Raspberry Marshmallow Hearts Food

RASPBERRY MARSHMALLOW DELIGHT

Steps:

• Combine crumbs and butter; press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool. , In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir marshmallows and milk until marshmallows are melted. Cool to room temperature. Fold in whipped topping; spread over crust. , In a large saucepan, bring raspberries, 1 cup water, sugar and lemon juice to a boil. Combine cornstarch and remaining water; stir to raspberry mixture. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature. Spread over marshmallow layer. , Chill until firm, about 4 hours. Garnish with whipped cream and raspberries if desired.

HOMEMADE RASPBERRY MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the raspberry powder, confectioners' sugar and cornstarch. Coat an 8-inch square or 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and dust the bottom and sides with half of the confectioners' sugar mixture. Pour any excess mixture back into the bowl.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine 1/2 cup water, the vanilla extract and almond extract. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid.
• In a small saucepan, stir together the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and the remaining 1/4 cup of water. Clip on a candy thermometer. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it reaches 240 degrees F and then immediately remove from the heat and transfer to the mixer.
• Turn the mixer on low and drizzle the sugar mixture in a slow and steady stream down the side of the bowl. Once the entire mixture is in, gradually increase the speed to high and mix until lukewarm and fluffy, 7 to 10 minutes. While the mixer is running, grease a rubber spatula and have that standing by the mixer, as well as the prepared pan.
• Using your greased spatula, immediately scrape the mixture into your pan and spread it out evenly as best you can with the spatula. Dust the top with about half of the remaining confectioners' sugar mixture and then, if needed, you can use your hands to further flatten and even out the mixture. Let sit for 1 hour. Cut into squares and then dust the edges of the squares with the remaining confectioners' sugar mixture.

RASPBERRY MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil and cook to "soft ball" stage, about 235 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, in a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the 2 tablespoons water and let dissolve.
• When the syrup reaches 235 degrees F, remove it from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix. Pour the syrup into the whipped egg whites. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff. Add the powdered dried raspberries to turn it pink.
• Spread the mixture onto a parchment-lined 8-inch square cake pan that's been lightly dusted with cornstarch. The parchment paper should come all the way up the sides of the pan. The marshmallow layer should be about 1-inch thick. Let cool, then cut into 1-inch squares, dipping your knife in cornstarch, if necessary, and toss in cornstarch lightly to keep them from sticking to each other. Skewer them and dip into your favorite dessert fondue.

RASPBERRY MARSHMALLOW HEARTS

Steps:

• Process the freeze-dried raspberries in a coffee grinder or spice grinder until finely ground. Sift the mixture into a small bowl to remove any raspberry seeds. Set aside.
• Pour 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin on top and whisk to combine. Set aside to bloom.
• Line an 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan with plastic wrap. Sift the cornstarch and confectioners' sugar together into a medium bowl. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the mixture over the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Set the pan and remaining cornstarch mixture aside.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Combine 3/4 cup of water, the granulated sugar and the corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Gently stir until the sugar crystals are all moistened. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan (or use an instant-read thermometer that measures at least up to 240 degrees F) and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F.
• As the sugar cooks, begin beating the egg whites on low speed. When the sugar syrup reaches 215 degrees F increase the speed to medium. (The goal is for the egg whites to reach stiff peaks right as the syrup reaches 240 degrees F.)
• Pour the hot syrup in a slow, steady stream along the edge of the bowl (not directly onto the whisk) as you continue to beat the egg whites. Place the gelatin in the saucepan over low heat and heat just until melted. Beat the gelatin into the meringue. Continue beating until the outside of the bowl is just slightly warm to the touch, about 5 more minutes.
• Turn off the mixer and add the red food coloring if using; beat just until combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and whisk in 2 tablespoons of the freeze-dried raspberry powder by hand. Reserve the remaining powder.
• Coat a rubber spatula with cooking spray or vegetable oil. Pour the warm marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and use the spatula to spread it in an even layer. Sprinkle another 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch mixture on top. Cover and let rest at room temperature until set, about 4 hours.
• Once set, remove the marshmallow by lifting the plastic wrap out of the pan. Cut into 16 squares. Cut a heart shape out of paper or thin cardboard that's small enough to fit in the middle of the marshmallows. Place the remaining raspberry powder in a small sieve. One at a time, place the heart on top of a marshmallow and dust with raspberry powder. Remove the heart. Repeat until all the marshmallows are decorated.
• Store for up to 1 week in an airtight container, dusting the marshmallows with more of the cornstarch mixture to keep them from sticking together.