Spooky Homemade Marshmallows Recipes

Steps:

• Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.
• In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.
• Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.
• Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.
• When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
• Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Line 4 half sheet pans with parchment paper, spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray and dust with the confectioners' sugar mixture.
• Scoop the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round piping tip. Pipe the mixture onto the prepared sheet pans lengthwise, leaving about 1-inch between each strip. Sprinkle the tops with enough of the remaining cornstarch and sugar mixture to lightly cover. Let the strips set for 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Cut into 1/2 inch pieces using a pizza wheel or scissors dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining sugar mixture and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Steps:

• Pour water in the bowl of a stand mixer (with whisk attachment) and sprinkle gelatin on top. Make sure all gelatin has been moistened so that there is no longer any white powder. Set aside, so gelatin can bloom, while completing the next steps. Spray the bottom and sides of the pan of your choice with cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix together powdered sugar and cornstarch. Coat greased pan with sugar/cornstarch mix, thoroughly covering the bottoms and sides. It is easier if you use a sifter to coat the pan as it will create an even dusting. Set remaining powder/cornstarch aside for now. In a small saucepan, add ingredients in this order: salt, evaporated milk, Fireball whisky, then sugar. Without mixing, warm saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a gentle boil. Immediately add a candy thermometer and watch the temperature, reducing heat to control boiling if necessary. Ideally you want the temperature to get as close to 240°F before sugar mixture begins to bubble over. Once you can no longer boil the sugar mix without overflowing, go ahead and move on to the next step. (The highest my mixture got to was 210°F before it almost boiled over.) Slowly pour the hot sugar mixture in with the gelatin. Begin to whisk on low, breaking up the gelatin and incorporating it with the warm sugar. Once gelatin has dissolved, add any food coloring (optional - I used 1 drop of red and 2 drops of yellow) then set the mixer speed to high and beat for 15-17 minutes. Mixture is ready once it has turned a solid color, has doubled in size, and is thick enough to cause lasting ripples and waves in the batter. Tips for hand mixers: For the first 5 minutes of mixing, hold the mixer near one end of the bowl and tip the opposite side of the bowl so that it is leaning toward the mixer. This trick will cause the fluid in the bowl to fall toward while the mixer pushes the fluid back up, giving you a more even mix. Once the marshmallow mixture is no longer clear, set bowl back on the counter and mix like normal, making sure to rotate the mixer around the sides and through the middle. Pour fluffed marshmallow mix into the prepared pan. Used a greased spatula to help smooth out the top, if needed. Finish off by dusting the top with more sugar/cornstarch mix. Let marshmallows set for 6 hours if using a baking sheet. If using a smaller pan, like a 9x13 pan, let the marshmallows stand for 8 hours. When ready to cut, grease and dust the cookie cutters with the cornstarch/powered sugar mixture. Proceed to cut out the marshmallows. Store marshmallows in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 8-by-8-inch baking dish. Combine gelatin with 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Set aside while you prepare the syrup.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup cold water. Stir the mixture just enough to combine the ingredients then cook over medium-high heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the mixture reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes.
• With the mixer on low speed, carefully pour hot syrup into gelatin mixture and mix until gelatin is dissolved. Add the vanilla bean paste or extract.
• Turn the mixer to high and whip the batter until it is very thick, stiff and opaque, about 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread it with a knife.
• Let sit uncovered until firm, about 4 hours at room temperature or 2 hours in the fridge.
• Sift a generous amount of confectioners' sugar onto a work surface, use a knife to cut around the edges of the pan and unmold marshmallow onto the sugar. You will have to pull it out of the pan with your fingertips; it will be very sticky but will pull out in one piece. Dust the top of the marshmallow with confectioners' sugar and use a long, sharp knife to cut the marshmallow into roughly 1 1/2-inch cubes. Clean and dry your knife periodically throughout this process when it gets too sticky.
• Toss the cubes in the confectioners' sugar to make sure they are coated on all sides and store them in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Steps:

• MICROWAVE BAKER'S Dipping Chocolate container according to directions on package, or until well-combined and very smooth.
• PUSH lollipop sticks or straws into marshmallows.
• HOLDING one marshmallow by the stick, and using a spoon, drizzle melted chocolate over the marshmallow while rotating it. Working quickly, drizzle remaining marshmallows with chocolate. Pattern should resemble bare, twisted branches. No need to be precise, it will look great!
• FOR the ghosts, thin a little black frosting (or use gel frosting if you have it) with water and use a toothpick to paint eyes and a mouth. You could even use a little of the dipping chocolate if you don't have or want to buy black frosting.

Steps:

• Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.
• Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.
• With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.
• With a sieve, generously dust an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top, and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.
• Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. Dust them with more confectioners' sugar.