Serves a Crowd

Chocolate Swirl Cinnamon Marshmallows

by:
December 10, 2009
5
4 Ratings
Chocolate Swirl Cinnamon Marshmallows
  • Prep time 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Cook time 20 minutes
  • Makes One 9x9 square
Author Notes

I fell in love with making homemade marshmallows a couple years ago. It took only one batch to realize how easy they are to make and that most people are very surprised to learn marshmallows can be made at home (one of many reasons I like giving them as gifts). After finding a no-fail recipe in Gourmet, I've felt much more comfortable tweaking elements to create my own. These are perfect for the winter - a vanilla-infused marshmallow that's been swirled with chocolate and sealed in a cinnamon-cocoa powder coat. For the chocolate, I like to go dark (here, I used a bar with 75% cacao to offset the sweetness of the rest of the square). - notlazy.rustic. —lifeaswecookit

Test Kitchen Notes

If you've never made marshmallows you should try these -- we had a ball with this recipe! You pour hot sugar syrup into gelatin and then let the mixer work its magic, whipping up the marshmallow until it fluffs and gets bouncy. Once the marshmallow is shaped and set, you snip it into whatever size or shape marshmallows you want. For a child's treat, notlazy.rustic.'s marshmallows have an adult touch -- they're scented with chocolate and cinnamon, and not too much of either. You'll probably eat all of them plain, but you might also try dropping a few into hot chocolate. - A&M —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Chocolate Swirl Marshmallow
  • 2 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 1 cup water, divided
  • 3 packets (.25 ounces each) unflavored gelatin
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Cocoa Powder-Cinnamon Coating
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
  1. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch metal baking pan with cooking spray or oil; set aside.
  2. In mini food processor, chop chocolate 45 seconds, or until the chocolate is the size of tiny pebbles; you could also use a knife or spice grinder for this. Set aside.
  3. Place 1/2 cup water in bowl of electric mixer; sprinkle gelatin over water, distributing well. Let stand while you prepare the syrup.
  4. In medium sauce pot, combine remaining water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium; bring to a boil without stirring. Add candy thermometer; cook, without stirring, but brushing down sides with a pastry brush dipped in cold water, until the mixture registers 240° F (soft-ball stage). Let sit 1 minute.
  5. Turn electric mixer on, on low speed. Carefully pour hot sugar mixture in a stream into mixer bowl; once the mixture is incorporated, gradually increase speed to high. Beat 12-14 minutes, or until mixture is opaque and very thick. Turn mixer off. Add vanilla extract; beat 30 seconds. Add chopped chocolate and beat 15-20 seconds more, or until just melted and swirled through, but not completely combined.
  6. Immediately transfer marshmallow to the greased pan (use a greased spatula to transfer any that sticks to the bowl). Lightly wet your hands and smooth top of marshmallow. Set aside, uncovered, until firm (about 2 hours).
  7. Meanwhile, in bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and ground cinnamon.
  8. Using scissors dipped in confectioners' sugar mixture, cut marshmallow into squares, tossing in powder and dusting off excess as you go. (They will be incredibly sticky, but as soon as you toss them in the sugar-cocoa powder mixture, they will be easy to package.) Package in an airtight box or plastic gift bag that is tied very well.
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54 Reviews

Kathleen P.
Kathleen P. October 13, 2015
Would love to give these as xmas gifts! Should they be refrigerated? How long will they last?
 
Tina H.
Tina H. October 13, 2015
I've not refrigerated them and they last for a while. I always keep some for ourselves and keep them stored in the powdered sugar mixture and they seem to keep up to a month.
 
Julie
Julie December 22, 2013
I just made these and they turned out amazing! I can't wait to give them to my family for Christmas. I had my doubts, I didn't even know what a candy thermometer looked like and I'm not the best cook, but these were surprisingly easy! Thanks so much, I'm so pleased!
 
