Day 23: Homemade Marshmallows

If you're in for a light, airy, pillowy treat, then you came to the right place. Today we made marshmallows. Well technically not today because they need to dry out over night so last night we made marshmallows but same difference! Homemade marshmallows are twenty billion times better than the ones you can buy at the grocery store. They are much lighter and have better flavor. So if you love marshmallows, you should definitely try making them from scratch.

The recipe was adapted from the one and only, the best of the best, and our lovely idol Ina Garten.

Homemade Marshmallows-Makes 20-40 marshmallows

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup. Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.

With a sieve, generously dust an 8 by 12 inch nonmetal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top, and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.

Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. Dust them with more confectioners' sugar.

And here's what they look like cut up! Looks like a pillow right??

 We dipped some in chocolate to make it look pretty and topped those with mini Christmas tree sprinkles! Don't they look great. I can't believe only one more day! This has gone by so fast! See you tomorrow for the last blog post!