Homemade Marshmallows

Photo: flickr user madaise

Ingredients

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preparation

Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Let stand 30 minutes.

Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small, heavy saucepan; set over low heat, and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Without stirring, cook syrup until it reaches the firm-ball stage (244 degrees). Immediately remove pan from heat.

With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.

Cover an 8- by 12-inch glass baking pan with aluminum foil, and apply non-stick vegetable spray. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Smooth with spatula sprayed with vegetable spray. Dust with confectioners' sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out.

Turn out onto a board, and using a dry hot knife, cut marshmallows into 1 1/2-inch squares, and dust with more sugar.