Light, fluffy, and fresh, nothing is easier or more delicious than making your own marshmallows. Perfect for Homemade S’mores or my worlds best Hot Chocolate.
How I created this Marshmallow Recipe
I’m just a little in love with marshmallows – They are good with pretty much everything…. S’mores, Hot chocolate, Cake, Donuts, ice cream and of course by themselves.
I honestly can’t think of much I WOULDN’T enjoy with marshmallows. And HOMEMADE marshmallows are EASY and OH so good!
Like SERIOUSLY so good! I barely had enough left for pictures after my family got to them… I probably make a batch ever week in the fall and winter to go with my Homemade Hot Chocolate. And in the summer for S’mores.
I use this same recipe to make my homemade peeps in the spring – but I let it cool slightly until it’s pipe-able and then pipe the peep shape. You can just pour it into a 9×13 pan like this recipe and simply use cookie cutters.
SOOOO in addition to using marshmallows as frosting sometimes, I also love to flavor my marshmallows. OR add stuff to them, like my caramel marshmallows (aka homemade Scotchmallows). WHAT would be your go-to marshmallow flavor?
Just take me to the Marshmallow Recipe already!
If you’d rather skip my tips and tricks for homemade marshmallow, along with links to other marshmallow recipes and get straight to this delicious homemade marshmallow recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
Tips to Make the Perfect Marshmallows
I recommend using a non stick pot, or caramel pot. I’ve had lots of burnt sugar when I’ve used stainless steel – it can work you just have to really watch it.
Don’t cook at too high of a heat – I stick to medium for melting the sugar and cooking the marshmallows – as long as it has a nice slow boil your good.
A high boil will actually heat the sugar syrup too much and it will start to caramelize and get dark instead of staying nice and light.
A lot of recipes out there call for you to heat the syrup to 240 degrees (soft ball stage) but I found it was overcooked for me and the marshmallows struggled to whip up nice and light – so I go for 230 degrees, which is thread stage. It can go up to 234 but that’s the sweet spot for me.
Don’t wait too long to beat the marshmallows. I pour the sugar syrup into my mixer right away – I’ve experimented with beating the sugar hot, waiting 5 mins and waiting until it cools almost entirely.
I found that right away or waiting 5 mins has lead to the best results. Letting the syrup cool too much ended up with dense blocks of “marshmallows” instead of light fluffy ones.
You want the heat to escape but you don’t want hot sugar flung all over your kitchen so only partially covering your mixer is an option – or covering it with a paper towel so the steam can still escape works great too..
If you add the extracts/vanilla right away the heat from the syrup will actually evaporate so I wait until it’s been beating for a few mins and has cooled down a little before adding the vanilla.
Once the sound in your beater changes it’s usually time – the marshmallows will be fluffy white and ribbony but still quite fluid. You don’t want them to be totally liquid but you don’t want them to be too stiff – over beating causes dense marshmallows.
You can simply wet the pan before adding the marshmallow or use a non stick spray. To keep the top from drying and getting crusty I use my dusting wand to sprinkle some of the cornstarch/powdered sugar across the top.
When cutting the marshmallows I recommend spraying the knife with non stick spray – This will keep the marshmallows from sticking to the knife and making a mess.
Then you can either toss the marshmallows in the cornstarch/powered sugar mixer by shaking them in a bag of the stuff – or continue sprinkling the mixture on the raw cut sides.
To make these Marshmallows you’ll need
- Gelatin powder
- candy thermometer
- Mixer, hand or stand – I use my bosch
- 9×13 pan
- non stick spray
- cornstarch/powdered sugar mixture
- Dusting wand
From Scratch Marshmallows
If you love these easy marshmallows as much as I do, I’d love a 5 star review. Be sure to share on social media and tag me if you make it @ashleemariecakes! If you want to stay updated on new recipes sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook Group!
If you love Marshmallows you’ll love these other from scratch recipes!
English Toffee | Perfect Cheesecake | Brown Butter Madeleines
Homemade Eggnog | Liege Waffles | Hot Chocolate
Connect with Ashlee Marie Online!
