Flat Marshmallow Shapes Food

SUGAR-COATED MARSHMALLOW BUNNIES AND CHICKS

Steps:

• Fill a rimmed baking sheet or several shallow bowls with sugar. Pipe shapes onto sugar. If desired, color white crystal sugar by stirring in luster dust or sparkle dust a little at a time.
• For bunnies, pipe a 1 1/4-inch mound about 1/2 inch tall onto sugar. Pipe a small mound on one side for the tail; pipe a larger mound for the head on the opposite side. With a damp finger, pat down the spikes formed from piping the body, tail, and head. Pipe the ears, starting from the top of the head, and pipe onto the body, pulling forward and off to finish. Pat down the spikes on the ears. Working quickly so the marshmallow surface does not dry, use a spoon to cover the entire surface with sugar. Allow to sit a few minutes to set, and lift out of sugar with a spoon or small offset spatula. Pipe on royal-icing faces with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip; place in a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.
• For chicks, pipe an oval shape about 1 inch wide, tapering the end and pulling upward to finish with the tail. On the opposite end, for the neck and face, pipe a mound about the width of the body, pushing toward tail and up. Pull away from the face to form the beak. Working quickly so the marshmallow surface does not dry, use a spoon to sprinkle sugar over the surface. Allow shape to sit a few minutes to set; lift out of sugar with a spoon or small offset spatula. Make large and small chicks by changing the dimensions. Pipe on royal-icing eyes with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip; place in a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.

COCONUT-COATED MARSHMALLOW SHAPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees; toast coconut on a rimmed baking sheet, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 10 minutes or until light brown.
• Place cooled coconut on a rimmed baking sheet or in shallow bowls. Pipe shapes; cover each completely with coconut.
• To make nests, use a 1/2-inch (#11 Ateco) tip; pipe directly onto coconut, making a flat spiral about 3 inches in diameter. Build up the sides by spiraling up the edge of the disk, about 3/4 inch. Fill and cover with coconut, and allow to set a few minutes. Remove excess coconut from the center, and transfer to a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to use, or up to 2 weeks.

ROYAL ICING FOR MARSHMALLOW TREATS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners' sugar and meringue powder with scant 1/4 cup water on low speed. Mix until fluffy yet dense, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Color the icing as needed starting with a small amount of gel food coloring.Transfer to a small pastry bag fitted with a 1/32-inch pastry tip (#1 Ateco).
• If making marshmallow treats, pipe faces as desired, or pipe eyes on both sides of coated chicks and two eyes and a nose on bunnies. Pipe one eye on flat bunnies and chicks. Store the royal icing in an airtight container up to a week, and stir before using.

FLAT MARSHMALLOW SHAPES

Steps:

• Fill a rimmed baking sheet or several shallow bowls with sugar. Pipe shapes onto sugar. If desired, color white crystal sugar by stirring in luster dust or sparkle dust a little at a time.
• For flat bunnies, use a 1/2-inch (#11 Ateco) tip; start with the tail, and pipe an outline directly onto the sugar. In a continuous motion, fill in the center of the shape. Using a damp finger, push down any spikes left from piping. Working quickly, use a spoon to cover shape with sugar, and allow it to set a few minutes; pipe on royal-icing eyes using a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip; place in a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.
• For flat chicks, use a 1/2-inch (#11 Ateco) tip; start piping onto sugar at tail end, and, in a continuous motion, adding more pressure, form the body and head, pulling away from head to create the beak. Spoon sugar around and over the shape; allow to set a few minutes. Pipe on royal-icing eyes with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip, and store as above.
• For large flowers, use a 1/2-inch (#11 Ateco) tip, and pipe onto sugar in a continuous motion, forming five petals 1 to 2 inches long, all connected in the center. Or form each petal individually, then connect them in the center. Using a damp finger, push down any spikes left from piping; spoon sugar around and over the shape. When flower is set, pipe a mound in the center of the petals, and carefully cover the freshly piped center with a different color of sugar. Gently shake off excess, and place in a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.
• For the small flowers, use 3/16-inch (#4 Ateco) tip. Pipe directly onto sugar in a continuous motion, forming the outline of a flower, finishing in the center. Pat down spike with a damp finger, cover with sugar, and store as above.