Ooey, Gooey and Outrageously Decadent!

16 years ago

I ventured into candy making today. I had fun, well sort of had fun. Dipping the marshmallows in boiling chocolate is nerve-racking to say the least. But I managed without burning myself or making too big of a mess in my kitchen!

I caught the end of Iron Chef last week and one of the desserts was candied marshmallows and the judges seemed very pleased with it. So I decided to make some homemade marshmallows which was so much fun and so easy. Then of course I had to take it a few steps further and dip each one in Semi-Sweet Chocolate or White Chocolate. Then I decided to tart them up a bit with confections, nuts, red hots and even mini M&Ms. Then it starting getting out of control with chocolate swirls and then I decided to take them completely over the top and added some large, gold dragees!!

My carpenter was here building our living room fireplace mantle and surround and of course he gets a few of anything I am making. He said came into my kitchen and said "Forget the TV cooking show, just film here!" Such a sweet comment and one I will not forget.

IÂm not sure I will do candy making again. It was fun but I prefer my cookies, bread and cake. I just canÂt seem to get too far away from an ovenÂLOL!! However, I am going to make some chocolate covered apricots and soon too!

Michelle

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Comments (38)

User
16 years ago
Wow! Those are fabulous - Do they taste as good as they look?!
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Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Those look down right amazing!
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wizardnm
16 years ago
I can tell you had fun! They look yummy and decadent is a good word.

Nice job Michelle.

Nancy
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doucanoe
16 years ago
Allright, Michelle.....You are an Iron Chef in
cognito, aren't you? (one word or two...incognito)
Good lord, woman! You can make anything look decadent!

Love ya, girl! Wish I had your talent!

Linda
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compumom
16 years ago
Wow! I'd like a couple shipped Fedex, please! All I want to know is how you stay so slim! Dark chocolate and marshmallow, Oh be still my heart!
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lackboys3
16 years ago
Michelle, they look so delicious! Do you need a candy thermometer to make marshmallows? I've heard the homemade are so much better than anything you can buy in the store.

I second Ellen's question - how are you such a skinny mini with all those yummies in the house?????
DONNA
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traceys
16 years ago
Michelle, They're beautiful. You are so talented.

I want to make marshmallows again. Can you post your recipe and any tips or just send me yours?

Tracey
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arabellamiller
16 years ago
Oh my - those are too much! I'm getting a cavity just looking at the picture. YUM.

Don't tell my kids - they'll want to make a mess of my kitchen making those.

AM
The Dinner Chronicles
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eileenlaunonen
16 years ago
Awesome!!!!!!!!
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User
16 years ago
Those are just lovely, leave out anything with marshmallow and I am in :)
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Carol Schmertzler Siegel
16 years ago
They look so decadent, I could eat them all!
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vacuumfreak
16 years ago
Those do look good! Very well done... I can't imagine what a mess an attempt of mine would make out of those things. Nice variety as well as well... the platter is diverse and elegant looking.

I didn't know you coud make marshmallows at home!

Did you use a double boiler to melt the chocolate and then dip the marshmallows?
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granjan
16 years ago
Those are beautiful. I think it's called gilding the mallow!
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jojoco
16 years ago
Wow! Absolutely stunning and inspiring. The last time I made marshmallows was when I was about 14. I am inpired to try again.
Jo
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msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
Here is the recipe I used. There are many recipes for marshmallows on the web. But the reason I choose this recipe was because it called for a mix of rice flour and confectioner's sugar to dust over the sides of the marshmallows which I thought sounded wonderful and it worked out beautifully too.

This is a huge recipe and I would suggest making the half recipe for your first time. I wish I had.

Just the plain marshmallows are delicious. Between my carpenter and I, we must have eaten at least 10-12 of them.

Marshmallows

Half the recipe is in ()s

4 (2) gelatin envelopes
Â¾ cup (Â¼ c + 2 T) water
1 Tbs (1 Â½ tsp) vanilla extract

3 c. (1 1/2 c) sugar
Â¾ cup (Â¼ c + 2 T) water
1 Â¼ cups (Â½ c + 2 T) corn syrup
Â½ tsp (Â¼ tsp) salt

Line a 9" x 13" (8" x 8") pan and a loaf pan with parchment paper. Coat the paper with vegetable oil or non-stick spray.

Fit a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. In the mixer bowl combine the Â¾ cup of water (Â¼ c plus 2 Tbs) with vanilla extract. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid to bloom (soften).

Add the sugar, salt, corn syrup, and remaining Â¾ cup water (Â¼ c plus 2 Tbs) to a heavy saucepan.

Bring to a boil with the lid on and without stirring. When this mixture is at a boil, remove the lid and continue to cook without stirring until it reaches the soft-ball stage (234-240 F).

