Homemade Marshmallow Crème and a BOOK GIVEAWAY!
March 4, 2012 at 7:19 pm | Posted in book review, general pastry, other sweet, sweet things | 42 Comments
If you think that a marshmallow is one of those semi-stale, crackly, crusty things you get at the supermarket, then we need to have a talk. Ideally, they should be squishy and soft, not tough and dense….and oh-so importantly, they should taste fresh. You don’t have to buy them, you know…the marshmallow ideal can be your reality if you make them at home. It is sticky business, to be sure, but it isn’t that hard. And there’s a whole, sweet new book, Marshmallow Madness! by fellow blogger Shauna Server, to help you out. It has a puffy cover and everything! It starts with the classics…vanilla, chocolate…and moves on to some really inspired flavors like buttered rum and maple-bacon. Who would have thought marshmallows could be so adult and sophisticated? I’ve already made my caramel sauce for the sea salt caramel swirl ones.
I whipped up a batch of Shauna’s marshmallow crème this morning. It’s marshmallow minus the gelatin, and just like with marshies, if you’ve only ever had store-bought Fluff, you’ll be wowed by the way homemade tastes. Like real vanilla, for one thing. Guess what I’m gonna put this sticky stuff all over tonight?? Minds out of the gutter people, this is a PG blog– I’m talking about chocolate ice cream! And if I have any left next weekend, I’ll turn it into a giant Ho-Ho with the chocolate-marshmallow roulade recipe in the “Fluffy, Puffy Desserts” section at the back of the book.
The nice folks at Quirk Books sent me a copy of this book, and now I want to send a copy to one of you, too. Just leave me a comment (one per person, please) on this post before 4:00 pm EST on Thursday (March 8) and I’ll randomly choose a winner from the list. Be sure your e-mail address is correct so I can contact you!
***Giveaway Winner Update: I now have two copies to give away, one from me and one from Quirk Books, who has very kindly offered to donate another. I used random.org to generate random comment numbers to find the winners. It selected comments 7 and 10, so congratulations to Christy and Anne M. You should be getting your books soon!***
Homemade Marshmallow Crème– makes about 2 1/2 cups
from Marshmallow Madness! by Shauna Server
Steph’s Note: I used golden syrup instead of corn syrup here, and it worked just fine (although the crème isn’t as blindingly white as it would be otherwise…it has the faintest tinge of gold).
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/8 tsp salt
2 large egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
-Stir together the sugar, light corn syrup, water and salt in a small saucepan over high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 240°F.
-Meanwhile, place the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Start whipping the egg whites to soft peaks on medium speed. The goal is to have the egg whites whipped and ready, waiting for your syrup to be drizzled in. If they’re whipping faster than your syrup is coming to temperature, just stop the mixer (or turn to lowest speed) until the syrup is ready.
-When the syrup reaches 240°F, set the mixer to low and slowly drizzle a tiny bit of syrup, a couple tablespoons’ worth, into the egg whites to warm them. (If you add too much syrup at once, the whites will scramble). Slowly drizzle in the rest of they syrup and then increase the speed to medium-high. Beat until the marshmallow crème is stiff and glossy, 7-9 minutes; towards the end of the beating, beat in the vanilla.
-Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Please note that the publisher, Quirk Books, sent me a copy of this book.
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a whisk and a spoon 
Awesome giveaway! I’ve always wanted to try my hand at homemade fluff-yours looks amazing! 🙂
Comment by sara— March 4, 2012 #
Wow! I haven’t been tempted to join the home made marshmellow revolution…until now! I may have to go try the fluff recipe tonight….
Comment by Mimi Allen— March 4, 2012 #
Marshmallows are awesome. Made them a couple of times now…. I still want to make them with a piping bag at some point (e.g. mini-marshmallows).
Comment by Eric F— March 4, 2012 #
This book looks great! I’ve been itching to make some homemade marshmallows lately, but I think I’ll start with this delicious looking creme, first!
Thanks!! 🙂
(sarahvanloon01 at gmail dot com, by the way 😉 )
Comment by sarahvanloon— March 4, 2012 #
Now that I have a KitchenAid, I can make this!
Comment by yummychunklet— March 4, 2012 #
I would love it!
Comment by RJ (Kids and Cast Iron)— March 4, 2012 #
Homemade Marshmallow Crème sounds so good. I keep telling myself one day to make marshmallows, but keep finding excuses not to do it. This is so right up my alley. Yum.
Comment by Christy— March 4, 2012 #
There are some great things that marshmallow makes and can be combined with. I know right off the bat I love s’mores with homemade marshmallow but I love the combination of chocolate caramel and marshmallow.
Comment by Maureen— March 4, 2012 #
Cool! I’ve been meaning to try marshmallows again. My first attempt at making them was a disaster.
Comment by Wendy— March 4, 2012 #
oh man. i’ve never bought the fluff stuff, but this looks amazing!
Comment by Anne M— March 4, 2012 #
I can’t wait to show this to son. He is the cook in our family now.
