A Lemon Homemade Marshmallow Recipe

Marshmallows with a zing

I first spotted these lemon marshmallows on Facebook and begged the creator, Anne Boulley of Artisanne Chocolatier in Bay City Michigan, to share her homemade marshmallow recipe. I’m a texture junky and I just love the idea of fluffy pillows of mouth-tingling, tart goodness. I also can’t resist the idea of DIY marshmallows.

A brief history of marshmallow

From a scientific standpoint, there’s nothing aphrodisiac about marshmallows the way they are made today. After all, they are essentially candies made with little more than sugar and some gelatin. But once upon a time, marshmallow was made with the root of a flower called the marsh mallow.

RELATED: The aphrodisiac history of the marshmallow plant

When were marshmallows invented?

We don’t know exactly when marshmallows were invented. We also don’t know who invented marshmallows. In fact, it’s believed that as early as ancient Egypt, man was enjoying a candy made from the root of the marsh mallow.

However, marsh mallow was thought to be such a powerful healing agent and aphrodisiac that it was reserved for royalty and gods. The marshmallow the way we know it today wasn’t invented until the mid-1800s. But even then it was still made with the sap of the marsh mallow plant.

The invention of the marshmallow we know today

It is only in modern times that the candy lost its aphrodisiac ingredient. According to the National Confectioners Association, the mallow was replaced with gelatin around the end of the 1800’s. And it was a manufacturing innovation in 1948 that allows marshmallows to be distributed on a mass scale.

RELATED: Like food facts? Check out all of our food feature stories.

However, even without the aphrodisiac of marsh mallow sap, I believe that marshmallows are capable of evoking feelings of ardor. Creamy, whipped, sweet and comforting, there is no doubt that marshmallows touch us straight to the core.

How to make lemon marshmallows

This easy recipe for etherial lemon marshmallows is really a doctored version of The French Laundry’s tried and true marshmallow recipe. (We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover just how easy making marshmallows can be.) Only instead of water, you mix the gelatin with fresh lemon juice. And then you add in a kiss of zest at the end to make marshmallows with a delightfully surprising zing.

Equipment needed for this homemade marshmallow recipe

You do need one piece of special equipment to make this recipe, a hand mixer or stand mixer. (We prefer a stand mixer for making marshmallows.) But if you like baking and confection, a good stand mixer is a tool you will use over and over for many years to come.

Some tips on flavored marshmallows

Anne cautions that because of the citric acid content, the lemon marshmallows won’t get as fluffy as traditional marshmallows. (But they will have a scintillating citrus freshness). If lemon isn’t your thing, you can use the basic recipe to make marshmallows in all sorts of aphrodisiac flavors. Think chocolate, espresso, raspberry or mango.

Check out more of our favorite dessert recipes

Lemon Homemade Marshmallows

Print Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Dish Type candy

Ingredient lemon

Servings 6 -8

Author Anne Boulley

Ingredients

• 3 envelopes gelatin 1/4 oz, Knox recommended
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice chilled
• 2 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold lemon juice. Soak 10 minutes.
• While it is soaking, combine sugar, corn syrup, 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.
• Pour the boiling syrup into gelatin and mix, using an electric mixer, at high speed. Add the salt and beat for about 10 - 12 minutes.
• Add the vanilla and lemon zest. Incorporate into mixture.
• Wrap a 9x9 inch pan with plastic wrap and coat the wrap with cooking oil. Then lightly oil your hands and a spatula.
• Scrape into the pan and spread evenly. (Don't skip the plastic wrap step or the marshmallow mixture will stick and you'll have a very delicious mess!)
• After pouring marshmallow mixture into pan, take another piece of plastic wrap lightly oiled on the side which you will be placing on top of the marshmallow mixture and lightly press marshmallow mixture till flat and even into the pan.
• Let marshmallows sit up for about 2 hours.
• To remove from pan, dredge whole slab with confectioners’ sugar and cut into squares. Each time you cut or slice you will need to keep using the confectioners’ sugar and dredging each piece so they will not stick to each other and your knife.

Pin this recipe for lemon marshmallows:

Related posts

Marshmallow–the truth about these beautiful flowers Marshmallow Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Recipe Easy Lemon Soufflé Recipe Iced Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe