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This Marshmallow Recipe makes homemade sweet and fluffy marshmallows that are so much better than store bought. They are the best thing to add to a glass of hot chocolate – or just eat plain because they’re that good.

large homemade marshmallows laid on top of powdered sugar on a cutting board.


Best Marshmallow Recipe

I love marshmallows in things (like marshmallow pie) but I’ve never been one to just eat one plain – until I learned how to make them myself. Homemade is a game changer – you’ll never know how mediocre store bought ones are until you make them at home.

Making marshmallows can seem like a daunting task, but I promise they are easy to make. Eating homemade marshmallows is so much better than store-bought ones because the texture is soft and fluffy and they have so much flavor. Plus you can change the flavors easily by switching up the extracts you use.

ingredients in homemade marshmallows.

Ingredients Needed

  • Powdered Sugar: We’re going to use the confectioners’ sugar as part of the no-stick dusting on top, along with Cornstarch.
  • Unflavored Powdered Gelatin: This is the key ingredient in making homemade – the unflavored gelatin is what helps the marshmallow mixture set up. There are no substitutions for this!
  • Granulated Sugar and Light Corn Syrup: These are melted together and cooked together to soft ball stage, which is then beaten and whipped to make your mallow.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds tons of flavor to the final product – you can use vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste – or any flavor extract you want.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

How to make Homemade Marshmallows

  • Make the coating mixture by whisking powdered sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Whisk the gelatin powder and cold water in a small bowl and let soften.
  • Stir the sugar, ¼ cup light corn syrup, remaining water, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or heat safe spatula, until the temperature reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer.
  • Meanwhile, pour the remaining ¼ cup corn syrup in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Microwave the gelatin mixture until completely melted and add to the mixer bowl and let it run on low.
  • When the sugar syrup reaches soft ball stage, slowly pour it into the mixer bowl with the mixer on low speed. Turn mixer to medium (about level 4) and beat for 5 minutes. Increase to medium-high (level 6-8) and beat for 5 more minutes. Beat on the highest setting for 1-2 minutes until stiff peaks form, then turn to low and add vanilla.
  • Pour marshmallow into an 8-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray or lined with parchment paper. Sift some of the coating mixture evenly over the top. Let sit for at least 6 hours to set.
  • Use a knife to loosen the marshmallow from the pan. Invert onto a cutting board sprinkled with the remaining coating mixture. Cut into squares, dipping the edges in the coating mixture as needed and pat off the excess. It also helps to dip the knife in the coating mixture so it doesn’t stick.

What is soft ball stage?

Soft ball stage is when your candy mixture reaches between 235-240°F. If you were to drop a bit of the candy into cold water at this stage it would form a soft ball. It’s very important to cook your corn syrup mixture to the right temperature so your marshmallows set up – I recommend using a candy thermometer or an instant read thermometer for best results.

heart shaped marshmallow floating in hot chocolate in a white mug.

Marshmallow Recipe Tips

  • Make sure you are using a candy thermometer. This is so important.
  • When stirring the corn syrup mixture, make sure to keep the sugar granules off the side of the pot. If you notice this happening, wet a pastry brush and brush lightly to dissolve. The sugar on the sides of the pan can cause sugar crystals and ruin your marshmallows.
  • Use whatever flavor extract to make a new flavor marshmallow: peppermint extract at Christmas or use almond extract or even cake batter flavoring.
  • Make them into whatever shapes you want – just dip your cookie cutter into the coating mixture so they don’t stick.
  • Store marshmallows in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap at room temperature.

FAQs

Can you freeze marshmallows?

No, these don’t freeze well.

stacked marshmallows on a brown cutting board.

Homemade Marshmallows Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Fluffy and soft, homemade marshmallows are so much better than store boughtl.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Yield 24 marshmallows
Serving Size 1 marshmallow

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar
  • cup (42g) cornstarch
  • 4 ½ teaspoons (15g) unflavored powdered gelatin (2 envelopes)
  • ¾ cup (177ml) cold water , divided
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (118ml) light corn syrup , divided
  • teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Instructions

  • Spray an 8×8” pan with cooking spray.
  • Make the coating mixture by whisking powdered sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Whisk the gelatin and ½ cold water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to soften.
  • Stir the sugar, ¼ cup corn syrup, remaining ¼ cup water, and salt in a medium saucepan over high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer. Meanwhile, pour the remaining ¼ cup corn syrup in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Microwave the gelatin mixture until completely melted, about 30 seconds. Add to the mixer bowl and let it run on low.
  • When the syrup reaches 240°F, slowly pour it into the mixer bowl. Turn mixer to medium (about level 4) and beat for 5 minutes. Increase to medium-high (level 6-8) and beat for 5 more minutes. Beat on the highest setting for 1-2 minutes and then turn to low and add vanilla. (The mallow will have tripled in volume.)
  • Pour marshmallow into prepared pan and sift about ¼ of the coating mixture evenly over the top. Let sit for at least 6 hours to set.
  • Use a knife to loosen the marshmallow from the pan. Invert onto a cutting board sprinkled with the remaining coating mixture. Cut into squares, dipping the edges in the coating mixture as needed and pat off the excess. It also helps to dip the knife in the coating mixture so it doesn't stick.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • You can also use cookie cutters to cut shapes in the marshmallows. Just dip the cutters in the cornstarch mixture so they don’t stick.
  • You’ll have leftover coating mixture. Store in an airtight container for the next time you make marshmallows.
  • Feel free to switch up the flavor of extract you use to change the marshmallow flavor.
  • When stirring the corn syrup mixture, make sure to keep the sugar granules off the side of the pot. If you notice this happening, wet a pastry brush and brush lightly to dissolve. The sugar on the sides of the pan can cause sugar crystals and ruin your marshmallows.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1marshmallow | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 14g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.02mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Other Candy Recipes

Last Updated on December 10, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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39 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for linking up at my linky party! I am pinning every post to my Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s Board for all to see! I hope you come back each week!

  2. I like your fat pants theory. It sure seems to be true over here as well. Good a reason as ever to keep squeezing into those skinny jeans!

    Shauna’s book looks so incredible (actually, they both look amazing) and I think you’ve taken it up another notch with these.

  3. Darling marshmallows!

    Yeah, I have noticed that about fat pants. So then I have to make the choice… stuff myself into skinny jeans while I bake or wear sweats while I bake. The sweats usually win. December is certainly no time to diet.

  4. I’ve never made marshmallows before, but I may have to get a thermometer and try this recipe out. I mean how can I pass up something funfetti 🙂

  5. oh I got you on the pants, I was in a panic last week when I could not do up my pants, but they were from like 20 pounds ago so i got the right ones and well I prefer elastic pants, cannot beat those;p And home made marshmallows are the devil, seriously I hate store bought ones, but if I make them it;s like I cannot control myself!

  6. After making marshmallows for the first time recently, I am more likely to make these now, yay funfeitt!

  7. I’m a sucker for marshmallows and marshmallow fluff, but have never tried making them myself. They always intimidate me…anything with a candy thermometer sounds hard haha. But I think I might just take the plunge and try this recipe. I love the festive sprinkles you mixed in. 🙂

  8. being a fan of all things funfetti, i can see these marshmallows working perfectly in a sally s’more. or well, just eaten alone. i can never control myself around marshmallows! And i’ve never made my own. love the christmas, festive sprinkles. 🙂

  9. I already need the fat pants, so I’m scared to make marshmallows this yummy…it would require the fatty mcfatty pants for me because I know I won’t be able to stop eating them! Honestly marshmallows are on my baking bucket list…you totally make them looks so easy:-)