Peppermint Marshmallows

Yay, it's the holiday season!  I've been looking forward to this time of year so I can post a bunch of really fun holiday recipes.  Marshmallows are so fun to make, it really is like magic watching everything come together.  I decided to make peppermint marshmallows to go along with the holiday season.  This recipe may seem really complicated but as long as you have the right equipment it's so easy to make with very few ingredients. Here's how to make them:

What you'll need:

1/4 cup plain gelatin

2 cups water (one needs to be ice water)

4 cups granulated sugar

1/2-1 tsp peppermint extract (I used 2 tsps the first time and it was way too strong)

Pinch of salt

1 cup powdered sugar, plus more

Peppermint candies, crushed

**you can substitute vanilla extract for the peppermint**

In a small bowl, combine the gelatin and ice water.  Mix well and set aside.  Did you know gelatin comes from the hooves, bones and connective tissues of animals?  Well guess what.. it does.  Gross! 

In a pot, combine 1 cup of water and 4 cups of sugar.  Turn the heat to medium and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the gelatin mixture to the sugar and water, turn up the heat and stir until it comes to a boil.   Turn off the heat. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.  Let cool for 5 minutes.

Add the salt and peppermint extract.  Turn the speed to low, then gradually to medium.  You do not want hot sugar flying out at you!  After a minute or two, turn the speed to high and let it mix for 15 minutes.  It will get very thick, fluffy and white.  It's like magic!

In the meantime, prepare the dish.  I used a 9x13 glass baking dish.  Dust the bottom of the dish generously with 1/2 a cup of powdered sugar.  When the marshmallow mixture is ready, pour it into the dish.  

Spread out the top and dust the remaining powdered sugar over the top.  It looks just like snow!

Let it sit uncovered over night or for at least 8 hours.  It needs to dry out a little.

The next day, crush up some peppermint candies.  You can use a food processor if you want the candy to be crushed really fine or you can put some in a Ziploc bag and crush it with a rolling pin or mallet.  Spread the crushed candy out on a platter.

The marshmallows should come right out of the pan.  You may need to run a knife around the edges of the pan just in case.  Pour out onto a cutting board.  Cut into big cubes.  You can even cut them out with cookie cutters if you want to.  Kids would love it!  Make sure your knife or cookie cutter is dusted with powdered sugar.  The top and the bottom should be dried out but the edges should be really sticky.  Dip all the edges into the crushed peppermints.

All done!  These would make a really cute Christmas gift and they are delicious in hot chocolate!