Make Ahead

Strawberry Marshmallows

by:
June 19, 2016
4.3
3 Ratings
Strawberry Marshmallows
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Makes 1 8x8-inch pan's worth
Author Notes

These pink marshmallows have the flavor and aroma of fresh berries, thanks to freeze-dried strawberries. The recipe was tested in grams, so a couple of the volume measures will seem slightly awkward. You’ll find the recipe very sleek and easy (I promise) if you use your scale on the gram setting.

Note: For best results, keep your powder dry! Freeze-dried fruit is hydroscopic—hungry for moisture that it will readily absorb from the atmosphere. Keep the package sealed with the desiccant packet inside. —Alice Medrich

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup (28g) cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg white (30 grams)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 7 grams (1 envelope) gelatin (I used Knox)
  • 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (165 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons (50g) corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (15g) freeze-dried strawberry slices, pulverized in a mortar or mini food processor and kept in a covered container until needed
Directions
  1. Mix the cornstarch and powdered sugar together.
  2. Oil an 8x8 pan and coat it liberally with some of the cornstarch mixture.
  3. Put the egg white and 1/4 water a mixer bowl. Sprinkle gelatin evenly over the surface; do not mix it in. Let set for 5 minutes to soften—the gelatin should look opaque but no longer dry. Set the bowl in a pan of hot tap water until the gelatin is melted—the mixture should look clear, no longer opaque.
  4. Meanwhile pour the 1/2 cup water, corn syrup, and salt in a small (1 quart) sauce saucepan. Pour the sugar in a mound in the center of the pan. Don’t stir; just pat the mound of sugar down to moisten any dry sugar. Cover the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the sugar looks dissolved (peek under the cover from time to time). Uncover and continue to cook without stirring until a thermometer registers 260° F.
  5. Meanwhile, attach the bowl with the melted gelatin to the mixer and attach the whisk.
  6. As soon as the syrup is at temperature, turn the mixer to high and start pouring the syrup gradually down the inside of the bowl in a thin continuous stream. Continue beating at high speed for 8 to 10 minutes, until the mixture is thick and stiff and its shiny gloss becomes a slightly dull gloss; the mixer bowl should be barely lukewarm.
  7. Turn the mixer off and set the whisk aside. Pour the strawberry powder into the bowl. Use the whisk attachment to mix/fold the powder partially into the marshmallow—just a few strokes to prevent the powder from flying around when you resume beating. Put the bowl and whisk back on the mixer and beat for a few seconds to blend the powder into the marshmallow. Scrape the marshmallow into the prepared pan and spread it even. Let set for at least 3 hours.
  8. Dust a cutting board liberally with some of the remaining starch and sugar mixture. Slide a thin spatula around the sides of the pan to detach the marshmallow. Tip the pan over the cutting board and pry the marshmallow gently from the bottom of the pan onto the cutting board. Sieve more starch and sugar over the top of the marshmallow. Cut the marshmallow into cubes and toss with the remaining starch/sugar—this is easiest to do by pouring the cubes and starch mixture back and forth between two bowls. If necessary, shake the marshmallows gently in a coarse mesh sieve to remove excess starch. Let dry for a few more hours at room temperature before storing in a sealed container.
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Alice Medrich
My career was sparked by a single bite of a chocolate truffle, made by my Paris landlady in 1972. I returned home to open this country’s first chocolate bakery and dessert shop, Cocolat, and I am often “blamed” for introducing chocolate truffles to America. Today I am the James Beard Foundation and IACP award-winning author of ten cookbooks, teach a chocolate dessert class on Craftsy.com, and work with some of the world’s best chocolate companies. In 2018, I won the IACP Award for Best Food-Focused Column (this one!).

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5 Reviews

Mallard
Mallard July 14, 2022
Have just made these and Wow! They are soft and fluffy and absolutely delicious 😋.
In the UK we tend not to use corn syrup. I used glucose syrup instead, readily available in my local supermarket. My only criticism would be the small amount 🤣 xx
 
tmorrison
tmorrison June 24, 2016
Just finished making these. Wish there had been a hint on how to get them from whisking bowl into prepared pan. After struggling with the stickiness I sprayed my offbeat spatula with cooking spray and then dusted with alittle Cocoa . Strawberries go well with chocolate , right?
 
judy
judy June 20, 2016
I am so pleased to see a recipe for marshmallow that doesn't include corn syrup. I will have to give these a try later this week. Need to get some freeze dried fruit. Although I might try them with some extract only. I have a number of natural extracts--blackberry is one. I love Marshmallows and haven't been able to eat them for a long time. I have never made them, but this recipe seems like the one to try. Thank you. They look divine! Problem is that no one eats them except me.
 
Robin
Robin June 20, 2016
This does call for corn syrup which is not necessarily bad unless you are allergic to corn. It is the altered high fructose corn syrup that should be avoided.
 
judy
judy December 18, 2018
Yes it does call for CS, but a very small amount. I wonder if Lyle's golden syrup would work as well? I have never tried marshmallows, because of the corn syrup as well. Thanks.