Cupid’s Corner: Valentine’s Day Marbled Heart Marshmallows
Each year when Valentine’s Day rolls around, I find myself walking up and down the isles of drugstores and grocery stores throwing bags of heart-shaped candies into my cart. I promise myself that they’re not for eating—just displaying in my house to feel festive (but I always end up sneaking a few bites here and there). This year, I decided that actually making treats for this love-filled holiday would be much more fun than opting for the store bought versions. So, we enlisted the wonderful Lauren Lowstan to show us how to create the perfect sweet to accompany your cup of hot cocoa this time of year: marbled heart marshmallows.
Not only are these marshmallows absolutely gorgeous, they’re the perfect dollop of sweetness, too. Here’s how we made them
Valentine’s Day Marbled Heart Marshmallows
Ingredients:
- 7 ½ tsp. powdered gelatin
- ½ cup ice cold water
- 1/2 c. water
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. peppermint extract
- 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Instructions:
1. Sift together powdered sugar and cornstarch in small bowl. Take a 9×13″ pan and spray with non-stick spray and lightly dust the pan with half of the powdered sugar and cornstarch mixture.
2. Place gelatin and ice cold water in a stand mixer with whisk attachment. Whisk lightly and let sit to come together and create a hard jello-like texture.
3. In a small saucepan over high heat, stir the remaining ½ cup of water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt lightly until the sugar is dissolved. Using a candy thermometer, cook sugar until temp reaches about 230 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Once the sugar mixture has reached 230 degrees, pour sugar over the gelatin in the stand mixer. Turn on the mixer right away and whisk in high speed. After about 6 minutes, the mixture will start to thicken and become fluffy, white and glossy. You may have to continue whipping it for about 10 minutes. You want the fluff to have soft peaks! Once you get to this stage, add the peppermint extract and whip just till combined. (You want to work quickly at this point because the marshmallows can set very quickly.)
5. Spread the marshmallows as evenly as you can into the prepared pan (the mixture will be very sticky and hard to spread). Add about 10-15 drops of pink food coloring evenly over marshmallows. Taking a butter knife, lightly swirl the food coloring dots around to create a marble effect. Tip: You don’t want to swirl too much, or else the mallows will just turn pink.
6. Sprinkle the rest of the cornstarch and powdered sugar mixture over the tops of the mallows and evenly distribute it with your hands. Lightly tapping the tops of the mallows to even out the texture.
7. Let the marshmallows rest overnight.
8. Once set, with your hand, go around the pan and lightly take out the block of mallows. If you sprayed and dusted enough, you shouldn’t have a problem with it sticking.
9. Then, just use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out cute hearts!
I recommend adding one to your cocoa or morning cup of coffee. Or—better yet—surprise your special someone with these treats to show them how much you love them this month.
What Valentine’s Day treats are you cooking up this month?
Let me know in the comments. I’d love read about your ideas!
xx
Allison
Team LC
