powder blend through a fine-mesh sieve evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan.
5. Tap the pan to remove excess.
6. Save the remaining powdered sugar/cornstarch mix for later.
7. Butter or spray a rubber spatula and use it to remove the marshmallow from the bowl.
8. Spread the marshmallow evenly in the pan.
9. Use a butteredoffset spatula to smooth the surface.

Dust marshmallows with powdered sugar and cornstarch.

• Dust the top of the marshmallow with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover.
  • You can now use your hands to really flatten out the marshmallow.
• Cover any remaining powdered mixture for later use.
• Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Cut the marshmallows.

• Set a large cutting board on top of the pan of marshmallows.
• Turn both the board and pan upside down.
  • The marshmallow should fall right out of the pan onto the board. If it doesn't, you can run a thin plastic knife or spatula around the interior edge of the pan to release the marshmallows from the pan.
• Butter or spray a long, sharp knife with non-stick baking spray, then make your first cut.
• Wash the knife, dry it, then make another cut.
• Repeat, washing the sticky marshmallow off the knife as you go.
• You will get the cleanest cuts if you make every cut with a clean and greased knife.

Roll the cut sides in more of the powdered sugar/cornstarch blend.

1. Dip the sticky sides of the marshmallows into your bowl of powdered sugar and cornstarch.
2. Tap the marshmallows between your hands to allow any excess powder to fall off.
   • If you plan to dip your marshmallows in chocolate you can even use a pastry brush to brush off the excess powder.

Related Recipes

Once you learn how to make marshmallows at home you can use the recipe to make more fun marshmallow treats for holidays and special occasions.

Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs

Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallow S'mores Starfish

You can also use this recipe to create Homemade Marshmallow Rice Krispie Treats. See pictures of lots of fun Rice Krispie Treats ideas below the recipe card.

Recipe

This marshmallow recipe was originally published on Hungry Happenings on April 25, 2021.

Don't forget to watch the video!

If you love these homemade marshmallows, you can swap them out for store-bought marshmallows when making Rice Krispie Treats.

More Homemade Candy Recipes