Sarah02
Sarah02 March 7, 2013
These turned out great, although at the end I stupidly dumped them out onto...an ungreased sheet of wax paper. Ugh...big mistake. I salvaged them by "cutting" off a top layer along with the paper. Still tasted good!
 
Tomina
Tomina December 2, 2012
These are pretty unbelievable! We did find that greasing the pan was not enough, and when we make the next batch, we'll use parchment paper dusted with eh sugar-cocoa powder mixture.
 
Emma H.
Emma H. May 14, 2012
I made these for Mother's Day and the whole family flipped for them. Love them. Thank you Rustic!!!
 
Mammour
Mammour May 6, 2012
Just made those and turn out great, my grandchildren must be magicians because thw marshmallows dissapeared so fast. I grated the chocolate and it melt fast. Just discovers your site 2 days ago and can wait to try many recipe, thanks!
 
AnnieMcG
AnnieMcG February 14, 2012
What a great way to add chocolate! I've just added chocolate this way to marshmallows made with Strawberry Ale and they taste wonderful. Much easier than trying to dip them in chocolate. Just to note-I use a KitchenAid 600 with a 6 quart bowl and the marshmallow is ready to pour out after around 7 minutes on the highest setting. It's no longer warm at that point. I wait until the bowl still feels a little warm. Stop the mixer, pour the shaved/minced chocolate into 4 separate piles, drop the whisk off and use it to make 2-3 twisting strokes through the marshmallow with the mixer whisk. Pouring the mixture into the pan and smoothing it is enough to make swirls, otherwise I just have chocolate marshmallows, not your beautiful swirls. Yes I have done 2 batches in a 13" x 9" pan. But not by doubling the recipe. Made one batch, poured it into the prepared pan. Easy cleanup with hot water. Second batch. poured into the pan with the first batch and smoothed out with lightly oiled plastic wrap. A hint of cinnamon in the tossing powder is just genius!
 
JulieBakes
JulieBakes January 22, 2012
I cannot wait to make these!! While I think the flavor combination sounds great, I have a sister who hates chocolate (not normal, right?!). Can I just leave out the chocolate, or should I replace it with some sugar since I'd be leaving out the chocolate?
 
Brenzo
Brenzo December 6, 2011
My second attempt at marshmallows was a resounding success! Attempt #1 left me with a sticky mess I couldn't get out of the pan (not your recipe).
This time - I rocked it! Didn't even need a third of the sugar mixture for dusting, but that means i will have more for next time.
Super pleased!!! Thanks so much.
These are gonna be my mid day treat in my coffee.
 
Judy A.
Judy A. October 27, 2011
Just made these. What a great and easy recipe. Congrats and keep the good recipes coming.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour October 25, 2011
My first attempt at marshmallows & and a knock-it-outta-the-park success! You have converted me to a homemade marshmallow maker. Thanks for an outstanding recipe.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour October 26, 2011
Addendum: As good as these are plain, they are almost transcendent when roasted. I will never go back to store marshmallows again.
 
Judy A.
Judy A. October 20, 2011
Just made these last night. They are easy and passed the kid test, meaning they disappeared quickly. Thanks for this.
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen December 21, 2010
These look really festive!
 
gigiaxline
gigiaxline December 21, 2010
Could I make a double batch at one time or would that be too much for a 4.5 qt Kitchen Aid? I would like to make a double batch to fit a 9x13 pan.
 
lifeaswecookit
lifeaswecookit December 21, 2010
ultimately, they fill the bowl pretty well and while i've never tried it, i worry that they would be too big to whip (whenever i've needed more, i make them twice, which is obviously, a bit of a pain). however, you could put pour them into a 9 x 13 as is - which i've done - they'll just be thinner marshmallows.
 
gigiaxline
gigiaxline December 22, 2010
Thank you rustic :) that's what I did and they are fine. They will just be "mini" marshmallows....and thanks for a great recipe.
 
