Name: Homemade Marshmallows
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup light (clear) corn syrup; pinch of salt; 6 tablespoons cool water; 1 packet (2 1/2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin powder; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3/4 cup powdered sugar

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

A delicious science experiment at home, Homemade Marshmallows are fun little treats that only require a thermometer for perfect results. The best part is that this is a small batch recipe, so if you’re nervous, start here!

Pile of square homemade marshmallows on a white board.

We don’t make homemade marshmallows because it’s easier than buying a bag. We make marshmallows from scratch because doing so feels like a science experiment. But also: because of the flavor!

Homemade marshmallows are bursting with real vanilla extract, while the store bought ones use synthetic or leave it out altogether to save money. The choice is yours.

If you’re intimidated on working with gelatin, start with my recipe because it’s a small batch of marshmallows! I spread the gooey batter in a bread loaf pan, and when sliced, you get 8 large marshmallows.

Horizontal image of homemade marshmallows on metal plate.

Ingredients

Bowl of corn syrup, sugar, water, and gelatin on kitchen counter.

Sugar. Three-quarters of a cup of granulated sugar. No substitutes.
Corn Syrup. One-third cup of clear (light) corn syrup. Also, not substitutes, but if you don’t like corn syrup, you should see my recipe for marshmallows without corn syrup.
Salt. The smallest pinch of salt in the sugar mixture is essential for me.
Water. We need 6 tablespoons of cool water total. We’ll use 3 tablespoons for melting the sugar and corn syrup, and another 3 tablespoons for blooming the gelatin.
Gelatin. Two and a half teaspoons of unflavored plain gelatin powder. No substitutions, and no, I do not know how to make this recipe with gelatin sheets because I don’t have those in my grocery store.
Vanilla. One-half teaspoon of vanilla extract. If you’re feeling fancy, you can scrape half of a vanilla bean for this recipe instead!
Powdered Sugar. We need roughly 3/4 cup of powdered sugar for rolling the homemade marshmallows in. Every cut or exposed edge is super sticky unless it’s rolled in powdered sugar!

Saucepan with sugar, water and red thermometer clipped to the side.

Blooming gelatin in cold water in brown bowl.

In a deep sauce pan, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 3 tablespoons of the water. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil without stirring. Clip a candy thermometer to the edge of the pan, and boil until it reaches 238-degrees Fahrenheit.

When the sugar mixture is about half-way to 238-degrees, add the remaining 3 tablespoons of water to a large bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Let sit for a few minutes without stirring. This is called ‘blooming the gelatin.’

Pouring boiling sugar into bloomed gelatin in a brown bowl.

Black hand mixer blending tan cream in bowl.

When the sugar syrup reaches 238, turn off the heat. Immediately, begin to stream it SLOWLY into the gelatin mixture while constantly beating with a hand mixer (not a stand mixer). Do not splash the syrup on the edges of the bowl, or it will harden immediately. Go slow, and take your time.

Continue beating for a full 10 minutes. It will change in color and texture! See photos for reference.

White fluff with vanilla splashed on top.

After the 10 minutes, stir in the vanilla extract, and mix until combined.

Spread the mixture into a 9 x 5″ loaf pan that has been lined with parchment paper and greased very well with either cooking spray, butter or oil. Let the mixture set uncovered for at least 3 hours.

Horizontal image of freshly cut homemade marshmallows dusted in powdered sugar.

When ready to cut, sprinkle the powdered sugar on a work surface. Dump the marshmallows out on the surface, and slice while dipping the knife in powdered sugar between cuts. Roll all of the edges of the marshmallows in the powdered sugar.

Macro image of square homemade marshmallow.

How to Store Homemade Marshmallows

For best results, store marshmallows in an air-tight container at room temperature. They will keep for 2-3 days. This is a little weird, but personally, I like when the outside edges of homemade marshmallows get a little hard after being exposed to air. It makes them taste more similar to store-bought ones. So, I leave the lid off my marshmallow for one day for the ‘skin’ to form, and then I seal them for the remaining few days.

Mug of hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows on top.

I should mention that homemade marshmallows are much softer than store-bought ones, but you will love the soft, fluffy texture. They’re more similar to a Peep, if you like those weird little Easter candies. They also melt faster in hot cocoa, just a heads up.

Yield: 8 servings