Homemade Vanilla Marshmallow Peeps! So Much Better Than the Original
Have you ever eaten one of those crazy yellow or pink colored marshmallow peeps at Easter? The kind that look like neon shots of sugar and taste like plastic? I ate them a lot when I was a kid but never really liked them. We made homemade marshmallows at home a lot and those were so much better. This year I decided to take peep-making into my own hands and attempt them myself. I didn’t have any duck cookie cutters so I went with making them into oval easter egg shapes instead. I’ve made marshmallows before so making these were surprisingly easy. After I went through the usual steps of making the marshmallow I cut them out and rolled them in sanding sugar. My daughter gave them a test run and they were a hit. I know what she’ll be expecting in her Easter basket this year!
Homemade Marshmallow Peeps
adapted from Martha Stewart
Nonstick cooking spray
¾ ounces (3 packets) unflavored gelatin
½ cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1 pinch kosher salt
2 teaspoons good quality vanilla extract
Sanding sugar
1. Spray a 9×9 baking pan with cooking spray and line it with plastic wrap, leaving overhang on each side.
2. In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment sprinkle the gelatin into ½ cup cold water and let it stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, over low heat combine the sugar, corn syrup and ¼ cup water. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil for 1 minute. Then turn the mixer to high and slowly add the syrup as the mixer whips the ingredients. Add the salt after the syrup is finished being poured and whip everything for about 12 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
3. Spread the gelatin mixture into the pan with a spatula sprayed with cooking spray until it is evenly smooth on the top. Then let the marshmallow stand for 2 hours.
4. To remove the marshmallows use egg or chick shaped cookie cutters and cut out the desired shapes. As you’ll see here, I cut out some letters! Lightly brush the marshmallows with a bit of water and roll them in the sanding sugar. Serve!
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