Peppermint Vanilla Swirl Marshmallows Food

PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with lightly greased foil or plastic wrap. Grease another piece of foil or plastic wrap to cover the top, and set aside.
• Place 1/2 cup of water in the bowl of an electric mixer, and sprinkle gelatin on top of water to soak.
• While gelatin is soaking, combine 1/4 cup of water, corn syrup, and sugar in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil the mixture hard for 1 minute.
• Pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin mixture and beat on high for 12 minutes with electric mixer, until the mixture is fluffy and forms stiff peaks. Add vanilla and peppermint extracts, and beat just until blended.
• Pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared baking dish, using a greased spatula to smooth the top of the candy. Cover the candy with the reserved greased foil or wrap, and press down lightly to seal the covering to the top of the candy.
• Allow the marshmallow candy to rest for 4 hours or overnight. Mix together cornstarch and confectioner's sugar in a shallow dish. Using oiled scissors or an oiled kitchen knife, cut the marshmallow candy into strips, then into 1 inch squares. Dredge the marshmallows lightly in the cornstarch mixture and store in an airtight container.

SWIRLED PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside., In a large metal bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt and remaining water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 240° (soft-ball stage)., Remove from the heat and gradually add to gelatin. Beat on high speed until mixture is thick and the volume is doubled, about 15 minutes. Beat in extract. Spread into prepared pan. Quickly drop food coloring over candy; cut through candy with a knife to swirl. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight., Combine confectioners' sugar and peppermint candies. Using foil, lift marshmallows out of pan. With a knife or pizza cutter coated with cooking spray, cut into 1-in. squares; toss in confectioners' sugar mixture. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

PINK PEPPERMINT SWIRL MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Brush bottom and sides of metal pan with some vegetable oil.
• Put 1/2 cup water in bowl of stand mixer and sprinkle gelatin over it. Stir it briefly to make sure all the gelatin is in contact with water and let it soften while making the syrup.
• Heat sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then bring to a boil over medium heat, without stirring.
• Put thermometer into syrup and continue boiling, without stirring, until it registers 240°F (soft-ball stage). Remove from heat and let stand until bubbles dissipate.
• With mixer at low speed, pour hot syrup into gelatin in a thin stream down side of bowl. Increase speed to high and beat until very thick and the mixture forms a thick ribbon when beater is lifted, about 5 minutes. Beat in peppermint.
• Quickly scoop about two-thirds of still warm marshmallow into another bowl. Add the red food coloring to the remaining one-third marshmallow and beat it to combine.
• Working quickly, fill the prepared pan with alternating dollops of the white and pink marshmallow (it will be very sticky), then swirl a knife through the mixture to marble it. Smooth the surface with dampened fingertips. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature until surface is no longer sticky and you can gently pull marshmallow away from sides of pan with your fingertips, 2 to 3 hours.
• Using a sieve, dust a cutting board with confectioners' sugar. Use a spatula to pull sides of marshmallow from edge of pan, then invert onto cutting board. Dust top with confectioners' sugar. Cut lengthwise into 8 strips, then crosswise into eighths, to form a total of 64 squares.
• Coat marshmallows, one at a time, in confectioners' sugar, shaking off excess.

PEPPERMINT VANILLA SWIRL MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• 1. Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with plastic wrap and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• 2. In a large mixing bowl (or in your stand mixer bowl), sprinkle the gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water and allow it to dissolve for about 5-10 minutes.
• 3. In a small saucepan, mix sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water. Bring the mixture to a HARD boil and cook for one minute (you don't need a candy thermometer but be sure you get a rolling boil). Stir frequently.
• 4. Pour the boiling syrup on top of the gelatin and whisk on high. If you have one, a stand mixer will make this job much easier.
• 5. Add the salt and whisk on high for about 10-12 minutes or until mixture looks like soft meringue.
• 6. At the end of the mixing, add the vanilla and peppermint extract. Pour half of the marshmallow mixture into the pan, then swirl around a few drops of red food coloring (if making peppermint marshmallows). Pour the rest of the mixture on top, then swirl in a little more food coloring. Allow the marshmallows to set at least 2-3 hours until firm.
• 7. Lift the plastic wrap to remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and cornstarch. Dip a knife or kitchen shears in powdered sugar mixture between each cut. Cut into whatever sized cubes you would like.
• 8. Toss each marshmallow in the powdered sugar mixture. Store in a bowl or container that isn't completely sealed (so they don't get sticky/soggy). To coat some or all with chocolate, melt about 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet, or your choice) along with a few drops of vegetable oil in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Dip freshly cut marshmallows either half or completely coated and place on cookie sheet covered with a light coating of nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle topping of choice while still wet. With the peppermint flavored marshmallows, crushed candy canes or peppermint candies are wonderful! You can leave out the peppermint extract and make vanilla flavored marshmallows which can be dipped. Sprinkle nuts and/or coconut on top, if desired.

EASY PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Line a 9x9 pan with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to cover the top. Spray plastic wrap lightly with cooking spray. Place the 6 tablespoons of warm water in a large bowl, and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let gelatin soften in the water for 5 minutes.
• Combine the white sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a tall saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for one full minute, 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Pour the hot syrup over the softened gelatin, and add the salt. Beat at high speed with an electric mixer until the mixture increases in volume and holds a peak, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and peppermint extracts.
• Pour into prepared pan, add several drops of red food coloring, and swirl with a toothpick. Cover lightly with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours. Cut into 18 squares, using a knife sprayed with cooking spray. Combine cornstarch and powdered sugar in a bowl. Toss cut marshmallows in the reserved powdered sugar mixture. Store in airtight container or resealable plastic bag.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Place the gelatin into a large bowl (or stand mixer) along with 1/2 cup of water.
• In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Place over low heat, cover and allow to cook for 2 to 4 minutes.
• Remove lid, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the saucepan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees (this will take about 7 to 10 minutes). Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from heat.
• Turn your stand mixer on low speed and slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin. Once you have added all the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes thick and fluffy white (about 7 to 10 minutes). During the last minute of whipping, add the vanilla and peppermint extract.
• While the marshmallow is whipping, prepare the pan. Combine the confectioners sugar and corn starch in a small bowl. Cut out a piece of parchment that fits the bottom of your baking pan (I recommend a 9x9 inch pan for more square marshmallows). Lightly spray the baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, and add the parchment to the bottom. Using a sifter or sieve, lightly dust the entire pan with the sugar/cornstarch mixture making sure it is completely coated. You'll have a little left over, so cover the bowl and save this for cutting the marshmallows.
• Pour the marshmallow into prepared pan.
• (Optional) Place a few drops of red food coloring on top of the marshmallow approximately one inch apart. I added about 9 drops. Swirl the food coloring into the marshmallow using a toothpick.
• Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top, pressing lightly with your hand so that the chocolate chips stick into the marshmallow.
• Cover the chocolate peppermint marshmallow loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight.
• When you're ready to cut the marshmallows, use a butter knife to loosen it up from the sides of the pan. Then, turn the marshmallow over onto a cutting board. Cut into one inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners sugar mixture. The marshmallows might be a bit sticky, so roll each individual marshmallow in the bowl of cornstarch/confectioners sugar. Enjoy! Homemade marshmallows can be enjoyed for up to 3 weeks when stored in an airtight container or bag.