Marshmallow - what is it, how to make it at home

If you often watch American films or TV series, you have probably noticed that at picnics, Americans do not roast kebabs over the fire, but sweet, fluffy marshmallows.

Marshmallow, or marshmallow, is a traditional American marshmallow. In taste and texture, it is very different from the marshmallow we are used to. However, this does not prevent him from gaining popularity in our area. In recent years, Marshmallow marshmallows have become especially popular with children. Confectioners also widely use marshmallows to decorate desserts.

Today we’ll talk about what marshmallows are, how they differ from classic marshmallows and how you can use them.

What is marshmallow

First, let's figure out what Marshmallow marshmallows are and who invented them.

In general, often when translating the word “marshmallow” into Russian, the translator gives “marshmallow”, and vice versa. This is not entirely correct, since these are completely different desserts. In fact, "marshmallow" is "marshmallow" and "zephyr" is "zephyr." This is how many people constantly confuse these desserts due to incorrect translation.

Basic composition and scope of application

Classic marshmallows contain water, sugar, gelatin and corn syrup. The gelatin is dissolved, a syrup is boiled from water and sugar, which is then added to the gelatin. The whole mass is whipped until dense, deposited and dried. So, they turn out snow-white. If desired, marshmallows can be colored with ordinary water-based gel dyes.

The scope of application of Marshmallow marshmallows is quite wide. It can act as an independent treat, or it can serve as a decoration or filling for other desserts. Marshmallows are also often used to decorate hot drinks and alcoholic cocktails.

History of appearance

Traditional marshmallows didn't appear until the 1940s. The name of the dessert comes from the plant “marsh mallow” - medicinal marshmallow. In Ancient Egypt, sticky candies were made from marshmallow root, honey was added to them, and the whole thing was chewed as a cure for sore throats and other colds.

Over the past centuries, the marshmallow recipe has changed several times. Eventually marshmallow was replaced with gelatin. This made candy more accessible. Thus, in the middle of the last century, Marshmallow marshmallows gained incredible popularity among American children.

Benefits and harms

The basic ingredients of marshmallows are sugar and gelatin. Based on their properties, the properties of finished products are determined.

Beneficial features

• Gelatin is good for cartilage and joints
• Collagen contained in gelatin strengthens the structure of hair and nails
• Reduces stress levels and improves brain function

Harmful properties

• Large amounts of sugar have a negative impact on the body
• Increases blood sugar levels
• When consumed in large quantities it leads to obesity

Contraindications

• Diabetes
• Impaired carbohydrate metabolism
• Allergy or individual intolerance to components

How is it different from marshmallows?

Despite their similar appearance, marshmallows and marshmallows are completely different desserts. They have different composition, texture and taste.

The marshmallow base is applesauce and egg white. Marshmallows are based on water or fruit juice. Agar-agar or pectin acts as a gelling agent for marshmallows, and gelatin for marshmallows. Marshmallows may be a vegan dessert, marshmallows are not.

The structure of marshmallows is soft, loose and quite dense. With light pressure it slowly returns to its original shape, with strong pressure it crumbles and breaks. Zephyr does not stretch and has almost no spring. Marshmallow marshmallows are light and airy. They stretch easily, spring well and quickly return to their original shape. When broken, they tear and do not crumble.

The taste of marshmallow is dominated by a bright berry or fruit note. It is quite heavy in weight. Marshmallows have a bright vanilla flavor. These marshmallows are very light.

You can learn more about the differences between marshmallows and marshmallows in this article.

Modern assortment of marshmallows marshmallows

The rapid development of technologies related to the food industry makes it possible to create sweets of various shapes and tastes. Marshmallows in Moscow can be found from different countries of the world. We present in our store two of the most popular companies today:

• Fini is a Spanish confectionery company.
• Bulgari is a world famous Italian brand.

They deserve the championship because they try to impress consumers not only with the delicious taste of healthy sweets, but also with an interesting appearance. Companies make sweets in the shape of various fruits, objects and characters. For example, Marshmallow Penguins from Bulgari or Mini Snowmen from Fini. There are also multi-colored treats in the usual cylindrical shape - pink and yellow sticks from Bulgari. Such marshmallows can be bought in the online store “MarmeladShow.ru” at an affordable price. Everyone can order the right amount of sweets, since most often they are sold by weight.

The creamy marshmallow fluff deserves special attention, which ice cream lovers will want to buy. It is presented as a ready-made mixture in a jar. Can be used both in confectionery and for a sandwich with morning coffee.

If you live in Moscow, then buying marshmallows will not be difficult. Our store is located at the Kitay-Gorod metro station. For residents of other cities, we provide the opportunity to buy marshmallows for the fire and fluff using online ordering in the online store.

