Orange Marshmallow Pops Food

HOMEMADE ORANGE MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Butter the bottom and sides of an 8 by 8-inch straight-sided baking pan. Dust liberally with sifted powdered sugar and set aside.
• Pour 1/2 cup water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and allow to soften, about 10 minutes.
• In a 3-quart saucepan, combine the sugar, evaporated milk and 1/4 cup water. Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees F, about 10 to 12 minutes. Pour the syrup over the gelatin mixture. Beat the mixture at low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat until thick, fluffy and tripled in volume, about 10 to 12 minutes. Beat in the orange zest and vanilla extract until just combined. Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Sprinkle with orange decorating sugar. Allow the mixture to set, uncovered, in a cool place (not refrigerated) for at least 8 hours or overnight. Remove the marshmallows from the pan and place on a powdered sugar-dusted surface. Using scissors, dusted with powdered sugar, cut the marshmallows into about 1-inch squares. Dip the cut sides into powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
• *Can be found at cake decorating stores .

BUNNY BUTT MARSHMALLOW POPS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment, Put 4 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or wafers and 2 teaspoons shortening or coconut oil in a glass bowl and melt at 50 percent power in a microwave at 30 seconds intervals, stirring after each, until melted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stick 12 yellow marshmallow bunnies (such as Peeps) onto 12 lollipop sticks. Dip the bunnies, one at a time, in the chocolate coating, spreading with a small spatula and tapping off the excess on the side of the bowl. Set the bunnies on the parchment-lined baking sheet and add halved mini marshmallows for tails. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
• Bunny face variation: Instead of the tail, add 2 small edible candy eyes. Attach a small orange jelly bean to each for a carrot. Halve small green jelly beans and snip the ends to resemble carrot tops and attach to the base of the carrot.

MARSHMALLOW S'MORES POPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay the marshmallows on the foil, long side facing up (as opposed to standing up on the short end). Place under the broiler and cook until the marshmallows are golden brown and toasted, 10 to 15 seconds. Cool completely on the baking sheet. The marshmallows will firm up again in the center so you can skewer them.
• While the marshmallows cool, put the graham crackers in a resealable plastic bag and seal. Crush with a meat mallet, rolling pin or can until they are fine crumbs with a few small chunks.
• Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the crumbs and cook, stirring, until toasted and a few shades darker, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, pour onto a plate and cool completely.
• Once the marshmallows have cooled, skewer them and set aside.
• Finely chop the chocolate and reserve one-quarter of the chocolate separately. Put the rest in a heatproof bowl and set over a small pot with 2 inches of simmering water, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Cook, stirring, until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the reserved chopped chocolate until melted. This technique will help the chocolate set hard without having grey streaks, called bloom, on your pops.
• Drizzle the skewered marshmallows with some melted chocolate and sprinkle with crumbs. Set the sticks into the open grids in a wire rack, so they stay upright, until the chocolate is set. Repeat with the remaining marshmallows, chocolate and crumbs.
• Fill a few tall glasses with marshmallows and set the finished pops, stick-side down, into the glasses for serving.

MARSHMALLOW POPS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate- or white chocolate-almond bark (or both) in a double boiler (melt separately if using both). Next, melt the blue and orange candy melting wafers separately in double boilers. Stir them all until they are nice and smooth. These will be your marshmallow coatings.
• One by one, dip the very tip of each lollipop stick into one of the coatings. Then stick that end of the stick into a marshmallow until it's not quite all the way through. Repeat with the rest of the marshmallows, standing them up as you go.
• Next, roll each marshmallow in the coating of your choice, and then tap the stick gently on the side of the double boiler to get rid of the excess. Using your fingers, sprinkle the topping of your choice all over the coating. For a rocky road version, dip in the chocolate and roll in the chopped pecans. For a s'mores version, dip in the chocolate and roll in the graham cracker crumbs. For a cookies and cream version, dip in the white chocolate and roll in the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.
• Set the pops, stick-side up, on a piece of waxed paper, or stick them into florist foam (used to make flowers stand up).