Homemade marshmallows are easy to whip up and make terrific gifts, and these Candy Cane Marshmallows are perfect for holiday gift giving. A little peppermint extract and some red food coloring make these fluffy white treats ready and waiting for a big mug of steaming hot cocoa. Bag them up with a cute tag and make someone’s day!
Here is how you can make your own:
You can find the basic marshmallow recipe here. To make Candy Cane Marshmallows you will also need some peppermint extract and red food coloring and some toothpicks to swirl the color across the marshmallows.
Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper (use enough paper to get an inch or two overhang) and dust the bottom liberally with confectioners sugar and lightly grease the sides with Pam. Set pan aside.
Pour 3 packages of unflavored gelatin in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add 1/2 cup cold water, the vanilla extract and a scant 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract to the gelatin and allow to sit while you make the hot syrup.
Combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240-250 degrees on a candy or digital thermometer.
With the mixer running of low speed, slowly and carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer to high speed and whip until it becomes very thick, around 15 minutes.
Using a silicon spatula sprayed with Pam, quickly scoop out the marshmallow and spread evenly into the prepared pan. Dot the top of the marshmallow with a few squirts of red food coloring. Quickly pull the toothpick thru the food coloring to give a swirled effect on the top of the marshmallow. Set the pan aside, uncovered, overnight to set.
The next day, remove the marshmallow from the pan using the overhang of parchment. Place on cutting board and using an oiled knife, cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch squares. I cut mine: 6 across and 6 down to make 36 marshmallows. Dust all the sides of each marshmallow with powdered sugar. Keep in an airtight container or bag.
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