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Whip up these fluffy cotton candy marshmallows at home and bring the fair experience straight to your kitchen. With their soft pink color and sweet carnival taste, these cloud-like treats will take you back to childhood. They're perfect for parties or weekend fun with the kids.
I came up with these marshmallows for my kid's birthday celebration. The way the children smiled when they tasted these puffy goodies made the work totally worth it. These days they're the most asked-for treat at sleepovers and celebrations.
Ingredients
- Water: split into two parts - one for the gelatin and one for the sugar mix
- Granulated sugar: gives the main sweetness and helps get the right bounce
- Corn syrup: stops sugar crystals forming and adds that stretchy bite
- Salt: brings out all the tastes and cuts through the sweetness
- Unflavored gelatin: the key ingredient that makes everything hold together
- Vanilla extract: adds richness to the overall taste
- Cotton candy flavoring: gives you that real fairground feeling
- Pink food coloring: creates that familiar cotton candy look
- Powdered sugar: keeps things from getting sticky and makes them look pretty
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Bloom The Gelatin:
- Put gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl and leave it alone for 5 minutes. It'll soak up the water and get really thick, kind of like applesauce. Don't rush this part - it's super important for getting the right texture.
- Prepare The Sugar Syrup:
- Mix the other 1/4 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a medium pot. Warm it over medium heat, stirring gently until all the sugar melts. When it starts bubbling, stop stirring and let it cook until it hits exactly 240°F (soft ball stage). This usually takes about 7-10 minutes but might be different on your stove.
- Dissolve The Bloomed Gelatin:
- While your syrup cooks, quickly warm up the bloomed gelatin in the microwave for just 10-15 seconds until it turns liquid. Don't go too long or it won't work right. The gelatin should be warm and totally smooth with no lumps.
- Whip To Perfection:
- Slowly pour the hot sugar mix into the melted gelatin while mixing on low. Once it's all in, turn the speed up to high and keep mixing for 10-15 minutes. You'll see it change completely - getting way bigger, thick, shiny, and bright white.
- Add Flavoring And Color:
- Put in the vanilla, cotton candy flavoring, and pink food coloring. Mix until everything blends together with no color streaks. It should be a nice light pink all the way through and smell just like cotton candy.
- Set The Marshmallows:
- Scoop all that fluffy marshmallow stuff into a greased 9x9 inch pan and smooth the top flat. Let them sit at room temperature for at least 6 hours, but overnight works even better. They need this time to set up and get the right feel.
- Cut And Finish:
- Cover the top with lots of powdered sugar. Flip the whole thing onto a cutting board that's also covered with powdered sugar. Cut into squares using a sharp knife that's lightly greased or has powdered sugar on it. Roll the cut marshmallows in more powdered sugar to cover all sides.
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The cotton candy flavoring really makes these treats stand out. I found this stuff at a fancy baking shop and it turned my regular homemade marshmallows from pretty good to totally amazing. My niece calls them "unicorn pillows" and always wants to make them when she comes over.
Storage Recommendations
These cotton candy treats will keep for about two weeks when stored correctly. Put them in a sealed container at room temperature with baking paper between layers so they don't stick together. Don't put marshmallows in the fridge because the dampness can ruin their texture. If you live somewhere really humid, throw a small food-safe drying packet in the container to keep them fresh.
Flavor Variations
Cotton candy is great, but this basic recipe works with other flavors too. For something fancy, try adding 1/2 teaspoon of rosewater or lavender extract with a tiny bit of purple coloring instead. If you love chocolate, mix in 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder at the end. For a fall treat, use maple extract and a bit of cinnamon to make marshmallows that go perfectly with hot apple cider.
Troubleshooting Tips
Getting marshmallows just right can be tricky sometimes. If yours turn out too soft, your sugar mix probably didn't get hot enough. Always use a good candy thermometer and keep it from touching the bottom of the pot. If your mixture gets too firm before you can spread it out, work quicker next time or have your pan ready beforehand. If your finished marshmallows are super sticky even with powdered sugar, try using half cornstarch and half powdered sugar for coating them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I make marshmallows extra fluffy?
Whip the gelatin and sugar mixture on high speed for 10-15 minutes. This traps air and makes it super fluffy.
- → What’s cotton candy flavoring, and where can I get it?
It’s an extract with that classic carnival sweetness. You can find it online or in specialty baking shops.
- → Can I pick a food coloring other than pink?
Of course! Choose any color you like, or leave it out for plain marshmallows.
- → How long does it take for marshmallows to set?
Leave them at room temperature for about 6 hours, or overnight if possible, for the best texture.
- → What’s the best way to store marshmallows?
Put them in a sealed container at room temp, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. Don’t refrigerate, as it might mess with the texture.