Valentine's Day: Heart Shaped, Strawberry Flavored, Homemade Marshmallows!

I know it's only January 5th but, I always like to try my recipes before they go out to someone.  So, I tried making homemade marshmallows.  The first one's I tried were Meyer Lemon Marshmallows.  Yuck!  I personally didn't like those at all. 

Next, I tried strawberry flavored ones.  Yum, they are a winner.  I plan on giving both grandparents 8 packaged strawberry marshmallows, candy cane heart sucker (from clearanced mini candy canes), a silhouette valentine card, and maybe a silhouette framed of there sweetie pie granddaughter.  Well that what I plan to do anyhow.

On with the marshmallows.  Here is the recipe I used:

Homemade Marshmallows
.75-oz unflavored gelatin (3 envelopes of Knox gelatin)
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
(I substituted and used 1/2 cup pureed frozed strawberries)

Line 9 x 9-inch pan with plastic wrap and lightly oil it. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for about 10 minutes.
(I also don't have a Kitchenaid stand mixer, which I think is best for this job.  But, my hand held mixer did fine.)

Meanwhile, combine sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil and boil hard for 1 minute.

Pour the boiling syrup into soaked gelatin and turn on the mixer, using the whisk attachment, to high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, add in the vanilla extract beat to incorporate.

Scrape marshmallow into the prepared pan and spread evenly (Lightly greasing your hands and the spatula helps a lot here). Take another piece of lightly oiled plastic wrap and press lightly on top of the marshmallow, creating a seal. Let mixture sit for a few hours, or overnight, until cooled and firmly set.

In a shallow dish, combine equal parts cornstarch and confectioners' sugar. Remove marshmallow from pan and cut out with a small heart cookie cutter.  You need to get the deep metal cookie cutters because the marshmallow is quite thick.  I also used a pastry brush and oiled the cookie cutter about every 4th cut so, it wouldn't stick.  Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners' sugar mixture.

Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 20 large heart shaped marshmallows, depending on the size of your cookie cutter.

I Heart Hot Chocolate!

Packaged and ready to go!