Ren Behan - Author Wild Honey and Rye

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Giveaway: Marshmallow Madness by Shauna Sever

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-Cover

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.

Marshmallow Madness

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!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

With many thanks to Quirk Publishing for my review copy and for the giveaway copy. Photography by Leigh Beisch.

About Ren

Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to three young children (13, 10 and 5) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications, such as Food52.com, GreatBritishChefs.com, Huff Post Food and JamieOliver.com. She holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine.

Ren’s cookbook, Wild Honey and Rye: Modern Polish Recipes, draws upon her Polish heritage and regular travels to Poland.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. 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!

    Reply

  27. Chocolate with the combination of savoury/ ie salt/nuts/chilli
    Love the book! could almost lick the cover 🙂

    Reply

  61. 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

    Reply

  71. Strawberries, which is quite strange because I really can’t stand the fruit. Good luck to everyone 🙂 😀 x

    Reply

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