You might be thinking about making some of your own edible Christmas gifts this year. I know I am, which is what encouraged me to flick through a copy of Marshmallow Madness by American author Shauna Sever. If making mallows is your thing, or you’d like to try, this is a book worth investigating.
Marshmallow Madness – Dozens of Puffalicious Recipes is written by Shauna, an American baker and US TV host who also writes a blog called Piece of Cake. Shauna also runs a dessert and catering business in San Francisco and in fact, has just written her second book, Pure Vanilla. Americans work fast!
This is the kind of book that instantly puts a smile on your face. It’s totally over the top, and even has a puffy cover, but there’s no doubt that candy-making at home is the ultimate way to spend a fun day.
Mallow-making is definitely trending - there have recently been a whole host of books published, dedicated to the art of making these sugary, sticky sweets at home.
You will need a sugar or candy thermometer and an electric mixer or whisk, but apart from that and lots of sugar, the tools and ingredients are all fairly simple.
Classic Vanilla Marshmallows are made with powdered gelatin, sugar, light corn syrup (you can use golden syrup in the UK), water, salt and vanilla extract. There is also a recipe for a vegan alternative. From that basic recipe, you can go on to experiment with a whole plethora of flavours, such as Deeply Chocolate Marshmallows, Honeyed Apricot Marshmallows or even Maple-Bacon Marshmallows. My favourite recipe is for the Homemade Marshmallow Cream (it gives normal butter-cream a silkier edge) and you can use it to fill Shauna’s Lemon Dream Whoopie Pies. I’m also intrigued by the S’mores Cupcakes, which have made next week’s baking list.
There are lots of directions for the marshmallow novice, with essentially three steps to follow – the bloom, the syrup and the mallowing. The mallowing happens with the aid of an electric mixer that incorporates air.
Note: Being an American book, all measurements are in cups and ounces. I think we can just about cope with that, now.
To win one of two copies, enter via the rafflecopter giveaway tool, below. Good luck and happy mallowing!
With many thanks to Quirk Publishing for my review copy and for the giveaway copy. Photography by Leigh Beisch.
Ren Behan
Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to two young children (6 and 3) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com and about Polish food on her site www.mypolishkitchen.co.uk. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications. Ren holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine. Full Profile on Google+
This book sounds delicious! The photos look amazing too! Fingers crossed!
My favourite sweet flavour is rhubarb and custard. Terrible for your teeth but so addictive.
This book has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while, it looks so good.
Sophie x
I love any type of berry flavours, especially raspberry.
I love coconut flavoured things.
ANything banana flavoured!
I love fudge!
Bitter Lemon
Strawberries, which is quite strange because I really can’t stand the fruit. Good luck to everyone
x
I love toffee everything!
I love milk chocolate.
Against the norm I love all things coffee.
Strawberry yum!!
anything with caramel in it
honeycomb
Probably cola sweets!
I always choose strawberry.
anything to do with chocolate.
My favourite sweets is all of them, too hard to just pick one
.
I like the look of this book and i am thinking of making some homemade sweets as pressies for Christmas.
Lisa xx
Lemon, especially lemon sherberts
cola cubes or fizzy cola bottles
I love lemon flavour
I like the white midget gems – don’t know what flavour they are supposed to be but always pick them all out and leave the rest!
Caramel is my favorite. Many thanks!
Blood orange with sugar on top.
Honeyed Apricot Marshmallow sounds delicious, thanks for running a fab competition
I like foam shrimps, but I have no idea what the flavour is supposed to be
mmm I love toffee.. what a great book!
anything strawberry flavour
My favourite sweet flavour is strawberry
I`ve always loved Cola Bottles.
Simon.
I love caramel anything! Mmmmm… xx
Mint
Anything with either marshmallos or sherbet in!
aniseed
Cola
Vanilla
strawberry
Anything with chocolate for me x
banana flavoured
Aniseed or lemon
I love raspberrys
Pear Drop
I love pineapple cubes!
It has to be chocolate
Lemon for me! ^_^
Anything chocolate flavoured
Strawberry for me
xoxo
strawberry
mint
Strawberry – like strawberry bonbons
Raspberry or sherbet would be my favourite!
Chocolate with the combination of savoury/ ie salt/nuts/chilli
Love the book! could almost lick the cover
Has to be strawberry.
Chocolate!!! Sweets is sweets, but chocolate is therapy.
has to be mint Mmmmmm
lemon
Coffee
Honey
i like sherbert lemons!
I love sherbert
I’ve always loved coffee flavoured sweets.
My favourite sweet flavour would have to be caramel! I love it! lol
x
Orange, or mint… or chocolate…
Chocolate. Anything chocolate.
i love sour lemon sweets
Marzipan!
I like really sour cherry flavour sweets!
I love rhubarb and custard flavour sweets
rose turkish delight
I love butterscotch flavour, pineapple goes very nicely too.
I love rhubarb and custards but any old fashioned hard boiled sweets are tasty!
Nut Brittle
Oh yum marshamallows are one of my all time favourites, as well as chewy sweets!
would LUV to this book – any excuse to have marshamellows!
My favourite sweet flavour is Cherry x
My favourite sweet is strawberry bonbons
I love percy pigs from Marks & Spencers – they are so tasty & made with fruit juice.
rhubarb and custard flavour is great, that sweet and tart flavour is just yummy!
Chocolate