Home » Cookies Bars & Candy » Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

These fluffy Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows are like soft billows of whipped sugary goodness. They make the perfect topping for a cup of hot cocoa or homemade s’mores. They can be served as sweet snacks, handheld holiday desserts or wrapped in cellophane and given as gifts.

Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows


Easy Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows Recipe

I’ve been a fanatic about marshmallows since I was a girl. I’m not sure why it took me so long to try and make a homemade batch of vanilla marshmallows of my own but alas, it was bound to happen. When I began reading through multitudes of recipes, to research tips and techniques, they were all pretty much identical in ingredients and amounts. However, none of them were terribly specific about the gooey challenge you may encounter. Marshmallows are sticky and you’ll need to dust them with powdered sugar and allow them to dry so they can be cut. The texture of homemade marshmallows is much softer and the flavor is completely addictive. How to make homemade Marshmallows: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Pour 1/2 cup cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the gelatin over the the water.
  • Next, in a heavy bottomed saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer add the remaining ice water, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a simmer. Simmer the sugar mixture over medium heat until the temperature reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer. This will take around 8 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat. Turn the mixer speed to medium. Carefully pour the hot sugar liquid down the side of the bowl, keeping it between the bowl and the beater. Continue until all of the liquid is added.
  • To the bowl add the vanilla extract. Increase the speed of the mixer to high and whip until thickened, around 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, use a sieve to dust a glass 13 x 9 inch baking dish with powdered sugar. Depending on how thick you want the marshmallows to be, you can use an 8 x 12 dish or a 9 x 9 dish for thicker marshmallows.
  • Use a large spoon or spatula spritzed lightly with cooking spray to scoop the marshmallow cream from the bowl to the dish.
  • Spritz an off-set spatula lightly with cooking spray, and spread the marshmallow creme into the dish, work quickly. The marshmallow creme is very sticky and the cooking spray will help prevent it from sticking to the utensils while you work.
  • Dust the top of the marshmallow mixture generously with powdered sugar, then allow to sit uncovered on the counter for at least 4 hours or overnight to dry.
  • To cut, turn the marshmallows onto a cutting board covered in powdered sugar. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut into squares.
  • You can also cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
how to make Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

How to Make the Best Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

After you make them once, you’ll love having homemade marshmallows to serve as the crowning touch to a cup of hot chocolate or dipped into chocolate and nuts for a handheld treat.

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make fluffy Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows: Cold water, plain unflavored gelatin, granulated sugar, clear vanilla extract, powdered sugar and light corn syrup.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: A stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, large bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a candy thermometer, a sieve or powdered sugar shaker, 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish.
  • Marshmallows are quite simple to make however, there are 2 kitchen tools that are imperative: One is a candy thermometer to cook the sugar to the proper temperature and a stand mixer with a whisk attachment to whip the sugar for 15 minutes, magically turning it into marshmallow cream.
  • Once the marshmallow cream is whipped, work quickly and use an offset spatula or silicone spatula to spread it evenly into the dish.  It’s very sticky, so, be patient.
  • Powdered sugar in this instance, is much like using a floured surface to knead bread. It’s lessens the stickiness of the marshmallow cream and allows the marshmallows to be cut and removed easily from the pan.
  • You can change the flavor profile by using a different extract or flavoring. Peppermint is a popular choice for the holidays.
  • I recommend using clear vanilla to keep these marshmallows snowy white. You can use classic vanilla but it will tint the marshmallow cream. Should you like for the marshmallows to be a particular color, add a few swirls of gel coloring to the mix.
  • You can also skewer the marshmallows and use them for fondues, s’mores roasted, toasted or placed on lollipop sticks and dipped in chocolate. You can decorate them with sprinkles or toasted nuts then allow them to dry.
  • Store Homemade Marshmallows at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one month.
Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

More Dessert Recipes Using Marshmallows to Make

Marshmallow aren’t only for s’mores and hot chocolate, they form the basis of many sweets. More recipes using marshmallows that you may also like to try:

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If  a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Helpful Kitchen Items:

Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time23 minutes
Drying time4 hours
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: homemade-vanilla-marshmallows
Servings: 24 large/48 small
Calories: 91kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ice cold water divided
  • 3 (0.25 oz each) packets unflavored powdered gelatin [*See cook's note]
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp clear vanilla extract
  • powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, pour 1/2 cup of ice cold water. Sprinkle gelatin over the water.
  • In a heavy bottomed saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer add the remaining ice water, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a simmer. Simmer over medium heat until the temperature reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer. This will take around 8 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat. Turn the mixer speed to medium. Slowly and carefully pour the hot sugar mixture down the side of the bowl, keeping it between the bowl and the beater. Continue until all of the liquid is added.
  • Add the vanilla extract to the bowl. Increase the speed of the mixer to high and whip until thickened. This will take around 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, use a sieve or a powder sugar duster to generously dust a glass 13 x 9 inch baking dish with powdered sugar. Depending on how thick you want the marshmallows to be you can use a 12 x 8 inch dish or a 9 x 9 inch dish for thicker marshmallows
  • Use a large spoon or spatula spritzed lightly with cooking spray to scoop the marshmallow cream from the bowl to the dish.
  • Spritz an offset icing spatula lightly with cooking spray and spread the marshmallow creme into the dish, working quickly. [The marshmallow creme is very sticky and the cooking spray will help prevent it from sticking to the utensils while you work.]
  • Dust the top of the marshmallow mixture generously with powdered sugar, then allow to sit uncovered on the counter for at least 4 hours or overnight to dry.
  • To cut, turn onto a powdered sugar dusted cutting board Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut into squares.

Notes

*Unflavored gelatin is available on the baking aisle of most grocery stores along with the flavored gelatin products. The 1 ounce package contains 4 (0.25 oz) packets. Only 3 are needed for this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 23g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

 

19 Comments

  1. Been making these for a couple of years now. Get so many compliments. Most people do not know
    you can make marshmallows. I dip them in chocolate as well as serve them plain only with
    the powdered sugar.

    1. Sure, but they’re dusted with powdered sugar so be careful and watch for flare-ups. They don’t take the heat quite as well as a store bought marshmallow because they’re fresh but, will toast.

  2. Have you used this recipe to make marshmallow fondant? If so, any tips or recipe tweaks, that you know of, required?

    1. Hi Lissa, not for this recipe. That said, I’m certain there probably are alternative recipes if Googled but, this one should be made as is.

  3. Can I have the recipes in grams og dl please?
    Would love to make the million dollar cake.
    Thank you

    Mette Krebs

  4. Hi Charmaine,

    Each packet = 1/4 ounce

    1 (1/4-ounce packet) of granulated unsweetened gelatin = total of 2 1/2 teaspoons.

    Hope this helps with conversions, thanks for visiting from Australia! ~ Melissa

  5. what size packets are they, as we have a different brand to you here in australia and i buy my gelatine in a container that you spoon out of not in packets, so the quantity in each packet would be great thanks…

  6. Marshmallows keep well in the fridge or freezer. Dust with powdered sugar to keep them separated, and store in the fridge for up to 2 months in an airtight container.

    To freeze, dust well with powdered sugar and place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Freeze, then pop into a bag coated with powdered sugar to store. Thaw at room temperature [usually 5-10 minutes] and use within 3-4 months.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating