Summer Sunshine, Pour Your Sweetness On Me

I feel like thinking of summertime conjures images of days at the lake/beach, hanging out with friends, and roasting s'mores, with the gooey-goodness marshmallow sugar leaking out the sides. So we made these in class the other day, and I thought it was a really fun and easy recipe. So you will need a candy thermometer, but you can buy those pretty much anywhere. I usually don't like marshmallows, but I did like these. Surprising!

Recipe: Homemade Marshmallows

Makes: ~ 24 - 2 1/2 inch marshmallows

Recipe originated from: joyofbaking.com ( http://www.joyofbaking.com/candy/HomemadeMarshmallows.html )

Compliments: Graham cracker and chocolate bars! They would also be good in the winter with hot chocolate.

Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold water, divided
- 3 - 1/4 oz envelopes (21 grams) unflavored gelatin
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Lightly butter or spray the bottom of a 9x13 dish, then line with parchment paper. Sift about 3 tablespoons powdered sugar onto the bottom of the pan (it helps it come off).
2. Place 1/2 cup of cold water into the bowl of your electric mixer that is fitted with a whisk attachment. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a heavy two quart saucepan, place the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup cold water. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil. Cover the saucepan with a lid and let boil for about three minutes to allow any sugar crystals to dissolve from the sides of the saucepan. Remove the lid and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Increase heat to high and boil, without stirring, until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. With mixer running at low speed, slowly pour the hot syrup into the gelatin mixture in a thin stream down the side of the bowl. Gradually increase the speed to high and beat until mixture has tripled in volume and is very thick and stiff, about 10 minutes (looks like thick creme of marshmallow). Add vanilla extract and beat to combine, about 30 seconds longer.
5. Scrape marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and spread with a damp offset spatula or rubber spatula. The mixture is very sticky so just smooth it out as best as you can. Dust the top of the marshmallow with another 3 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature until set, about 12 hours.
6. Remove the marshmallow from the pan by first running a small sharp knife around the edge of the marshmallow to loosen it from the pan. Invert the pan onto a large cutting board that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar. You might have to use your fingers to help loosen the marshmallow from the pan. Peel off the parchment paper (the marshmallow will be sticky) and dust the top of the marshmallow with confectioners' sugar. Cut the marshmallow into squares using a pizza roller or sharp knife. Dip the cut sides of the marshmallows in additional confectioners' sugar. Shake off excess sugar and store the marshmallows in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to two weeks.

So whats cool about this recipe is that you can make them flavored! Mine were lemon, so I just used lemon zest and about 1 teaspoon of lemon extract. Be careful about adding any sort of acidic fruit- the acid changes the structure of the sugar crystals. However, chef did make blueberry and strawberry marshmallows! You can add some of the fruit you want to flavor it with (as long as its not lime or lemon) to the sugar mixture on the stove so they break down with it, and then just throw some small diced fruit in right before you pour the hot sugar mixture in to be whipped. It will be naturally colored and flavored! Oh, and delicious. So if you are planning on doing a cookout before summer ends, put together s'mores with flavored homemade marshmallows. Can you imagine how yummy raspberry marshmallow and dark chocolate s'mores would be?

Abby xx