Marshmallow World

I first tried this recipe out for a camping trip where I envisioned grown up s'mores.  We ate them with graham crackers and dark chocolate while passing a warming bottle of whiskey around the campfire.  Maybe we weren't acting so adult - a Wisconsin forest ranger had to ask us to pipe down since our tipsy voices were bothering some nearby boy scouts.  Roasting the marshmallows on a stick was a bit problematic, because they melt a bit messier than a store-bought jet-puff.  In the morning, we used these as an alternative to cream & sugar in our campfire coffee too.  At home, I like these under the broiler for a crisp top or melted in hot chocolate.  Chai flavored marshmallows would make a perfect holiday gift.  While your mixer is doing the hard work on the marshmallows, I suggest you crank up the holiday mix at the bottom of the page to help pass the time.

Chai Spiced Marshmallows
adapted from Stephen Durfee,
The French Laundry, 2000

3 envelopes of Knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold chai*
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon cinnamon

First, line a jelly roll pan with plastic wrap, letting excess wrap hang over the edges of pan.  Coat plastic wrap with cooking oil spray.  In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold chai. Soak for 10 minutes. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water* in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. Add vanilla, cardamom, & cinnamon and incorporate into mixture at medium speed until combined. Lightly oil one of your hands or a spatula. Scrape marshmallow into the plastic wrap-lined pan and spread evenly.  After pouring marshmallow mixture into the pan, use another oiled piece of plastic wrap to press mixture into the corners of pan.  Remove the top piece of plastic wrap and let marshmallows sit for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight.  Remove from pan, dredge the marshmallow slab with confectioners' sugar and cut into pieces with kitchen shears, a chef's knife, or a decorative cutter (a simple shape like a star or circle works best). Dredge each piece of marshmallow in sifted confectioners' sugar.

*After some experimenting, I prefer Tazo Chai Latte concentrate best.  You can definitely use your favorite chai tea instead - just be sure to chill it before adding to the gelatin.


** For spicier marshmallows, substitute 1/4 cup chai for the water in the sugar and corn syrup mixture.


Winter Holiday Mix

Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
Fox in the Snow - Belle & Sebastian
Mr. Mistletoe - The Magnetic Fields
Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC
Father Christmas - The Kinks
Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Cash 
My Favorite Christmas (in a hundred words or less) - Of Montreal
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Jackson 5
Warm Love - Van Morrison
Last Christmas - Wham
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
O Holy Night - Sufjan Stevens
River - Joni Mitchell
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
Winterlong - Pixies
Santa's Beard - They Might Be Giants

and my all time favorite: