Homemade Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows are one of my favorite things to cook. You take ingredients that aren't exciting on their own - corn syrup, sugar, gelatin - and turn them into something magical!

I am generally not a marshmallow person, but homemade marshmallows are different. They're soft. Creamy. Fluffy. Springy. They're a delicious confection that is maligned by all bagged grocery store versions you come across.

They seem intimidating, but I promise you - they're not hard. They are 1000% worth making yourself. Homemade marshmallows are so superior to prepackaged ones that they're practically a different food.

Jump to:

• Why I've Made Marshmallows for 12+ Years
• Ingredients for Marshmallows
• Equipment to Make Marshmallows
• How to Make Marshmallows
• Cutting and Storing Marshmallows
• Change It Up
• 📖 Recipe

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Why I've Made Marshmallows for 12+ Years

I first made marshmallows in 2010 as my 344th recipe of my 365 recipe challenge. I'd never given a thought to making marshmallows before, but the year prior, a coworker's husband had made marshmallows and shared them with us. They were amazing!

I originally tried two recipes when I started making marshmallows - Alton Brown's, and King Arthur Baking's. Alton Brown's was fine, but he included cornstarch in the coating and that created too much of a crust. He also whipped them an incredibly long time. King Arthur Baking's was less fussy and turned out much better, and is where I've adapted my recipe from.

In the 12 years since I made my first batch, I've made at least two batches per year to give out as food gifts. Most years I make four, including my chocolate chip marshmallows. I love those for snacking on, but I prefer these OG vanilla marshmallows for topping hot chocolate.

Ingredients for Marshmallows

Ingredients for marshmallows are simple: sugar, corn syrup, powdered sugar, vanilla, and gelatin, plus a little water.

Sugar: Just use plain ol' granulated sugar. I used brown sugar once, and it really just muddied up the color without adding flavor.

Corn Syrup: This adds stability to your syrup mixture and improves the texture. Use light corn syrup. You can use dark in a pinch, but it will muddy up the color.

This is an all-sugar treat, and you're using regular corn syrup, not high-fructose corn syrup. Still, if you have hard feelings against corn syrup, you can try honey, agave syrup, or golden syrup, which may work the same but may not. They may also change the flavor somewhat.

Gelatin: This is what stabilizes all of your foam as you whip the syrup into its white, frothy pillowiness, and allows it to keep its shape after it cools.

I've always used the powdery Knox brand in these, or a generic brand if I find it. Gelatin is derived from collagen from animal bones. As such, it is not vegan. If this icks you out, realize that gelatin is in store-bought marshmallows as well. I haven't yet successfully tried out a vegan recipe. (A recipe I tried years ago with agar-agar flakes did not turn out, dramatically.)

One 4-packet box of unflavored gelatin will be enough for one batch of marshmallows, with one packet of gelatin leftover. (If you find you love making marshmallows, you can order a giant package of gelatin (affiliate link) from Amazon, like I did; the dates on it should be good for a couple of years.)

Vanilla: Flavoring, and vanilla in particular, is essential in this recipe. Otherwise, you're just tasting sugar. Use real vanilla extract if possible, not imitation.

Powdered Sugar: This will keep your marshmallows from sticking to the pan, and to each other.

Equipment to Make Marshmallows

Marshmallows are easy to make, but there are a few specific items that will make the whole process easier.

Candy Thermometer: Since marshmallows are a confection, you need a candy thermometer (affiliate link). I like the one I've linked to as it rests safely on the bottom of the pan without the bulb touching the bottom. You can also use a probe thermometer (affiliate link) preferably clipped to the side of the pan.

Electric Mixer: I've always used my stand mixer. You can likely use a handheld mixer as well, but you may need to beat the mixture longer.

Sturdy-Bottomed Pot: Thin pots will have hot spots that will spoil the syrup. Use something with a heavy bottom. I also do not recommend non-stick.

9x13-Inch Pan: I feel a little silly mentioning it here. You can use whatever pan, whatever shape you want. I recommend glass because I've had the most luck pulling marshmallows from it, and don't worry about scraping it up. Marshmallows are the main reason I still have this glass pan.