With the mixer at medium speed, pour all of the hot syrup slowly down the side of the bowl into the awaiting gelatin mixture. Be careful as the hot syrup is very liquid and hot at this point and some may splash out of the bowl - use a splashguard if you have one.

When all of the syrup is added, bring the mixer up to full speed.

Whip until the mixture is very fluffy and stiff, about 8-10 minutes. Pour marshmallow into the parchment-lined
pans and smooth with an oiled offset spatula if necessary. Allow the mixture to sit, uncovered at room temp for 10 to 12 hours.

Mix equal parts rice flour and confectioners sugar and sift generously over the rested marshmallow slab.

Turn the slab out onto a cutting board, peel off paper and dust with more sugar/starch mixture. Slice with a pizza cutter into desired shapes. Dip all cut edges in sugar/starch mixture and shake off excess powder.

Marshmallows will keep several weeks at room temp in an air-tight container.

FLAVOR VARIATIONS:
#1 Replace first measure of water (with which the gelatin is bloomed) with Â½ cup (Â¼ cup) fruit puree and Â½ cup (Â¼ cup) of water.
#2 Replace one third of the sugar with ground up flavored sugar candies.

My notes: The 9"by13" pan is too big for the full recipe. I would use an 8"by8" and then a loaf pan. I used the 9by13 and the marshmallows were far too thin. So I stacked one on top the other and then dipped in chocolate...no one will be the wiser. But a flat-pancake-like marshmallow just did not seem visually appealing to me.

Michelle
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sands99
16 years ago
Wow! They look amazing!
I had better close this thread before my 7 yr old sees...
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whiteorchid75
16 years ago
Amazing. I have neither the time nor the talent to do something like that right now!
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homesforsale
16 years ago
They are beautiful..:) Was it the Paula?Cat Cora episode? I caught that one..Now u have inspired me..while in Fla..I saw big ones on a stick..all covered like yours..I must make some..
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deborah_ps
16 years ago
Oh my! I love home made marshmallows and yours look like a party on a plate!
I bought some gourmet marshmallows at Sur La Table last year...Cinnamon toast. I promptly re-created them at home. And as if that weren't enough, a pan of Toasted Coconut ones were pretty tasty too. Hmmm, I bet that's where that double roll at my waistline came from!
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lucyny
16 years ago
Amazing! Wow! they look so sinful, bet they tasted that way too!!!

Lucy
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lori316
16 years ago
Oh, Michelle!

I'm thinking about adding these to my tray. Was it really messy to make? I don't know if I have the time to add one more thing, but....wow!
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traceys
16 years ago
Thanks Michelle. I made marshmallows a long time ago for my son but he prefers the ones out of the bag so I tossed the recipe. I'm going to make these for my friends. Hopefully they'll appreciate them more than my son did.

Tracey
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msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
Do they taste as good as they look?!

I tasted 1 yesterday and it really was quite good. Actually just the plain marshmallows are excellent.

Do you need a candy thermometer to make marshmallows? I've heard the homemade are so much better than anything you can buy in the store.

Yes, you do need a candy thermometer. I would not trust my own judgement for temperature. I remember trying to make fudge with my older sister when I was a kid. The water method is just not reliable and to waste so much time and have it turn into a googey mess is just too disappointing for me.

The homemade marshmallows taste different then the ones bought in a bag...much, much better!!

Did you use a double boiler to melt the chocolate and then dip the marshmallows?

Yes, it takes time to dip each marshmallow and if you melt chocolate in the microwave or on top of the stove sans double boiler, the chocolate will set up and start getting thick which would be a mess to work with.

You can make a make shift double boiler by putting a sauce pan into a large sauce pan. It works very well and I had no problems with building my own double boiler.

Was it the Paula?Cat Cora episode?

YES...and wasn't that a funny episode. I missed the beginning though and wished I had seen the entire show!

Cinnamon toast. I promptly re-created them at home. And as if that weren't enough, a pan of Toasted Coconut ones were pretty tasty too.

Deborah, could you post your marshmallow variations. I might make some more for my Cookie Baskets this year.

Was it really messy to make?

Not really too messy and anyone that knows me knows I do not like to make a mess when I'm baking or cooking. I am a very clean cook. Make sure to have a cookie sheet or pan lined with parchment close by when dipping the marshmallows in chocolate. Althought the chocolate is thick enough so it does not dribble too much. I did dribble a few drop on my kitchen floor but the pup as always was close by and licked them up in no time!

I'm working on a Do(s) and Don't(s) list for the Marshmallows and should finish it today. I will post when completed.

