Marshmallow recipe

[Gabby]

Does anybody have a recipe for homemade marshmallows? I know it isn't exactly healthy homestead eating, but I sure love marshmallows in my hot chocolate on a cold night.

Thanks,

Gabby

[Samson]

Here's one. My mom makes these all the time. DELICIOUS ! ! ! Keeps saying she'll give my wife the recipe, but I think she's been hanging onto it. Wants to make sure we stick around for hot chocolate when we visit.

Here I just copied her recipe.

4 Tbsp. cornstarch
7 Tbsp. powdered sugar
2 tsp. gelatin
1/3 cup water
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
pinch of salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Sift cornstarch with the powdered sugar. Lightly grease an 8" pan. Square is better, but you can use a pie pan or cake pan. Sprinkle about 1 Tbsp. cornstarch mixture into the pan; tilt to coat. Leave the extra in the pan.
In a small saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the water. Let stand about 5 minutes. Add granulated sugar. Stir over medium low heat until sugar and gelatin dissolve.
In a large bowl, combine the water/galatin/sugar mixture with corn syrup, salt and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form. This should take about 15 minutes, depending on your mixer. When you think it's ready, spread into your prepared pan. Go busy yourself for a few hours to let it set up.
Using a wet knife or scissors, cut into strips, then cut each strip to make squares. Whatever size marshmallows you like. As you cut them, roll each in the cornstarch/powdered sugar mixture, then put them on wax paper to dry. Make sure they're coated well, and aren't touching or they'll turn into a sticky mess. Best to let them dry overnight, but you can make them in the morning, then eat them after supper.

[Jenny]

Great recipe, Samson ;D I was getting ready to post mine, but I've been so busy with the babies since Chuck left. He'll be back in a few days, but I just haven't had time to post much.

Anyway, my recipe is almost exactly like your mom's, but I double it. Also, when we're in the bush, I couldn't make them at all with just a hand whip/mixer. Never did set up. Oh well. Had to eat my marshmallows with a sthingy. Yummy ! ! ! Finally broke down and bought an electric hand mixer, and then timed my marshmallow-making for when the generator was running. Also, I make mine a little different. Guess a hand mixer doesn't work as well as a bigger one.

I use more gelatin (about 2 1/2 tsp.), and only 1/4 cup of water. Seems like I use a little less corn syrup, but can't remember for sure.

I've heard you can make them with honey. That sounds great, but I've never tried it. All this talk about marshmallows makes me want some. I usually make them at Christmas, but didn't this year. Think I'll experiment with honey marshmallows tonight.

Jenny
Alaska HOMESTEADING Journal
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[smwon]

honey marshmallows sounds really good, let us know how it turn out... please. ;D

Linda

[Jenny]

One of these days I'll try it. I think you could easily use honey in place of the corn syrup, but not sure if you could get rid of the sugar. Maybe use just enough water to dissolve the gelatin, then use --- oh, I don't know --- maybe about another 1/2 cup honey in place of the sugar and water. So I guess you could use 1 cup honey, total, then no corn syrup or sugar, and only a tiny bit of water for the gelatin. What do ya think?

Jenny