The presented dessert has a huge history and thousands of varieties. The beneficial properties of the composition allow you not only to savor pleasant delicacies, but also to receive many benefits. Marshmallows have many variations of use, both in pure form and in combination with other products to create a decoration or addition to the main dessert.

Composition and production of marshmallows

As I wrote above, classic marshmallows consist of water, sugar, gelatin and corn syrup. To enhance their aroma during cooking, vanillin or vanilla paste is added to them. On store shelves you can find both white and multi-colored marshmallows.

Instead of water, fruit or berry juices, animal or vegetable cream can be used in the production of marshmallows. They can give marshmallows not only an additional flavor note, but also a natural shade.

Corn syrup is sometimes replaced with glucose or invert syrup. Invert syrup, by the way, can be prepared at home. Such syrups extend the shelf life of finished products.

But gelatin (an animal thickener) cannot be replaced with anything. It is he who is responsible for the correct viscous texture of marshmallows. For this reason, marshmallows are not suitable for vegans.

Marshmallows also contain a large amount of sugar, which is not recommended to be reduced. In this recipe, it acts not only as a sweetener, but also as a stabilizer and preservative.

After depositing and drying, the products are quite sticky. Therefore, they are rolled in powdered sugar or a mixture of powder and cornstarch. This way they don’t stick together and don’t stick to your hands.

For those who count calories, I will give a table of KBJU per 100 grams. for classic marshmallows☺

Useful properties of marshmallow

Experts advise eating marshmallows for everyone who works a lot, both physically and mentally. It is often included in the diet of athletes and people who cannot gain weight for a long time.

The main benefits of marshmallow:

1. It quickly saturates the body with energy, as it contains a lot of simple carbohydrates, so it is suitable for snacking during working hours, when it is not possible to have a full lunch.
2. Takes part in the restoration of cartilage and joints - this process is ensured by gelatin, which marshmallow contains quite a lot. That is why it is recommended to delight a person with fractures, dislocations or bruises with sweets.
3. Strengthens nails and hair - this happens thanks to collagen.
4. Strengthens the heart, optimizes the functioning of the central nervous system and internal organs of a person - the delicacy contains a lot of lipids and useful minerals that improve the health of the body, elevate mood and help eliminate depression.
5. Optimizes the functioning of the thyroid gland, reduces the likelihood of developing malignant tumors in the body. Not all types of marshmallow have this property, but only those that contain agar-agar. The product made on agar-agar is rich in chemical elements such as selenium and iodine, which have a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland and other internal organs of a person.
6. Removes toxins and waste from the body, rejuvenates and tones - provided that the composition contains black currants, rich in natural pectin.

A simple recipe for making marshmallows at home (with video)

Marshmallows are very easy to make at home. To prepare it, you need a powerful mixer (from 450W) and a thick-bottomed bowl for cooking the syrup. In general, I am sharing with you a simple recipe for marshmallows.

Ingredients for gelatin base:

• Gelatin – 10 gr.
• Water – 50-60 gr.

Ingredients for syrup:

• Water – 50 gr.
• Sugar – 200 gr.
• Glucose/invert/corn syrup – 40 gr.

If you decide to use glucose syrup, you need to purchase it from a specialized confectionery store. Glucose from the pharmacy will not work

Additionally:

• Vanilla sugar/vanilla paste (for flavor)
• Vegetable oil (to lubricate the surface)
• Powdered sugar + cornstarch (for dusting)

The marshmallow mass is very sticky. Therefore, the surface on which the marshmallows will be formed and dried must be greased with a thin layer of vegetable oil and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Process for making marshmallows:

1. Combine water with gelatin and leave for a while. The exact swelling time is indicated on the packaging of your gelatin.
2. In a thick-bottomed saucepan, combine water, sugar, syrup and bring to a boil. Boil the mixture for 2 minutes, then cool for 2 minutes.
3. Dissolve the swollen gelatin in the microwave (heat, but do not boil). Beat the dissolved gelatin at low speed and slowly pour the syrup into it. Increase the beating speed to maximum and beat for 5-7 minutes (time depends on the power of the mixer and the amount of mass). At the same stage, you can add vanilla to the marshmallows.
4. Transfer the whipped mixture into a pastry bag. Place marshmallows onto a surface greased with vegetable oil. Leave to dry for several hours (6-8). The exact time will depend on the size of the products and the humidity in the room.
5. When the marshmallows are dry, roll them in powdered sugar (and starch), cut into portions and package (optional). Marshmallows are ready!

To make sure your marshmallows turn out right the first time, I suggest watching the video recipe☺

Why are marshmallows roasted over a fire?

