I recently did an event publicizing my candy cookbook, and in order to lure people to me and force them to like me, I passed out samples of candies from the book. (No shame in my game.) I had samples of peanut butter cup fudge, mint chocolate chip truffles, and passion fruit marshmallows. People enjoyed the truffles and fudge, but we all know those are easy to love–they’re like the baby pandas of the candy world. The marshmallows were the hard sell, and that feedback was the most fun to receive.
A typical exchange went something like this:
[I offer a marshmallow to someone]
”Oh, I don’t really like marshmallows…well fine, I’ll just try a small one.” [loud chewing noises coupled with some lip smacking] “Oh my gosh! I never knew marshmallows could TASTE like this! I don’t even like marshmallows, but I love these!” [grabs a few more, fade out on gobbling sounds]
Behold, the power of the homemade marshmallow!
I think marshmallows have a bad rap because the ones you buy in the store are so boring. Sure, they’re great for s’mores and rice crispy treats and making marshmallow fondant, but when’s the last time you opened a marshmallow bag and dug in with relish? It just doesn’t happen.
I am here to tell you, friends, that homemade marshmallows are a different beast entirely. While store-bought ones are sproingy, spongy, and sometimes stale, homemade ones are beautifully soft, with a plush texture that sort of melts in your mouth. And while store-bought marshmallows are sweet without being very flavorful (even their chocolate game is weak!) homemade marshmallows can be packed with fruit juices, purees, spices, or extracts to your heart’s content. Making your own marshmallows is a game-changer!
So in this season of pumpkin everything, it only made sense to whip up a batch of homemade pumpkin marshmallows. These gorgeous mallows have real pumpkin puree and a bunch of pumpkin pie spices, so they taste like bouncy little bites of fall. And while you can enjoy them on their own, why would you eat plain marshmallows when you can dunk them in a thick coating of semi-sweet chocolate, and top them with orange sprinkles? I know you feel me on this one.
I’m addicted to cute-ifying things, so I used a pumpkin cookie cutter to make pumpkin-shaped mallows. Painfully literal, I know. But you can keep things simple and cut them into square or rectangles—plus that way you won’t be left with scraps that you “have” to munch on all morning. Not that I’d know anything about that. Ahem.
Having a Halloween party? How about some hot cocoa with pumpkin marshmallows on top? Use the extras to make pumpkin rice crispy treats, and your friends will really love you. Trust me, I used these to buy people’s love, and it totally worked out for me!
I’m sharing the full recipe, along with some step-by-step photos, over on Better Homes & Gardens today, so go get the recipe here, and make some marshmallow magic happen in your kitchen!
This post made me LOL. Nobody is above the powers of the homemade confection. 😀
I’m convinced candy is the most powerful force in the universe. 🙂 Thanks June!
You’re absolutely right – in the season of pumpkins, pumpkin marshies are beyond appealing… but I think I will be making the passion fruit ones as well (now to get good passion fruits! :)). And I think I’ll be getting that book at some point soon, too… 🙂
Thanks! Passion fruit is my very favorite flavor. I actually use frozen puree (Goya brand) if you have that available to you–it’s consistent and easy to find year-round.
Lol, not likely… Currently, I’m on a research trip in Eastern Europe, you don’t get ANYTHING there! But I do make my own purees and even ice-creams… all I need now, lol, is a green grocer that actually stocks passion fruit. 😀 If not here, then the neighbouring Austria might have it, though. It’s just two hours away. Yummmm… 😀
No distance is too far for passion fruit! 😉
Homemade marshmallows are like the difference between night and day! And your passion fruit version sounds HEAVENLY!
Really need some of these pumpkin marshmallows right now, though. I wanna stick one in a big ol’ mug of hot chocolate 😀
Thanks Rachael! It’s totally hot chocolate season, I think it should be a daily necessity at this point. 🙂
I totally agree!! I love making home made marshmallows. They are so so much better.
And there is no shame in ‘bribing friends’. Bribing is often my best parenting tool!
Oh my gosh, YES. What would parenting look like without bribing? I have no idea, hah.
My mind is blown right now. I had no idea you could actually put pumpkin puree IN a marshmallow. These would be freaking incredible.
Thanks Sarah! The magic of pumpkin is nearly limitless. Resistance is futile!
You’re so right. I pretty much always balk at marshmallows. Who really cares, right? I guess I’d better. I shall try some homemade marshmallows sometime in 2014. 2015, if I don’t get to it within three months. I know – I’m so committal. But you really HAVE convinced me!
The rest of the year is too hectic–I say you make homemade marshmallows a New Year’s resolution for 2015! Huzzah!
Please please please! Can I also get few of your delicious candies? 😀
I wish I could ship them to you, Medeja!
Yuummm!! These are gorgeous 🙂
Thanks so much, Sharana!
You are a professional at cute-ifying everything! I’ve been wanting to make some homemade marshmallows, but just ..haven’t. You definitely just gave me some ambition to get to it! Oh, and no one can ever resist homemade confections. No one.
Thanks Miranda! I’m def putting that on my business card next time. 🙂 And I’m sure you can definitely conquer homemade marshmallows–you can doooo it!
Shut the front door! You know how you said you have a brown butter pumpkin cake coming up? Well, I have a fall-flavor inspired marshmallow recipe coming up! You & I, we’re on the same wave-length, and I like it!! And while I shamelessly love stale, store-bought marshmallows (weirdo alert), homemade are a whole new level of good and these are just too stinkin’ cute! LOVE
Katie, have I ever told you what a genius you are?! And the fact that we’re both making the same things at the same time means I’m obviously genius adjacent? Bonus! Thanks Katie!
So how do I get on that email list notifying me of your upcoming promotional events?! Seriously, forward my email to your publicist. 🙂 I want free marshmallows! I have heard homemade marshmallows are nothing short of amazingness but I have never tried them. Knowing the way you know your way around candy, I think I could trust you to provide a solid recipe. So thank you. Confidence is everything here, I’m sure!
Oh boo, you’re local too, right?! That would have been so fun to have a meet-up! I posted about it on facebook (and maybe instagram?) but as we all know, facebook is the worst at showing content to people, so it may not have even hit your feed! I will definitely email you directly next time, I’d love to meet (and give you marshmallows)!
Seriously please do! I did see it on FB but not until after the fact, and I’ve been pretty bad about IG lately. But yes. I am local and I want to stalk you! Please email me next time! I will even pay full price for your cookbook instead of buying it on Amazon! 🙂 Although it’s on my wish list so I might end up getting it for Christmas, we’ll see!
I definitely will! We should meet up some time and get our little guys together, too!
You definitely got me wanting to try making homemade marshmallows. These look delicious!
Thanks Rosanna! You should definitely give them a try!
Mannnn, I so would have liked to have been at your event! Do you need a hype (wo)man for the next one? (Probably not since you pass out candy but WHATEVER, I’m coming.)
Also, yes to the marshmallows! I have an idea in my head I’m wanting to make happen so hard. Where are those 48-hour-long days I keep needing to happen?
You know what I need for the next one? A child wrangler who will stop kids from yoinking handfuls of samples while my back is turned. Are you up for the job? I pay in fudge and marshmallows!
Lady, I don’t know where those 48-hour days are hiding, but if I ever find them, you’ll be the first one I call!