One time I made marshmallows and there was a double boiler involved and that made me angry. Three different stages of temperature control and heating and cooling took place and by the end of it all, I decided I'd never, ever make them again. That is until the 5-minute homemade marshmallow came into my life.
Lucky you, kids.
Marshmallows, in my eyes, are accessories. They're not going to fill up your belly, tide you over until this next meal, or put meat on your bones. Thus, they deserve very little of my attention. After all, there are four young littles who could hardly survive by homemade marshmallow alone.
Even better than the fact that these homemade marshmallows whip up in five minutes, they are also naturally sweetened with zero funky ingredients. Unlike some products with gelatin, these marshmallows also have a proper marshmallow texture (especially after a few days). Homemade marshmallows won't save the world or make your children be patient for the next four days while they wait anxiously for Christmas to arrive. Homemade marshmallows will make your homemade hot chocolate or honey latte all the better. And that counts for something, right?
Naturally Sweetened Homemade Marshmallows
You will need:
– 4 tablespoons gelatin (snag it at your grocery store or health food store)
– 2/3 cup cold water
– 1 1/3 cups maple syrup or honey
– Pinch of sea salt
– 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or the beans from 1 vanilla pod
1. In a small saucepan, combine the gelatin and water. Bring up to a simmer, whisking to combine. Once it reaches a simmer, shut off the heat and set aside.
2. Then, in a stand mixer, mix together the maple syrup, salt, and vanilla. Add in the gelatin mixture and turn the mixer onto low. Gradually increase the speed (so as not to splash it all out!) until the mixer reaches high.
3. Whip the marshmallow mixture until it forms soft peaks. It should have doubled in size during this time. You can sneak your finger in to grab a little taste… no one will tell… even if your finger has leftover nail polish on it from Thanksgiving that you've yet to completely take off. What are you, Shaye? 13? Some people…
4. Butter a baking dish liberally, so as to keep the marshmallow mixture from sticking. Using a spatula, scrape the marshmallow mixture into the dish and smooth it out a bit. No need to be perfect, unless you're a perfectionist, in which case – good luck.
5. Refrigerate the homemade marshmallow mixture until it's just set – about an hour. At this point, you can remove it from the refrigerator and slice it however you wish.
I did a little of this slicing…
With a little of this slicing…
To end up with these beautiful (though imperfect) homemade marshmallows.
Giving the cut marshmallows a toss in corn starch, arrowroot powder, or icing sugar can keep them from sticking together.
And voila! Holiday perfection in the 5-minute homemade marshmallow. It makes the dark days seem lighter, the air seem a bit warmer, and Christmas seem just a wee bit closer.
We're preparing the house for company, putting out fresh vases of greenery, and soaking in these days together. There's been no rushing about or frantic present searching. It's been a season of rest… and anticipation of what (or who rather) is coming… and I'm so glad it's almost here!
Joy to the World – the Lord has come! Let Earth receive her King!
May your Christmas be blessed, my friends.
And Amen.
Naturally Sweetened Homemade Marshmallows
- 4 tbsp gelatin ((snag it at your grocery store or health food store))
- ⅔ cup cold water
- 1 ⅓ cups maple syrup or honey
- Pinch of sea salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract or the beans from 1 vanilla pod
In a small saucepan, combine the gelatin and water. Bring up to a simmer, whisking to combine. Once it reaches a simmer, shut off the heat and set aside.
Then, in a stand mixer, mix together the maple syrup, salt, and vanilla. Add in the gelatin mixture and turn the mixer onto low. Gradually increase the speed (so as not to splash it all out!) until the mixer reaches high.
Whip the marshmallow mixture until it forms soft peaks. It should have doubled in size during this time. You can sneak your finger in to grab a little taste… no one will tell… even if your finger has leftover nail polish on it from Thanksgiving that you've yet to completely take off. What are you, Shaye? 13? Some people…
Butter a baking dish liberally, so as to keep the marshmallow mixture from sticking. Using a spatula, scrape the marshmallow mixture into the dish and smooth it out a bit. No need to be perfect, unless you're a perfectionist, in which case – good luck.
Refrigerate the homemade marshmallow mixture until it's just set – about an hour. At this point, you can remove it from the refrigerator and slice it however you wish.
Jenny
THANK YOU!!!! I love homemade marshmallows. I do not love making homemade marshmallows. This, though, I could learn to love. Merry Christmas and wishing you a season of peace that can only, and I mean only, come from Jesus.
Christie
What a perfect quick additon to Christmas gifts. I know what’s on my to-do-list today! Any idea how long these will keep?
Nico
What if we don’t have a stand mixer? I would love to make these for my little boy.
Lara
How much of your gelatine is needed to set, say, a cup or a pint of liquid? Does it say on the box? I’d like to know because I only have gelatine in sheets available here, and I’d need to make the conversion.
Thanks! =)
Lara
Forget it! I looked on the label on your Amazon link. One tablespoon gels a pint of liquid. =) Sorry!
Cottontail Farm
Thabks for sharing this. I love homemade marshmallows but not the horrible time suck that it usually takes me to get them made. Absolutely going to try this!
Candy
I Just love your website…and this recipe looks doable for me, as all the others I have found, take all day. My question is, do I store them in the fridge or in a sealed container, to keep them fresh. Thank you for a wonderful blog!!!
Aryn@The Frugal Virginia Farmhouse
Oh yay. . .I love marshmallows! Especially homemade ones as I just think the rustic look to homemade marshmallows is the nicest. However, I’ve never made them myself and I refuse to buy them from the store (icky, yucky — eww ingredients!). Therefore, like you stated, they are easily lived without. But, this recipe looks like it hits the mark in terms of being quick, easy, and void of the stuff I try to ban from my home at all costs. These little babies will definitely be showing up in my next cup of hot cocoa this winter. Thank you!
Laura
First time ever making marshmallows. I made them twice now, once with maple and once with honey. Both times so east and fast. We try and eat natural sugars here whenever possible so this is awesome! So bouncy. Great in cocoa. I ended up using 6 of the 1/4 oz packets of gelatin. It was a tad under but it worked good as the first time when it was exact measurement.
Rebekah
Thank you thank you! You always come through with just the recipe I need. We are going on a church camping trip this weekend, so we shall be food snobs and bring our own homemade marshmallows. Can’t wait to try them!
Christina
Holy wow I can’t wait to try this!!! 😋
Trisha
will these work in marshmallow krispie bars?
Laura
Too wet, I tried it
Anna
Can these be used to roast and make into smores?
Hollie
Do you think you could replace the syrup with a zero calorie sweetener? To make the marshmallows zero sugar.