Comment by danLrene ©2011— March 4, 2012 #
YUM
Comment by holidaybakerman— March 4, 2012 #
Your marshmallow creme looks delicious! 🙂
Comment by Jen— March 5, 2012 #
yes! i ve never made or had fluff before… But THAT is so tempting. and plus. i loved ho hos as a child… and i love anything home made..hmmm =)
Comment by ninu— March 5, 2012 #
mmmm that looks yummm 🙂
Comment by Tina— March 5, 2012 #
I absolutely love this blog. I’m currently in the first year of law school, and seeing delicious recipes every day makes it much less painful and more bearable. keep up the fantastic work!
Comment by Amanda Newell— March 5, 2012 #
Yum!
Comment by Samantha— March 5, 2012 #
What a fun giveaway! I didn’t know much about marshmallow fluff until I moved to New England (where they used to serve Fluffernutter sandwiches in school cafeterias, according to my husband). I’d love to try to make my own Fluff.
Comment by Jessica @ cookbookhabit— March 5, 2012 #
Oh my! After Peanut Butter, Marshmallow Fluff is my most favorite food item- I must try making my own! !!
Comment by Emily— March 5, 2012 #
I always forget about marshmallow creme/fluff – how fun that you made it homemade! That is awesome 🙂
Comment by The Sundress Chef— March 5, 2012 #
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try. I won’t ever have to buy the store bought jar cream ever again!!
Comment by Jennifer— March 5, 2012 #
Yum, love marshmallows. Especially in smores.
Comment by Danielle— March 5, 2012 #
your marshmallow creme looks so good!
Comment by rachel @sweettarte— March 5, 2012 #
I never thought about making homemade marshmallow creme before. Brilliant!
Comment by Tori— March 5, 2012 #
This is no doubt a stupid question, but… What does one do with marshmallow creme (other than eat it from the jar and will it not to go straight to one’s thighs 🙂
Would you use it to frost a cake or perhaps as a dessert (with fruit to dip)?
Looks beautiful, though!
Comment by Nicole— March 5, 2012 #
You can use it to frost a cake or fill whoopie pies or sandwich cookies (you’d have to beat butter into it first though, because it’s too sticky as-is to frost with). Also it’s often used as a sundae topping or for PB&Fluff sandwiches (called Fluffernutter!). There are lots of fudge recipes that call for it, too.
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— March 5, 2012 #
I’ll totally cop to being a fan of commercial marshmallows, fluff, fluffernutters, and the like. But that doesn’t mean there’s not room in my heart for a homemade variety — or a whole slew of them.
Comment by sprite— March 5, 2012 #
nothing better than homemade marshmallows!
Comment by sarah b.— March 5, 2012 #
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I am a meringue addict (who considers marshmallows as a meringue subspecies) a love marshmallow fluff — just can’t bring myself to buy the processed kind anymore… This recipe looks perfect!
Comment by AnneHD— March 5, 2012 #
Me, Me, Me! Ive tried marshmallows several times and always fail. Id like to give it another go. My boys love them!
Comment by Laurie— March 5, 2012 #
I’ve been struggling with my desire to buy a tub of marshmallow creme- maybe I’ll make some instead!
Comment by Rosie— March 5, 2012 #
I found your blog on Daring Bakers. I love your creative recipes.
Comment by Cindy Frost— March 5, 2012 #
Love a good marshmallow cream. This I can rest assured would be better than the store bought item (by a hundred fold) and I intend to make this really soon. Found this post on Pinterest.
Comment by Stephanie Rushing— March 6, 2012 #
I am obviously a deprived person, having never, ever eaten marshmallow fluff/creme!! It looks so darn yummy tho’! Will have to make up for years of lack by making this homemade version! Thanks for posting! 🙂 Susan
Comment by Susan— March 6, 2012 #
This looks great! I have never tried making homemade marshmallows, or marshmallow fluff!!! 🙂
Comment by Stacy— March 6, 2012 #
I saw this on Sweetapolita’s instagram. It looks so fun!
Comment by Jodie— March 6, 2012 #
Despite the mess it makes, nothing is better than homemade marshmallow…anything! Great idea to use golden syrup (I always cringe a bit when I use corn syrup in a recipe).
Comment by Valerie— March 6, 2012 #
Would love a copy of this book!!
Comment by leigh reynolds— March 6, 2012 #
I just got a KitchenAid mixer as a wedding gift & I’ve been promising my self that marshmallows will be my first baking task with it so I would love to get this book!
Comment by Angie— March 6, 2012 #
I have a 6 and a 3 year old who would love a taste of homemade fluff. Looks awesome! Would love to win a copy!
Comment by Sharon— March 6, 2012 #
Please enter my name in the draw to win a copy of Marshmallow Madness! My wife and I are both on post-holiday, pre-summer diets at the moment but that can’t last forever, can it?
Comment by Carl— March 7, 2012 #
Quirk Books’ Tweet brought me here. This book is worth its visual display alone.
Comment by Annie— March 8, 2012 #