Having given the world chewing candies, the Americans also offered the most interesting and fun way to consume them. We are talking about roasting over a fire. The dessert is sold ready-to-eat and does not require any heat treatment, but when fried it gives a special taste.

Children, on the other hand, love the visual effects when frying the marshmallow: it suddenly swells and turns into a two-layer delicacy: in the middle it becomes airy and viscous, and on the outside it forms a fried and crispy caramel layer.

To fry a delicacy over a fire, all you need is long wooden sticks. They put candies on them and hold them over the fire. As soon as the sweetness changes its appearance, you need to remove it from the fire so that it does not char.

For roasting over a fire, it is better to use large-sized candies, since small “marshmallows” are easier to spoil if left over the fire. In the USA, there is a delicious and simple method of eating marshmallows near a fire. Melted marshmallows are placed between two crackers and sweetened with chocolate. This sandwich is filling and delicious. Children are interested in preparing it themselves.

How to properly store marshmallows

Marshmallow contains a large amount of sugar and syrup, which are excellent preservatives. Therefore, marshmallows are stored for quite a long time.

Optimal storage conditions for marshmallows:

• Storage at room temperature (+14…+18°C)
• Room humidity should not exceed 75%
• Marshmallows should be stored in an airtight container (plastic container, closed bag)
• Do not store marshmallows in areas exposed to direct sunlight.
• The storage location should be dark, dry and cool

The shelf life of store-bought and homemade marshmallows varies. Marshmallows from the store in unopened packaging can be stored for up to 1 year. This is due to the large number of preservatives. Once the package is opened, marshmallows will last up to 1 week.

Homemade marshmallows typically last up to 5 days. When using glucose or invert syrup, the shelf life of marshmallows increases to 2 weeks. The main thing is to comply with storage conditions.

Marshmallow is a universal product. It can be consumed on its own, or can be used as a base for more complex desserts. Moreover, these fluffy marshmallows can be easily prepared at home. So if you are not yet familiar with marshmallows, I recommend taking a closer look at it. I'm sure you'll find interesting uses for these marshmallows.

Marshmallow: benefits, harm, preparation

Composition and beneficial properties of marshmallow. What are the contraindications to eating treats? How do you eat marshmallow and what recipes using it can be implemented in your home kitchen?

Marshmallow is a type of marshmallow that looks and tastes like candy and marshmallows at the same time. The natural color of the delicacy is white, but manufacturers often paint products in all the colors of the rainbow using natural or artificial dyes. In Russia, marshmallow is usually called chewy marshmallow, although it does not contain applesauce. It can be eaten in its original form or added to various culinary dishes (desserts, salads, drinks).

Recipes for food and drinks with marshmallows

Three simple recipes for sweet dishes using chewy marshmallows:

1. Giraffe cake
   . Using a blender, grind and mix 300 g of cookies and 100 g of melted butter. Place the resulting dough in a baking dish with a high side and press down. Bake the crust for no longer than 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat 3/4 tbsp in a saucepan. cream and the same amount of milk. Without bringing it to a boil, remove the milk-cream mixture from the heat and dissolve 300 g of milk chocolate and a pinch of vanillin in it. Beat 2 chicken eggs and add them to the milk and chocolate. Spread the resulting mass over the prepared crust and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Cool the finished cake and place marshmallows on it, cut in half using scissors. Try to lay it out so that the composition resembles the patterns on the body of a giraffe. Place the finished cake in the oven for 1-2 minutes until it browns and acquires a brownish tint. The dessert is best served chilled.
2. American delicacy
   . The multi-layer dessert is prepared in a deep enough baking dish. Crumble 200 g of sugar cookies using a masher and place the resulting mass on the bottom of the mold. Place broken chocolate (100 g) on ​​top of the cookies. The final layer will be marshmallow (200 g). Bake the dessert in the oven for about 6 minutes; the delicacy will be ready when the marshmallows have a golden crust.
3. Marshmallow mastic for cake
   . Pour 200 g of chewing marshmallows with 2 tablespoons of water and cover the bowl with a lid. Place it in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. Pour 200 g of powdered sugar into the resulting mass and mix thoroughly. If it is difficult to do this with a spoon, use your hands. The mastic blank should be viscous, not stick to your hands and resemble plasticine in consistency. Divide the workpiece into several pieces and roll them into balls. Leave the mastic in the refrigerator for 40 minutes. Dust the mastic balls with powdered sugar and roll them out as thin as possible. Such layers can be laid out on the cake in patterns. If individual plates need to be held together, simply moisten them with water and they will quickly come together. It is not advisable to place mastic on top of whipped cream.