Chocolate Marshmallows

Store bought marshmallows are okay, but a homemade marshmallows is AMAZING! Heck, the two types of marshmallows are hardly the same confection.

Every Christmas I have had intentions of making these, but I finally did.

WOW. So very easy and absolutely delicious. I love that you can make these into so many fun shapes with mini cookie cutters.

Also, leave out the chocolate for a yummy vanilla flavor, use some peppermint extract, or dip them in chocolate and sprinkle on crushed candy cane bits for variety. So many possibilites!

Also cute as a s'mores gift with some graham crackers and Hershey's bar or in a cute container with some yummy cocoa.

Recipe courtesy of Homesick Texan.

Ingredients:

3 .25 oz envelopes of unflavored gelatin

2 cups of sugar

3/4 cup of corn syrup

4 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate

2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup of powdered sugar

Water

You'll also need:

Foil

1 teaspoon canola oil or spray oil

A 9x9 baking pan

A stand mixer

A candy thermometer

Method:

Line your baking pan with foil and coat it with the oil.

In the bottom of your mixer, mix the gelatin with a 1/2 cup of water. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Melt the chocolate and then stir in the cocoa powder. Add to the gelatin and beat until combined.

In a large pot, mix together the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup of water. Insert the candy thermometer and turn the heat onto medium low. Without stirring, let the syrup cook until it reaches 248 degrees.

Remove from heat and slowly add sugar syrup to the gelatin/chocolate mixture. Add the salt, cinnamon and chipotle and mix at high speed for 10 minutes or until it’s fluffy. Add the vanilla and pour marshmallow fluff into prepared pan.

Let it set for at least four hours. Remove marshmallow slab from the pan.

Dredge it in powdered sugar. With a sharp knife, cut marshmallow into squares or you can use a cookie cutter for more whimsical shapes.

Easy Pretzel Turtles

Here is a recipe directly from the ladies over at Our Best Bites once again. This was my go-to easy recipe when I needed a sweet treat gift in a hurry this past holiday season. These are so yummy, easy to make and oh so addicting!



small pretzels
Rolo candies - one bag has about 55 candies
Pecan halves - or optionally peanuts, cashews, and m&m's
Optional: almond bark or white chocolate for drizzling

This is easy as can be! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet. I like to use parchment paper for easy handling, but you can also put them on foil, a silpat, or directly onto the cookie sheet.

Unwrap your Rolo candies and place one on top of each pretzel like a cute little hat.

Don't they look like they're just standing there waiting for an order? At least someone in my house stands at attention because heaven knows my children don't!

Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes. Any longer is probably too long. You just want the chocolate on the outside to look glossy and melty, but they should still hold their shape.

Remove pan from oven and take a pecan and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate candy.

Keep going and be filled with joy each time you feel that gooey caramel squish out underneath your fingers. It's one of life's little pleasures.

Here's where you can be creative. You don't need to stick to pecan halves. I also love cashews and peanuts (I used honey roasted peanuts here). And for kiddos and those who can't eat nuts or don't like them, M&M's make a great little topper, or those mini Hershey's kissables are cute too. I always throw a few of those in for color and because the kids like them. And if it's not Christmas time, use the colorful ones- they're adorable!

If you want to get fancy you can give them a little drizzle of almond bark or white chocolate. Just melt some in a plastic baggie and nip the corner off to drizzle. A little goes a long way; I used a half a square of almond bark for half a batch and had plenty left over.

Now definitely do yourself a favor and eat a few of these babies warm off the pan. Mmmm... Wait for the rest to cool and harden before you pack or plate them up. I pop them in the fridge because I stink at the whole patience thing.

These are so cute that I love to package them in little peep-window boxes. You can find boxes like this at craft stores like Michaels.

Or just pop them in a bowl or on a plate for a party. Either way they'll be gone fast! And just look how fancy-schmancy they look. No one has to know you whipped them up so fast :)