Natural aluminum 9x13-inch pan (affiliate link) should work fine as well. I do not recommend non-stick, namely because I always scratch mine up, and you don't want rust in your marshmallows.

Bench Scraper: I prefer a bench scraper (affiliate link) to cut my marshmallows. I find it cuts more neatly than a pizza cutter, which is what I used to use. If you need to, you can use a butter knife, but your results may not be as pretty.

Sifter: You can probably do without a sifter and just sprinkle powdered sugar on your marshmallows, but the sifter does a better job.

How to Make Marshmallows

First, gather all your ingredients and equipment. I list below when I usually prepare each item, but I've made at least 40 batches of marshmallows! You may want to give yourself a little more leeway.

Once the syrup reaches the soft ball stage (around 240F), you'll have to act fast! Be sure you're ready. Have the whisk attachment on the stand mixer, and be sure you've broken up your hydrated gelatin (otherwise it won't dissolve in the syrup and you'll have clumpy gelatin in your marshmallows).

Yes, the gelatin may smell a bit as you hydrate it and as you add the syrup. It may continue to smell for a few minutes while they whip. This is normal, and won't affect how they taste.

While you're beating the marshmallows, prepare your pan if you haven't already. Spray your glass pan with cooking spray, and then dust liberally with powdered sugar. Get out a rubber spatula to scrape the marshmallows into the pan, and spray it with cooking spray.

After 7 minutes of whipping, turn the speed down a notch or two. With the mixer still running, slowly pour the vanilla extract along the side of the bowl. It loosens up the marshmallows, which will fly out of the bowl if you pour too quickly or on the marshmallow directly.

Turn the mixer back to high and beat for another minute.

Use the rubber spatula to scrape the marshmallows into the prepared pan. Dust them again with powdered sugar. Let them cool for 2 hours, then cover with plastic wrap to let them set for another 2 hours (or overnight, as I usually do) at room temperature before cutting.

Cutting and Storing Marshmallows

The next day, your marshmallows will have firmed up nicely. Dump or pull them out of the pan and place them on a surface dusted with more powdered sugar.

Use a bench scraper (affiliate link) (my preference), pizza cutter, or knife to cut the marshmallows into squares. As you pull them apart, dust each surface with a little more powdered sugar so they don't stick to one another.

I store cut marshmallows in metal tins lined with waxed or parchment paper. When I give them as gifts, I put them in cellophane bags or sandwich bags. Before you store them in plastic, be sure they're dusted well with powdered sugar.

Marshmallows ship well. However, I tend to nestle them into tins so that they don't get squished (and so the bags don't break) in transit.

Keep homemade marshmallows away from heat and humidity, as this can cause mold in the long term. Otherwise, these marshmallows last for a month at room temperature. The powdered sugar on them may give them a little crust, but they're still soft and delicious. Longer than a month, they will dry out, but they will still be pretty tasty in hot chocolate.

Change It Up

If you don't want vanilla, you can add any extract you'd like. Try ½-1 teaspoon of peppermint extract, or 1 drop of peppermint oil, for mint marshmallows. Those would be perfect to add to hot cocoa!

Add liquid food coloring of your choice with the vanilla. If you add it in the last 10 seconds, you will end up with more of a swirl effect. (You will confuse others, though, if you don't change the flavor as well!)

Top them with cinnamon sugar immediately, before they cool, or with crushed candy canes.

Or, make my favorite variation - chocolate chip marshmallows.

Really, it's hard to go wrong with marshmallows. They're soft, creamy, and delicious, and sure to impress your friends and family. Of all the things I've made and gifted, marshmallows are what people have loved the most.

More Food Gifts

Interested in other recipes? I save and share recipes I like or want to try on my Pinterest page - follow me there! You can also check out my Facebook page for more recipes and helpful tips. I'm also happy to try to help troubleshoot my recipes there.

Have you tried this recipe? Or have a question about it? Rate it or leave a comment below! (PS: rating my recipes helps other people find them, too!)

📖 Recipe

In the past:

(Post updated in December 2022 with new writing, updated instructions, and photos. Originally published December 29, 2010 and republished December 19, 2017.)