It has begun. It’s officially the time to start with all of my food-making for the holidays. I’m doing a couple of test runs for holiday gifts for friends near and far and decided I would share early enough so that you all can make them up too. Today, I’m focusing on the sweetest of the sweet with these homemade vanilla bean marshmallows. These are super special because they are made with vanilla bean paste so you can see the flecks of vanilla goodness right there in the mallow. I’m so cool I shortened marshmallow to mallow. It’s what all of the homemakers are doing these days. 

It was nothing short of a miracle that I had almost every single ingredient in my house to make these. An earlier visit to the Nielsen Massey headquarters in North Chicago ensured that, but they did send me an extra bottle of Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste just in case. I did have to run to the store for corn syrup, but that’s it. You use sugar, water, corn starch, gelatin (unflavored), and salt. That’s it. A little heating up of the ingredients, and a little temperature taking with a candy thermometer (SEE Mr. Houseful, I TOLD YOU that it would come in handy someday!) and a handy dandy mixer, and you’re set. Here’s what you’ll need to do (as seen on the Nielsen Massey Site): 

Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

Even at this point, the marshmallow was divine. Too sticky to form into molded shapes, but almost a silly putty consistency until it warmed up. After setting it in a rectangle pan lined with oiled aluminum foil overnight (but you can loosen it as soon as three hours) we were presented with this beauty. A 9×13 marshmallow loaf, ready to be powdered and cut into whatever shape I saw fit. 

Naturally, I chose squares, since these will probably be making their way into very rich cups of hot chocolate (that I’ll be sharing tomorrow on the blog) for those long chilly nights that are sure to hit Chicago soon. Not like that 77-degree weather we had yesterday. IN OCTOBER. I’m not complaining, but I am. Because that weather could have been saved for a day full of Trick-Or-Treating in general. But I digress. 

Can’t you see yourself chomping into these fluffy, gooey, and richly vanilla-flavored squares of goodness? Just imagine them floating without a care in the world on top of a huge cup of hot chocolate. They’re almost too good to cover up with whipped cream, but you could add a dollop to round out the meal snack. This HAS to be the perfect way to start all of the holiday spirit building that you’ll need come Sunday. 

While searing online for that perfect gift for your honey, grab a marshmallow. While listening to Christmas Music on LiteFM, because you KNOW it’s coming – I’m pretty excited – grab a marshmallow. Roast some S’Mores on those fire pits that you want to get a bit more use out of before it gets TOO cold. FRESH MARSHMALLOWS. These can be put up against any bag of store-bought marshmallows, and I guarantee that they’ll win hands down. Why? Because YOU WILL HAVE MADE THEM! That gives you bonus points for sure.  Now, go and make them, and enjoy one or four. You deserve it.