Do you love s’mores and other treats with marshmallows but are afraid that you are doing your body some disservice? Don’t punish your sweet tooth. Instead of buying a bag of marshmallows at your favorite supermarket each time you are craving for your favorite saccharine special, why not make your own marshmallows at home? They are certainly much healthier than commercially-available marshmallows, and those homemade spongy confections will definitely make you the center of attention when it’s time to serve some snacks or desserts!
Before we take a look at the recipe, let us first put the spotlight on marshmallows themselves. You will realize that marshmallows per se are not bad for the health, but all the corn syrup that today’s manufacturers rely on to make their commodities so irresistible. Read on!
Many, many years ago, marshmallows were actually made from the sap of a plant called marshmallow. Marshmallows back then were so challenging to make by hand, but herbalists most especially still made them due to their anti-inflammatory properties, making them excellent for those with joint and gut problems, among many other health issues.
The 1800’s came and people discovered that making marshmallows were easier if the sap of the marshmallow plant were mixed with sugar and egg whites. This culinary discovery made the production of marshmallows faster and more convenient, and so more and more people were able to benefit from marshmallows both as herbal remedies and snacks.
Eventually, the sap of the marshmallow plant was replaced by another ingredient that allowed modern-day manufacturers to churn out marshmallows by the thousands. What’s that new ingredient? Gelatin! Gelatin’s very good at keeping the characteristic softness of marshmallows intact without the need to use the sap of marshmallow plants.
Did you know that gelatin is actually good for you? That’s because it is a wonderful source of collagen, a type of protein necessary for healthy and beautiful skin, nails and hair. Collagen helps protect your joint for damage too. It’s also something that helps improve digestion, relieve inflammatory diseases and even promote a good night’s sleep!
So what makes today’s marshmallows frowned upon by many? The loads of corn syrup added to them to make them taste really good! It’s exactly for this reason why making your own marshmallows at home is a fantastic idea. Homemade marshmallows are not packed with corn syrup, saving you from health problems that too much sugar brings.
Without any further ado, here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of beef gelatin
- 1 cup of maple syrup (you may also opt for a cup of honey too!)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1 cup of distilled water (split in half)
Procedure:
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of water and gelatin using a whisk. Allow the gelatin to set.
- In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of water, maple syrup (or honey) and salt. Bring to a boil.
- Grab your hand mixer. Set to low and break up your gelatin.
- Slowly add the maple syrup or honey mixture into it while continuing to mix.
- Set the hand mixer to medium and continue mixing for around 10 minutes or until you have a thick cream.
- Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with unbleached parchment paper. Transfer your marshmallow cream in it.
- Allow to set for 6 to 8 hours. Do not place in the fridge.
- Cut into your homemade marshmallows into your desired sizes.
Really easy, isn’t it? As you can see, your homemade marshmallows do not contain corn syrup as well as other questionable ingredients such as artificial colorings and preservatives. Now you can enjoy your s’mores or any other treat with marshmallows without feeling guilty!
