What Are Marshmallows?
Okay, you probably know what marshmallows are, but read on anyway, you might discover something new... 😊. For example, did you know that marshmallows were originally made from the juice of the root of the marshmallow plant???
This medicinal juice from the root was whipped to a frothy texture and mixed with sugar and other ingredients to create a sweet and soft candy. Today, marshmallows are no longer made from the juice of the marshmallow plant, but often from gelatin and other ingredients.
Marshmallows are of course delicious to eat, but our favorite are s'mores, an American invention with roasted marshmallows and chocolate between a cookie. Also delicious as a topping on hot chocolate and as an ingredient in baking recipes such as brownies and cakes.
How are marshmallows made?
Marshmallows are made from sugar, water, air and often gelatin. In addition, flavorings and coloring agents are often added. The mixture is slowly heated and mixed so that a homogeneous mass is obtained, then it is allowed to settle until it solidifies. Then it is poured into molds and then the marshmallows are removed from the molds and sprinkled with cornstarch or sugar to prevent them from sticking together.
If you eat vegetarian then marshmallows are often not a good idea, after all they almost always contain gelatin. Gelatin is a protein-rich agent used to stabilize and thicken foods such as jellies, candies, and marshmallows. It is obtained from collagen, which is mainly found in the skin and bones of animals such as pigs, cattle and fish. Fortunately, there are now also good vegetarian alternatives such as Heaply's marshmallows, you can find them here in our webshop.
DIY?
It's a bit messy, but then you can also make marshmallows yourself. Here you will find a vegetarian recipe where the gelatin is replaced by agar agar. Like gelatin, this is a gelling agent, but made from red algae, so completely vegetable.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of agar agar powder
- 1/2 cup of water
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar for dusting the baking tin
Instructions:
- Grease a 20x20 cm baking tin and dust generously with icing sugar.
- Add the agar agar to the cold water and let it sit for a few minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and warm water. Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the agar agar to the sugar mixture and stir until completely dissolved.
- Pour the mixture into a large bowl and add the vanilla extract.
- Beat the mixture with an electric mixer on high speed for 10-15 minutes, or until thick and doubled in volume.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and allow to harden at room temperature for a minimum of 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
- When the marshmallows are completely hardened, cut them into small cubes and dust them with powdered sugar so that they do not stick together.
And voilà , delicious homemade vegetarian marshmallows!
Trends in marshmallows
There are certainly trends to be found in the field of marshmallows! In addition to the traditional flavors of vanilla and chocolate, more and more special flavors are being introduced, such as peppermint, pumpkin pie and watermelon. In addition, more and more variations are coming onto the market, such as marshmallow roasting kits, marshmallow dip and spreadable spreads and marshmallow hot chocolate bombs. You can also find the craziest shapes from ice cream cones to dinosaurs.
There is also a trend towards healthier marshmallows, using natural, organic ingredients and vegetable gelling agents such as agar agar. In addition, marshmallows without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives are being introduced more often.
Got hungry? Try Heaply's Banana Marshmallows 😊.