Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows

Ok I have to admit....I have always wanted to have a "try" at making Marshmallows. However it seems that in the past I only came across recipes that were either 4 pages long with directions or seems to be

 to "in depth" for me at the time.   

Well Last week when I made my Hot Chocolate on a Stick,

I thought I would give it a try. (I adapted my recipe from Make & Take site)

Not only were these SUPER EASY to make, they tasted and look DIVINE!

Now you don't have to add the crushed  peppermint's to yours....I was just really looking for that "holiday" look. They are great plain too!

Homemade Marshmallows

3 envelope pkg. of Unflavored Gelatin

1 C. Ice water-divided

1 1/2 C. Sugar

1 C. Corn Syrup

1/4 tsp. Salt

3/4 tsp. extract flavoring (Cinnamon, Vanilla, Mint)

1/4 C. Powdered Sugar

1/4 C. Corn Starch

Food Coloring, Sprinkles, Peppermints

Start by making sure you have your  9x13 pan already prep'd.

Combine the corn starch and powdered sugar together.

Then lightly spray it with Pam, and sprinkle it with the

corn starch/powdered sugar mixture. Make sure it is well coated.

Next place all the gelatin and 1/2 C. of Ice water in your mixing bowl, keep the whip attachment ready. In a med./large sauce pan combine the remaining water, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cover with lid and cook on Medium heat for 4 minutes. Remove the lid and insert your candy thermometer to the pan. Continue to cook to 240 degrees. (It took me about 8 minutes, stirring constantly) Turn on your mixer and starting on low beat the gelatin/water mixture. Drizzle the hot syrup mixture while it is beating on low until all syrup is added. Then you will beat on med./high  for 12-15 minutes. It will become VERY THINK AND STIFF, that is how you will know it is done. (I used a Kitchen Aid Mixer and it took mine about 12 minutes to reach this point) I waited to add in my flavoring/extract until the last minute of mixing.  Spray a rubber spatula with Pam to help scrap out the whip & bowl. You need to work quickly because it will start to become hard to spread. Evenly spread it into your prepared pan. That's it!

Now you just leave them alone for at least 4 hrs. or like I did, overnight.

To Cut them I turned them out of the pan onto a cutting board, rolled my Pizza cutter into the corn starch/sugar mixture and cut them into squares.

I even used a couple of small cookie cutters to make them into stars and hearts. Next batch I will be dipping half of the marshmallow into chocolate!

You can store these up to 3 weeks in an air tight container.

Great neighbor gift idea! And the kids love them too!

  **NOTE: If you are adding in food coloring to make swirls or crushed mints...you will do so while it is in the pan. I had to lightly press the crushed peppermints into the marshmallow.

I LOVE Homemade Holiday treats!

Lark