HeviCooks
HeviCooks December 18, 2010
Is it possible to make these without a stand mixer?
 
wenditos
wenditos December 19, 2010
I made plain vanilla ones for years using a hand mixer, the first couple times was with a cheap mixer and I sorta burned the motor. But the new one was a bit hardier and did fine. The only difference I have noticed is that it takes longer with a hand. I am thinking your marshmallow mix may cool off a bit more than with a stand and so when you mix the chocolate in it may not all melt. I think I would really grind up the chocolate before hand like in a magic bullet. I have to admit though I liked the chunks of chocolate in it and so this year I actually made some I called rocky road that had some sliced almonds and then the chocolate swirled in but in bigger chunks so it didn't all melt, it was GOOD!

you should just try it and don't forget to change arms LOL
 
lifeaswecookit
lifeaswecookit December 19, 2010
i don't want to say it's impossible, but i've heard of many people burning out their motors trying to make marshmallows with a handmixer...and, wenditos is right, it would a be workout. if it works, i would love to hear about it.

wenditos - i love the idea of large chocolate chunks. i often make marshmallows with pieces of things and i think it's a great way to break up all that softness. i would love to try them with almonds.
 
chez_mere
chez_mere December 21, 2010
My Kitchen Aid hand mixer has done just fine the past several years I have made marshmallows. It didn't seem to get to hot either. These are so good homemade that it is definitely worth the effort to make them. I even whipped up a batch of marshmallows last night while making pizza for dinner by balancing the hand mixer on a stand of books, no hands needed.
 
lifeaswecookit
lifeaswecookit December 21, 2010
i'm glad to know they worked with a hand mixer!
 
Cookie!
Cookie! December 10, 2010
I made these last night and they are phenomenal! Turned out perfect and taste amazing -I am SO trying that chile addition for Mexican marshmallows mentioned in the comments. Thanks for the recipe!
 
LizTerry
LizTerry December 8, 2010
Hi,
I was wondering how far in advance these can be made and can they be kept in the fridge?
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames December 8, 2010
My darling sister made these last year and sent some to me, from the East Coast to the West Coast, in her annual holiday goodie box. I hoarded them. Yes, I confess. I was somehow able to resist eating them all at once. I ate the last one about a week after I received it, and it tasted great. I kept them refrigerated and tightly wrapped. I would guess that the last one was eaten about ten days after they were made. ;o)
 
LizTerry
LizTerry December 8, 2010
Thank you!
 
lifeaswecookit
lifeaswecookit December 19, 2010
i've found that while they're best the first week, they last quite a while as long as they're tightly covered. i've never put them in the fridge, but i don't know that the cold would have an adverse effect.
 
French F.
French F. November 18, 2010
I've never made marshmallows but this recipe tempts me to try.
 
wenditos
wenditos September 2, 2010
ok I have now taken this one step further and turned them into what i call "Mexican Hot Chocolate Marshmallow" I add a pinch (about a 1/4 tsp i think) of homemade chipotle pepper (you can easily use store bought or traditional red pepper powder) stir it into the ground chocolate before adding it to the marshmallow. Then follow as above.

OH, I also spray my pan with pam and then coat with the cinnamon/sugar mixture put the marshmallow in and top it with more of the sugar mixture.

Like all homemade marshmallow these are amazing roasted!!!!
 
cheese1227
cheese1227 September 1, 2010
OK. My chocolate didn't melt and it looked more like cookies and cream ice cream marshmallows. Any suggestions on what I may have done wrong?
 
wenditos
wenditos September 2, 2010
did you chop up your chocolate really fine? I use a block of chocolate and a serrated knife to make shaving a shaving like consistency.
 
cheese1227
cheese1227 September 2, 2010
Used a mini shopper and it was 99% very small as suggested. I picked out the bigger bits.
 
wenditos
wenditos September 2, 2010
gosh then i don't really know, mine melts every time. Are you using a hand mixer or a stand? I know when I use to use a hand mixer it took about 3x as long to get the job done (this is also how I blew the motor in 2 hand mixers lol)