Homemade Goodness

Well I have been telling everyone I see that I made homemade marshmallows over the snow days because they are THAT GOOD! I found the recipe from OwlHaven and I will definitely be making them again as soon as I get to the store. I just happened to have all the ingredients on hand when I saw the recipe and decided it was worth the try...why not? I was trapped in our house with hubby and two wild children...sugar always make that better :)

So, without further adieu, here is the recipe:

Homemade Marshmallows

Makes: 40-50 (although mine made 60)

3 packets (about 3 tablespoons) unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
1 -1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions:Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in a medium sized heat-proof bowl. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/3 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Turn stove to high and heat until mixture comes to a very brisk boil, stirring occasionally. Let boil for about 2 minutes. If you have a candy thermometer, the temperature should reach about 240 degrees.

Take pan off heat and very carefully pour contents into the bowl containing gelatin. Add vanilla extract. Set timer for 10 minutes. Using an electric mixer, beat mixture on high speed for at least 10 minutes. When the mixture becomes very thick and white and has at least doubled in size, it is done.

Using a rubber spatula, scoop mixture into a 9×12 casserole dish that has been generously dusted with powdered sugar. Let marshmallows sit at room temperature, uncovered, for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Don’t panic if they look incredibly sticky at first. They will thicken up as they cool. Cut into squares. They’ll still feel quite sticky as you cut them, but cut them as cleanly as possible with a wet knife. Then dust cut edges with additional powdered sugar, and they will feel like ‘real’ marshmallows.

Note: For marshmallows with different colors and flavors, add a small amount of unsweetened kool-aid powder to the mixture on the stove as you are heating it. OR, I just put food coloring in as it was boiling and it worked...however when you mix it the color becomes very faded (light) because the mixture is turning SNOW WHITE, so my bright blue marshmallows turned very pale blue *but still fun!

I would show you a picture but I, um...ate them all! :) before I got the camera to them. I love them love them love them! It was way worth the 5 hour wait to eat them. Jackson LOVES them about as much as I do and Creighton doesn't care for them (she and Jeff don't particularly like marshmallows to begin with)...they seriously don't know what they are missing!