Homemade marshmallows are the secret ingredient for taking your s’mores bar to the next level.
Summer is the season for outdoor entertaining. From backyard BBQ’s to beach parties, it’s time to take advantage of the warm weather, and long days. When twilight rolls around light the fire pit, and keep the party going into the evening.
No campfire is complete without s’mores to cap off a fabulous evening. This summer, skip your standard store bought fare, and try your hand at homemade marshmallows. Your s’mores will never be the same!
Vanilla Bean Marshmallows
Recipe by Olivia Colt, Salt & Honey Catering
Yield: 46 1×2 pieces
Ingredients
5 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water, divided
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ tablespoon vanilla paste
Powdered sugar for dusting
Method:
Combine the gelatin and ½ cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and allow mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes to bloom.
In the meantime, combine sugar, corn syrup, salt and ½ cup of water into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.
With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the bloomed gelatin. Turn the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick and doubled in size, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla paste and mix thoroughly.
With a fine mesh sieve, dust a cookie sheet with powdered sugar. Turn marshmallow mixture out onto dusted cookie sheet. Spray a rubber spatula with unflavored cooking spray to keep marshmallow from sticking, and spread marshmallow into even layer. Dust the top with more powdered sugar. Let stand uncovered at room temperature on kitchen counter overnight to dry.
The following day place marshmallow mixture onto a wooden cutting board coated with powdered sugar and cut into squares. Roll the cut sides in powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Can be kept wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or airtight container for up to one month in a cool dark place.
To create flavored marshmallows:
Following recipe above, when you reach the point of adding the vanilla paste, turn machine off and move marshmallow mixture into a mixing bowl sprayed with unflavored cooking spray. Separate mixture into 4 equal parts. For strawberry, add 2 tablespoons strawberry puree, for chocolate add 1 ounce of melted chocolate chips, for peanut butter marshmallows add 3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter and for funfetti, add 2 tablespoons sprinkles. Thoroughly mix each batch until flavorings are fully incorporated. Turn out onto powdered sugar dusted cookie sheet. For chocolate marshmallow use a mixture of cocoa powder and powdered sugar to dust cookie sheet and top of marshmallow.
Now that you have your homemade marshmallows it’s time to set up an epic s’mores bar! Plain old chocolate and grahams are fine, but why not give your guests the opportunity to create their own custom s’mores?
We recommend thinking outside the classic milk chocolate box by offering a variety of chocolate options. Anything from mint chocolate to peanut butter cups make delicious s’mores. Other great flavors to round out your s’mores bar include different types of grahams, and toppings such as caramel, coconut, peanut butter and chopped nuts, or even fresh fruit.
Give your guests the freedom to build the s’more of their dreams.
If you’re craving a s’mores bar, but would rather spend your summer day floating in a pool than shopping for ingredients, give Salt & Honey a call. We’ll deliver everything you need for for a crowd pleasing s’mores bar, including house made marshmallows and toppings, in one convenient box.
