Make delicious jack-o'-lantern marshmallows, complete with jack-o'-lantern faces.
The whimsical, or frightening, face of a jack-o'-lantern captures the spirit of Halloween. Whether it represents the thrill of being scared or of eating candy, the glowing grin of a pumpkin is irresistible.
To create a spooky Halloween treat, bring Jack's gap-tooth smile to homemade jack-o'-lantern marshmallows. Using a jack-o'-lantern cookie cutter will enable you to create perfect marshmallows and facial features.
RECIPE
Jack-o'-Lantern Marshmallows
Makes 12 marshmallows
Ingredients:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon powdered unflavored gelatin
- 3/4 cup cold water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup hot water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Confectioners' sugar, for coating
- Fine sanding sugar, for decorating
- Orange powdered food coloring
- Black powdered food coloring
Directions:
- Oil an 11-by-17-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Line the dish with lightweight aluminum foil and lightly coat the aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, soften the gelatin with cold water.
- Place the sugar, hot water and salt in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over high heat until the syrup reaches 236 to 238 degrees F., or the soft-ball stage, on a candy thermometer.
- With the mixer running on medium speed, beat the hot syrup slowly into the gelatin until the mixture is very stiff, about 18 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract. Pour the mixture into the foil-lined dish and smooth the top with an offset metal spatula coated with nonstick cooking spray. Allow the mixture to rest, uncovered, at room temperature for at least 10 to 12 hours.
- Using a fine sieve, sprinkle the confectioners' sugar onto a cutting board. Turn the stiffened marshmallow mixture out onto the cutting board.
- Using a lightly oiled 4 3/4-inch pumpkin cookie cutter, cut marshmallow mixture into shapes. Be sure to dip the cut edges of the marshmallows into confectioners' sugar to prevent sticking. Using a set of gêlée cutters or a sharp paring knife coated with nonstick cooking spray, cut facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) from the remaining marshmallow mixture, being sure to dip the cut edges of the face shapes into confectioners' sugar to prevent sticking.
- In a small mixing bowl, color sanding sugar using orange and black powdered food coloring to achieve desired shade. Sprinkle orange sanding sugar over the pumpkin shapes. Sprinkle black sanding sugar over the cut-out facial features.
- Assemble jack-o'-lantern marshmallows by placing desired facial feature cut-outs on the tops of the pumpkin marshmallows.
SOURCES
Jack-o'-Lantern Cookie Cutter Set
$6.99
877-812-6235
Catalog available
Gêlée cutters
Available at local kitchen-supply stores
Copyright Michael Vyskocil. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Michael Vyskocil - Michael Vyskocil has been a feature writer for Recipes on Suite101.com since 2006. He currently serves as the Topic Editor for Recipes.
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