Michelle
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deborah_ps
16 years ago
Michelle,

With the Cinnamon Toast marshmallows I just mixed up a batch of cinnamon and sugar...like you do for toast, dusted the pan with a generous amount, poured (if that's what you'd call it :)) the marshmallow mixture over the sugar mixture, generously dusted the top with same. Let set, cut, and rolled the cut sides in the cinnamon sugar. The grand kids favorite. Well, okay mine too :)
I love coconut and did a search on the web... came up with Ina Garten's recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/images/icons/bttn_emailtoafriend.gif

Deborah
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msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
Deborah, since I posted last I've been looking around on the web for variations. OH MY....marshmallows are extremely versatile and adding any flavoring or even a fruit puree has excellent results.

You could go crazy with the variations and just about anything can be added. I found a recipe for Champagne Marshmallows which I'm thinking of making for Valentine's Day. Hmmmmm......

I hope Linda (OhioMom) does not read this post! She said she was cutting her holiday baking this year. But with just a mention of any sort of creative license will cause her to whip up a batch or 2 or maybe even 3!!! And Marshmallows are easier to make then bread!!

Michelle
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kathleen_li
16 years ago
Michelle, those look fantastic!
And when you have that cooking show in your house I want to be in the audience, forget the carpenter, unless he's cute, ie, like that pop up of that "sweet young thang" in his polo undies I get everytime I sign on here!
I wonder if they put that on this site for the ladies to buy Polo for their DH's?? I understand the candy ads, but underwear on a cooking forum???LOL
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User
16 years ago
LOL Michelle, you are an evil little temptress .... so they don't taste like those things in the plastic bags hmmmm ? Cinnamon toast ?

Maybe I will just kind of, well you know ... ummmm google a little bit :)
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msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
LOL Michelle, you are an evil little temptress

Yep and Lucy is experimenting with using a pastry bag so that we can get a nice hersey kiss shape too! Wouldn't those be cute! I was going to make some merinque cookies but I think the marshmallows would work out better.

Maybe I will just kind of, well you know ... ummmm google a little bit :)

Well, we'll see you in about 5 hours...LOl!!

This is turning into too much fun!

Michelle
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User
16 years ago
Sigh ... not today, I just found my candy thermometer in the drawer, broken !! Arghhhhh .... but I will make the Contessa's recipe (yes I looked :) and take Deb's advice with the cinnamon sugar, instead of confectioners sugar. I like the idea of cinnamon in chocolate.

The chocolate I can get from my DD, who is a chocolatier.

Darn it, my xmas cook list is growing !
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earthlydelights
16 years ago
michelle, they look delicious and being a lover of chocolate covered marshmallow, especially dark chocolate, i wouldn't have been able to stop at one!

going to have to give them a try one of these days. looking forward to seeing what you concoct next!

maryanne
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Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Here's the Link to the Toasted Coconut ones.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ina's toasted coconut marshmallows
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User
16 years ago
Well if I just had Michelle's artistic hand these might have been prettier :) ... I dipped them in dark sweet chocolate and "tried" to drizzle white chocolate on top. I sprinkled a few nuts on top of some (DS doesn't like nuts) ... I have to say they taste much better than store-bought, but I still do not like marshmallows.
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msafirstein
Original Author
16 years ago
Ohhhhhh....they look great! Love that you used shapes to cut out the marshmallows! Did the marshmallow stick to cutter at all?

Michelle
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User
16 years ago
Hi Michelle

No, I used cookie cutters and dipped them in cornstarch. I also used the cinnamon sugar instead of confectioners. I was right about the cinnamon and chocolate being good together. DH loved them :) ... the vanilla candy was a little to thick for drizzling, if I made them again I would use chocolate. I didn't dip all of them, I am sending some over to my godchild who loves marshmallows in her hot chocolate :)
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proudmamato4
16 years ago
Michelle, those are just gorgeous, and I know they would be a hit in this household!
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Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Nice looking treats Ohiomom!

I'm going to try them on Wednesday!
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azzalea
16 years ago
Wow--Just gorgeous!

(but you are warning people not to eat those dragees, right?--always iffy to use a non-edible garnish on food. if you read the container, you'll see they aren't to be eaten).
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bybfbh
16 years ago
I made these this past weekend. They were fabulous. I had quite a bit of trouble dipping them however. They got really gooey really fast. They came out to be clumps rather than cute squares. Thank goodness I had planned to "tart them up" because they looked much better afterward.

Can you give me advice as to how to go about dipping them? how firm were the marshmallows before you started? BTW, I used an 8 by 8 pan for the first batch, then an 11 by 7 pan for the second batch. I'm thinking the 13 by 9 might have been better in the end!

TIA
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Ooey, Gooey and Outrageously Decadent!

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