Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows

If you've never had a homemade marshmallow before, you are seriously missing out.  They are so much better than store-bought marshmallows, and you can customize them any way you want!  Yesterday, my friend Claire and I decided to try Peppermint marshmallows.  We used the regular marshmallow recipe, but added a teaspoon of peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candy canes to the top layer.  They were delicious!  They are really quite simple to make.  Here is how you do it:

 

If you want to do peppermint like we did, crush up some candy canes and spread them onto a greased 9x9 inch pan.  

In a large bowl, or in the bowl of your stand mixer, sprinkle 3 packets (.75oz) of unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water.  Allow this to dissolve for about 10 minutes.  While that's setting, mix 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cup honey, and 1/4 cup water in a pot on the stove.  Bring the mixture to a very hard boil, and then cook for one minute.  Make sure it is really boiling before you start your "one minute".  Stir frequently, and be careful- it's hot!  When that is done, pour it over the top of the gelatin/water in your mixer bowl.  

Immediately add 1/4 teaspoon salt and begin whisking on HIGH for 10 minutes (I think I usually mix on level 8 or 10 on my KitchenAid Mixer).  The mixture should be thick at 10 minutes.  Next add 1 Tablespoon Vanilla, and 1 teaspoon peppermint and mix through.  Pour the mixture into the 9x9 pan (you could at this point swirl in some red food coloring, if desired).  Let it cool/firm.  We placed ours in the fridge and it was firm in about 2 hours or so.  When it has firmed, pull the entire marshmallow out of the pan.  It should come out fairly easy when you pull on it. 

In a separate bowl, mix 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 2 Tablespoons cornstarch. Use this to coat all of the surfaces of your marshmallows (otherwise they will be sticky).   Using a pizza cutter or kitchen scissors, cut the marshmallows in to pieces.  Re-coat any newly exposed surfaces.

When they are all cut into pieces, store in a container in the fridge.  You can store them on a shelf if you will eat them quickly (my last batch lasted almost 2 weeks on the shelf).  Or, you can just enjoy then right away in your hot cocoa:

Enjoy your marshmallow making!

If you want plain vanilla marshmallows, just omit the peppermint extract.