Peppermint marshmallows

The holidays are a time of giving, and I have tried for the past several years to make homemade sweets to give to coworkers, teachers, coaches and friends. It had been a tradition of mine to make peppermint bark and homemade caramels year after year, but this season, I wanted to switch things up a bit. Carrie from Carrie's Sweet Life challenged us to bake with peppermint for this month's What's Baking theme, so I started brainstorming.

I had a wonderful time making homemade marshmallows for Valentine's Day and thought I'd make a peppermint version for this holiday season. They were just as easy as the first time I made them, and I made sure to fully grease my pan instead of using parchment paper like I did previously.

These marshmallows were packaged with homemade hot chocolate mix and placed into fun holiday mugs as gifts. Happy holidays to all!

Peppermint marshmallows

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup cold water, divided
• 1 cup light Karo syrup
• 1 1/2 cup grandulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp peppermint extract
• Gel food coloring (optional)
• Baking or cooking spray
• Powdered sugar for dusting/stick-proofing

Directions

Place the whisk attachment onto your stand mixer. Pour 1/2 cup of the cold water in the stand mixer's bowl and sprinkle the 3 packages of gelatin over the top of the water and set aside. 

In a small sauce pan, heat corn syrup, sugar, salt, and the other 1/2 cup cold water over medium heat. Keep stirring until the sugar is dissolved and then turn the heat on high. Using a candy thermometer, cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F (it should take about 6-8 minutes). Turn the heat off.

With the mixer on low, slowly pour the hot syrup over the gelatin and water mixture. Gradually increase the mixer speed to the highest setting and let it whip for about 10 minutes. Add the peppermint extract and whip the mixture for another 5 minutes until you it is glossy, smooth, and thick (it will not reach stiff peaks like whipped cream). 

Heavily grease an 8"x8" pan (I used a 9"x12" pan) with baking spray. Generously coat the pan with powdered sugar and tap out the excess. Using a greased spatula, evenly spread the marshmallow mixture into the pan. If desired, add 6-8 drops of red food coloring over the top and swirl with a knife.

Let the marshmallows rest for at least 4 hours or overnight until it is solidified and cooled. Flip the marshmallow pan onto surface that has been generously coated with powdered sugar. Using a long greased knife or pizza cutter, cut the marshmallows into 1-inch pieces. Dust all sides of the marshmallows with powdered sugar before storing.

Marshmallows will keep in an air-tight container for about 2 weeks.

Yield: About 120 marshmallows, depending on how big or little you want them to be

Source: Confections of a Foodie Bride; originally adapted from The Food Network

The holidays are a time of giving, and I have tried for the past several years to make homemade sweets to give to coworkers, teachers, coaches and friends. It had been a tradition of mine to make peppermint bark and homemade caramels year after year, but this season, I wanted to switch things up a bit. Carrie from Carrie's Sweet Life challenged us to bake with peppermint for this month's What's Baking theme, so I started brainstorming.

I had a wonderful time making homemade marshmallows for Valentine's Day and thought I'd make a peppermint version for this holiday season. They were just as easy as the first time I made them, and I made sure to fully grease my pan instead of using parchment paper like I did previously.

These marshmallows were packaged with homemade hot chocolate mix and placed into fun holiday mugs as gifts. Happy holidays to all!

Peppermint marshmallows

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup cold water, divided
• 1 cup light Karo syrup
• 1 1/2 cup grandulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp peppermint extract
• Gel food coloring (optional)
• Baking or cooking spray
• Powdered sugar for dusting/stick-proofing

Directions

Place the whisk attachment onto your stand mixer. Pour 1/2 cup of the cold water in the stand mixer's bowl and sprinkle the 3 packages of gelatin over the top of the water and set aside. 

In a small sauce pan, heat corn syrup, sugar, salt, and the other 1/2 cup cold water over medium heat. Keep stirring until the sugar is dissolved and then turn the heat on high. Using a candy thermometer, cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F (it should take about 6-8 minutes). Turn the heat off.

With the mixer on low, slowly pour the hot syrup over the gelatin and water mixture. Gradually increase the mixer speed to the highest setting and let it whip for about 10 minutes. Add the peppermint extract and whip the mixture for another 5 minutes until you it is glossy, smooth, and thick (it will not reach stiff peaks like whipped cream). 

Heavily grease an 8"x8" pan (I used a 9"x12" pan) with baking spray. Generously coat the pan with powdered sugar and tap out the excess. Using a greased spatula, evenly spread the marshmallow mixture into the pan. If desired, add 6-8 drops of red food coloring over the top and swirl with a knife.

Let the marshmallows rest for at least 4 hours or overnight until it is solidified and cooled. Flip the marshmallow pan onto surface that has been generously coated with powdered sugar. Using a long greased knife or pizza cutter, cut the marshmallows into 1-inch pieces. Dust all sides of the marshmallows with powdered sugar before storing.

Marshmallows will keep in an air-tight container for about 2 weeks.

Yield: About 120 marshmallows, depending on how big or little you want them to be

Source: Confections of a Foodie Bride; originally adapted from The Food Network