By Betsy Jabs
Enjoy these homemade marshmallows without guilt! You can sweeten them naturally with pure maple syrup instead of high fructose corn syrup or refined sugars.
Marshmallows!
I have NEVER seen Matt eat a marshmallow in the 17+ years we have been together. Sugary treats do not easily entice him. The lucky dog.
I’m pathetic and weak when it comes to sweets. I remember pillaging my sister’s pantry closet for something sugary only to shove a stale marshmallow into my mouth as she came in the door! When we had a gas stove I would roast marshmallows over the burner flame all year ’round – no need for a special occasion.
I’m not sure what it is about marshmallows that I love so much. Maybe it’s the light, pillowy, soft-as-clouds texture. Or the sticky innards inside that delicious and velvety exterior. Yum!
But it’s hard to love something when you feel guilty eating just one. The high fructose corn syrup, refined white sugar, and total lack of nutritional value in a marshmallow are really awful.[1] So, I found a way to make marshmallows a much more healthful treat, by eliminating the refined sugars and corn syrup that is still present even in most homemade varieties.
Homemade Marshmallows!
Pure maple syrup is the secret to sweetening these marshmallows naturally. The result is a light, sweet, fluffy marshmallow that tastes so much better than store-bought.
Even Matt likes them!
I love how simple this project is, and now I’m not racked with guilt when I want to top my hot chocolate with marshmallows (or hide in the pantry and shove them in my mouth).
Homemade Marshmallows (Sweetened Naturally)
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp. unflavored gelatin (find grass-fed gelatin here)
- ½ cup of cold water
- 1 cup pure maple syrup (find pure maple syrup here)
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract (learn how to make your own or buy it here)
- ¼ tsp. sea salt (find real sea salt)
- arrowroot flour or cornstarch for dusting (find arrowroot powder here)
Instructions
- Begin making your homemade marshmallows by greasing a 9×13 pan and dusting with arrowroot flour or cornstarch.
- Add cold water to a medium mixing bowl and sprinkle gelatin over water. Set aside.
- Add maple syrup and salt to a medium saucepan. Heat to 240° over medium-high heat. Watch pan closely so the syrup does not boil over. (Note: Be very careful not to allow any of the hot syrup to get on your skin!) When the syrup has reached 240°, remove from heat.
- With a hand mixer or stand mixer on low, slowly add syrup into the gelatin mixture by drizzling it down the side of the bowl. When ingredients are combined, add vanilla. Beat on high until mixture is light and fluffy and marshmallow sticks to beaters. (If you mix too long the marshmallow will become one big clump and will not pour into your pan.)
- Spread marshmallow mixture into your prepared pan.
- Allow the pan of marshmallow to dry (several hours or overnight), then turn out on a surface dusted with arrowroot flour or cornstarch. Cut into squares with a wet or buttered knife. Once cut, roll individual marshmallows in a little more starch to prevent sticking.
Notes and Tips
- Store your fresh homemade marshmallows in an airtight container.
- If you dislike the taste of maple syrup, these can also be made with your favorite honey. Just be sure to choose mild honey so the flavor isn’t overpowering.
- I like to use arrowroot as the starch for dusting. It is a white, flavorless, easily digestible starch (and not likely to be made from genetically modified ingredients like cornstarch). It can be found in most health food stores. Feel free to use any starch you’re comfortable with.
- You do not need a stand mixer to make this recipe, although it’s more convenient.
Skeptical about the flavor of this homemade goody? I should tell you they’re so good I had to chase Matt out of the kitchen so I could get a picture of the homemade marshmallows. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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Sources
- Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows. Accessed March 2020.
Hi Betsy and Matt: This is not a reply, but a question. Would these marshmallows stand up to dipping them in chocolate? Was thinking they would make a great Easter candy treat and be so much better than the store bought chocolate/marshmallow candy. If so, would you have any helpful or useful tips for success? I love marshmallow, but chocolate wrapped around them would even be better. Thanks
Hi Beverly. Great idea! We haven’t tried this but imagine letting them rest and dusting with arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) before dipping would work. Let us know!
you wrote “Skeptical about the flavor of this homemade goody? I should tell you they’re so good I had to chase Matt out of the kitchen so I could get a picture of the homemade marshmallows. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” are you saying if i make these i’m going to have to worry about matt ??? just kidding … i can’t wait to try them !!!!
LOL! That paragraph read differently before Matt edited the article. Maybe he WANTS us all to be afraid of him! Hahaha! 😉
Enjoy making your marshmallows! They’re decadent.
I just made a batch for Christmas gifts – need to wait for them to set overnight. Definitely need to move quickly once they’re mixed to get them into the pan, and the line between being under-mixed and over-mixed is very very thin! I think I over-mixed a tad. Clean up is yummy, though!
Yes, it’s easy to over-mix. The good news is that they’ll still turn out wonderfully, you can still cut them into nice clean shapes, and snack on any of the jagged edges you have to cut off. 🙂
These sound yummy; must try!
As for arrowroot starch, I really love Penzey’s. Well, I love Penzey’s everything (sometime do the sniff test and compare one of their cinnamons to the grocery store stuff and you’ll be sold.) They are a wonderful company, their prices are very reasonable for the high quality you get and I love their service and their way of doing business. I’ve had great success with their arrowroot and have found it to be a lot less than health food store prices.
Have you tried Honey instead of syrup? I love the syrup, but my daughter can’t have it, though she can have honey.
I haven’t tried it, but I know you can make delicious ones with honey! Just use 1 cup honey instead of 1 cup maple syrup. Have fun!
we make ours with honey and they turn out great! love homemade marshmallows!!
How can the sugar be a problem, but the gelatin not be? Has anyone tried this with vegan substitutes?
I have read about people trying to make homemade marshmallows with agar agar, but saying that the mixture doesn’t quite fluff up as it does with gelatin. Please let us know if you find an adequate substitute that works for our vegan readers too!
FYI: Those looking for less of a maple flavor/color should consider using Grade A Light Amber (aka “Fancy”). It is the syrup produced earliest in the season and has the lightest taste and color.
Thanks for adding this Sean!
Yay! Now my Girls Scout troop can roast marshmallows and I can feel like I’m still teaching them to “Respect themselves” <–one of the GS laws.
Lol! Awesome Soccy! I think they’ll really enjoy these. 🙂 You may need to give a disclaimer though…I haven’t roasted any of the homemade version, but have read they can suddenly melt if roasted too long. Just tell the girls to take them off the fire once toasted.
Sorry forgot to check box to notify me.
I have read about Rice Malt Syrup, Brown Rice Malt Syrup, or Barley Malt Syrup being good alternative sweetener choices for diabetics. They are complex carbs, and get absorbed by the bloodstream at a much slower pace than simple carbs like sugar, honey, etc. These syrups are supposed to have a nice, mild taste.
I know you can also make this recipe with agave syrup, but I have read conflicting information about whether the body treats agave any differently than regular sugar.
Hope this helps a little!
what about sugar free syrup. I am diabetic and would love a recipe for sugar free or can you tell me how much sugar there is in each marshmallow? It sounds so good and I would love to try it. Thanks for taking my question.
Will any grade maple syrup do? I have grade B.
Great question Deborah. Grade B should work fine…as long as you like maple. You will end up with a stronger maple flavor in the finished product.
Thank you, thank you, I love marshmallows, especially roasted. I haven’t had a marshmallow in years. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Yay! Let us know how it works out for you!