To watch me make these from scratch Marshmallows play the full live cooking video in the recipe card. There should also be a short teaser video auto playing for you.
You can find all my cooking show style recipe videos on YouTube, or my short recipe videos on Facebook Watch, or my Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Homemade Marshmallows
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp unflavored gelatin powder
- 1/3 C cold water
- 3 C granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 C water
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 C cornstarch
- 1/3 C powdered sugar
Instructions
- Soak the gelatin in the 1/3 of a cup of cold water in a small bowl and set aside to swell for 10 minutes.
- In a large saucepan dissolve the sugar in the 1 1/2 C of water over low heat, stirring constantly.
- Add the swollen gelatin and dissolve.
- Raise the temperature and bring to a boil – once it comes to a boil don't stir anymore..
- Boil steadily, but not vigorously, until the mixture hits 230-234 (thread stage) – remember to adjust for your altitude. It should take 7-15 mins.
- Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl, or mixer and add the vanilla and beat the mixture until very thick and white.
- Spray a 9×13 pan with bakers joy or line with parchment paper (Even when I line with parchment paper I tend to use non stick spray to help) and pour the mixture into the pan
- let set completely – about 2 hours
- Cut into squares and dust with a mixture of cornstarch and icing sugar.
Kendra
Can you use pectin instead of gelatin?
Ashlee Marie
I honestly don’t know. I haven’t had good luck with pectin instead of gelatin in other recipes personally
Anél
Fantastic Recipe. I am now known as the Marshmallow lady with the best marshmallows. Thank you ❤️
Ashlee Marie
YAY!!! love hearing that!
Jenn
Can you use flavored jello? I’m in the mood for strawberry marshmallows lol.
Ashlee Marie
using jello instead of gelatin is a little tricky because it’s not just gelatin and flavoring it’s also lots of sugar so other items in the recipe would have to be adjusted so it’s not straight 1 to 1. You could use strawberry extract but personally I find it to candy flavored. I’d recommend grinding up freeze dried strawberries and try adding that when you add the vanilla to the marshmallows.
Marilia
Please, what the measure 1/4 C means? What’s “C”?
Ashlee Marie
cup – C is cup
April
If I wanted to use this recipe to make rice krispy treats,, would I need to let them set in a pan? Or could I just skip those last 3 steps & add the cereal while it’s in the mixing bowl?
Ashlee Marie
oh that’s a GREAT idea! I haven’t tested it but I would think you could just stir it right in. Let me know how it goes.
Ayesha
Making homemade marshmallows for me stuffed sweet potatoes. Thanks for the easy recipe 🤗
Ashlee Marie
oh DANG! That sounds so good! I am so going to use my marshmallows on my sweet potatoes this year too! How have I not done that already!
Beev
Making them for a bake sale at our seniors centre
Ashlee Marie
I hope everyone loves them as much as we do!
Pam Garbulski
Sooo GOOD!! Made these many times at Xmas, and everyone LOVES them!! You can also dip them in chocolate, coconut, or colored sugar too. I put mine on sucker sticks!! Easier to eat this way!! ENJOY ❤
Ashlee Marie
Last week I shared making them in different flavors as well! I think my new favorite is the chocolate! But you can never go wrong with the classics.
Laurie
These are the easiest, most delicious marshmallows, you tips and directions were perfect!
Ashlee Marie
I am so glad you liked these marshmallows as much as we do!!!
Melodie Penton
I have made Marshmallows many times. This winter they just did not come out well. I tried several things and they still came out flat. When I saw your recipe I had to try them. The recipe I used had corn syrup in them and it said to boil to higher temp. and beat for 15-20 minutes. Your instructions and tips were great and my first batch today came out great. I am thrilled. Thanks so much for sharing all this. Melodie
Ashlee Marie
I’m so glad to hear that my tips worked for you!!!
Donna
Easy to make, and delicious! And, no added blue food dye like most store bought marshmallows.
Susanne
I’m not sure what I did wrong….I am used to making them with Karol syrup and these were dryer and a little grainy in texture and set too fast. Would be great If I we’re using a piping bag. Any ideas where I went wrong?
Ashlee Marie
sounds like might have been over beaten. You want to stop when they still are pretty fluid