Pink Peppermint Marshmallow Clouds Recipes

PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOW SNOWMEN

Steps:

• Dust an 11-by-15-inch baking dish liberally with confectioners' sugar. Pour 1/2 cup cool water into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and sprinkle the gelatin over.
• Meanwhile, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook, swirling the pan occasionally without stirring, until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer, 6 to 7 minutes.
• With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the gelatin mixture. Once all of the syrup has been added, increase the speed to high and whisk until the mixture is bright white and forms very stiff peaks and the bowl has cooled and is just warm to the touch at the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the peppermint extract and mix to combine. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan, smooth the top and dust liberally with confectioners' sugar. Let sit overnight before cutting.
• When ready to assemble, combine 1 cup confectioners' sugar and the cornstarch in a small sieve. Liberally dust a work surface with some of the mixture and unmold the marshmallow slab in one piece (you will need to guide it from the pan with an offset spatula and your fingers). Dust both sides of the slab well with the sugar-cornstarch mixture. Using 1-inch, 1 1/4-inch and 1 1/2-inch round cutters dipped in confectioners' sugar, cut 12 marshmallows of each size. Dust the marshmallows all over with the remaining sugar-cornstarch mixture.
• Build the snowmen on the lollipop sticks, starting with the largest diameter marshmallows. Stick a licorice candy on top of each for a hat. With scissors, cut the gummy straws in half lengthwise. Flatten the pieces with a rolling pin to make flat scarves for the snowmen and tie them on. Stick the pretzel pieces into the middle marshmallows for "arms Use the orange candies to make noses.
• Melt the semisweet chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave at 50 percent power in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Stir until completely smooth and transfer to a piping bag with a small plain tip. Pipe chocolate eyes, a mouth and buttons onto each snowman.

PINK PEPPERMINT SWIRL MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Brush bottom and sides of metal pan with some vegetable oil.
• Put 1/2 cup water in bowl of stand mixer and sprinkle gelatin over it. Stir it briefly to make sure all the gelatin is in contact with water and let it soften while making the syrup.
• Heat sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then bring to a boil over medium heat, without stirring.
• Put thermometer into syrup and continue boiling, without stirring, until it registers 240°F (soft-ball stage). Remove from heat and let stand until bubbles dissipate.
• With mixer at low speed, pour hot syrup into gelatin in a thin stream down side of bowl. Increase speed to high and beat until very thick and the mixture forms a thick ribbon when beater is lifted, about 5 minutes. Beat in peppermint.
• Quickly scoop about two-thirds of still warm marshmallow into another bowl. Add the red food coloring to the remaining one-third marshmallow and beat it to combine.
• Working quickly, fill the prepared pan with alternating dollops of the white and pink marshmallow (it will be very sticky), then swirl a knife through the mixture to marble it. Smooth the surface with dampened fingertips. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature until surface is no longer sticky and you can gently pull marshmallow away from sides of pan with your fingertips, 2 to 3 hours.
• Using a sieve, dust a cutting board with confectioners' sugar. Use a spatula to pull sides of marshmallow from edge of pan, then invert onto cutting board. Dust top with confectioners' sugar. Cut lengthwise into 8 strips, then crosswise into eighths, to form a total of 64 squares.
• Coat marshmallows, one at a time, in confectioners' sugar, shaking off excess.

PINK PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• 1. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom and 2 sides with parchment paper, and then coat the parchment with cooking spray. Set aside.
• 2. Put sugar, corn syrup and ¾ cup water in a small sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring and let the mixture come to a boil. Raise heat to medium high; cook until mixture registers 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• 3. While sugar is boiling, sprinkle gelatin over ¾ cup water in a glass or other heat proof bowl. Let stand 5 minutes to soften. Place the bowl in the microwave, and head in 20 second increments until the gelatin is dissolved. Between each zap in the microwave, whisk the mixture. You want it to be warm and liquid, with no rubbery or grainy chunks. Add a few drops (3 or 4) of food coloring to the gelatin mixture. Stir in peppermint extract; set aside.
• 4. Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Whisk gelatin mixture into sugar mixture with mixer running, gradually add to egg whites. Mix on high speed until very thick, 12 to 15 minutes. This is the best time to adjust the color. You can add drops of food coloring to the fluff while it's whipping in the mixer. Add one drop of food coloring at a time, let it integrate, and continue adding until the fluff becomes the color you want it.
• 5. Pour mixture into lined pan. Let the marshmallow stand, uncovered, at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Once firm, turn the marshmallow block out onto a well oiled cutting board. Spray your knife with cooking spray and cut into squares. If you want to make different shaped marshmallows, I recommend cutting slices of marshmallow off of the block (like slicing a ham), oiling a cookie cutter and VERY SLOWLY cutting out the shapes. If you push down too fast, the shapes come out all wonky.
• 6. Some flavor variations I have tried and recomend: Coconut: exchange extract for imitation coconut flavoring. Omit food coloring. Roll in toasted shredded coconut after marshmallows are cut. Banana: Exchange extract for imitation banana flavoring. Use yellow food coloring. Dip bottoms of cut marshmallows in chocolate, and top with a walnut, also dipped in chocolate. Citrus: Exchange extract for lemon or orange extract (NOT oil). Use corosponding food coloring. Dizzle with dark chocolate. Bailey's: Exchange extract for Irish Cream Concentrate (can be found in specialty food supply stores). Use one drop of red, yellow, and blue food coloring at a time while the mixer is running to make a light brown/cream color. Pumpkin Spice: Exchange extract for vanilla. Add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spices to the sugar before boiling. I recomend using a bigger/taller pot than usual for boiling the sugar, because for some reason the addition of spices makes the sugar bubble and foam more than usual. Omit food coloring for natural color from the spices, or add orange food coloring for festive fall marshmallows.

MERINGUE CLOUDS

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large clean dry bowl with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 more minute. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, and beat until stiff shiny peaks form, about 5 more minutes.
• Scoop 6 large mounds of meringue (3/4 cup each) onto the baking sheets, leaving space between each. Using the back of a spoon, pull up the meringue to form swoops and spikes on each mound. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake at 250 degrees F until dry and crisp, 4 to 5 hours. Let cool completely on the baking sheets. Store in an airtight container in a dry place for up to 1 week.

PINK MERINGUE CLOUDS

Steps:

• Combine everything for the cookie dough; chill while preparing meringue.
• To prepare meringue: Beat egg whites with salt in small bowl until soft mounds (not peaks) form. Gradually add sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form. (Once you get peaks that stand up, stop. You can overbeat meringue.) Fold in vanilla, vinegar, chocolate chips, and crushed candy.
• Shape dough into balls using a rounded teaspoon. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.
• Top each cookie with a rounded teaspoon of meringue. Bake at 325 for 20-25 minute.

PINK PEPPERMINT PIE

Steps:

• In saucepan, over low heat, combine marshmallows and milk. Stirring constnat, just until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.
• Remove from heat, add vanilla, salt, peppermint extract, and food coloring.
• Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from spoon.
• Beat whipping cream in chilled bowl until stiff.
• Stir peppermint mixture, and then fold into whipping cream. Pour into crust and refrigerate at least 12 hours.
• Garnish with peppermint candy just before serving.