Patriotic Chocolate-Covered Marshmallows

Not only are these treats delicious, but they make for an eye-catching dessert for any holiday that calls for a little red, white, and blue.

I have a few ideas for toppers below, but it’s really up to you—I have yet to bite into a marshmallow topped with something that I didn’t like, so go crazy.

Enjoy!
M

Patriotic Chocolate-Covered Marshmallows
Prep time: 1 hour, 15 min | Cook time: 30 min | Ready in: 4 hours, 45 min
Makes 24-35 marshmallows

Ingredients:

Cooking spray
3 packages unflavored gelatin (vegetarian substitutions)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
A candy thermometer
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups chocolate chips
Red, white, and blue toppers of your choice—strawberries (sliced), raspberries (halved), blueberries (halved), shaved white chocolate (I just used a bar of chocolate and a potato peeler), dried pineapple, coconut flakes, gummy candies (sliced), crushed rock candy, etc.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 of a cup of cold water with the packets of gelatin and allow to sit until gelatin forms, about 15 minutes.
In a small saucepan on medium heat, combine the sugar and a 1/2 of a cup of cold water and stir until sugar has dissolved—about 3 to 5 minutes. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil. Keep the mixture at a boil until the temperature reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.
Slowly pour sugar mixture into the bowl with the gelatin, simultaneously using a mixer on low. Gradually increase speed to high and continue whipping until the mix is very thick, about 10 to 15 minutes—imagine the consistency of pourable taffy. NOTE: A stand-up mixer is ideal for this type of recipe, but rest assured, you can do this with an electric hand mixer. I did it—it just requires a little coordination and comfortable shoes.
Add vanilla to marshmallow mixture, then whip for another 30 seconds or so until it’s completely mixed in.
Line the inside of a 9×13-inch cake pan with tin foil, then coat with cooking spray.
Pour the mixture into the cake pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula. (Spray spatula with cooking spray as needed to keep it from sticking.) Let the marshmallow sit for about 3 hours, uncovered, until completely set.
Cover a surface larger than the marshmallow slab with powdered sugar and flip the cake pan over so that marshmallow lands on the dusted surface. You have to do it quickly, and it’s going to kick up some “dust,” so just prepare yourself. (It’s all part of the fun, right?)
Cut marshmallow in whatever shapes you’d like. (It helps to continually coat the knife or cookie cutters with powdered sugar to keep them from sticking.)
Dust all sides of marshmallow pieces with powdered sugar.
Prepare toppers if needed (e.g. slice blueberries in half, dice dried pineapple, etc.).
Prepare a cake pan or plate covered with parchment paper to set chocolate-dipped marshmallows on.
Over high heat, bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low and place a bowl in the saucepan. Be sure the water doesn’t get displaced enough to spill over into the bowl.
Pour in chocolate chips.
Stir until completely melted.
Dip marshmallow into chocolate to cover about a 1/2 inch of marshmallow, then place chocolate side up on plate or cookie sheet.
Place toppers on each marshmallow.
Once all marshmallows are finished, refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes until chocolate has hardened. Store, covered in a cool spot until serving. (If you are topping these with fruit and you’re not serving them right away, store in the refrigerator—I actually prefer them refrigerated because it keeps the chocolate hard.)

TIP: Some brands of chocolate harden faster than other, so if you’re working with a slow-to-harden chocolate and are having a hard time getting your toppers to stick right away, put the chocolate-covered marshmallows in the fridge for a few minutes to get the setting process going, then put the toppers on. That way they’ll stick better. Then refrigerate again until chocolate has hardened.

Also, here are some more marshmallow tips for ya!

Here are some ideas for fun arrangements and presentation:
Throwing a small-ish gathering? Box some up ahead of time to send guests home with.