Here I am with another Valentine’s Day treat using homemade marshmallows. I’m just a teensy bit obsessed with the chewy white fluff, if you haven’t figured that out by now!
While I was cutting out the hearts used in the Homemade Marshmallow Conversation Hearts, a memory hit me. It was the image of our oldest daughter at the State Fair, eating chocolate dipped marshmallows on a stick. It’s an annual tradition for her that started many years ago, compliments of a confectionary that caught her eye, located under the Grandstand. Our trip to the fair each year is not complete until we see Hatti’s smile happily laced with chocolate.
These Chocolate Dipped Valentine Marshmallow Pops are just the sweetest treat. They are so fun to gift, wrapped in a small clear bag and tied with a pretty ribbon. And they would make great party favors, too. I think they even take a few years off a person when you bite into them. At least that’s what it felt like for me. There’s just something about eating candy on a stick that makes you feel like a kid again.
Ingredients
- powdered sugar, for coating pan
- 2/3 c. water, divided
- 3 (1/4 oz.) envelopes unflavored gelatin (found by the Jell-O at the grocery store)
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 1 c. light corn syrup
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 16 oz. (about 2-1/2 c.) good quality semisweet chocolate chips, finely chopped (I really like Guittard.)
- 1 T. shortening
- (or just use your favorite chocolate bark)
Preparation
Lightly spray the inside of a 9'' x 13'' pan with cooking spray. Generously coat with powdered sugar and set aside.
Pour 1/3 cup of the water into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and stir briefly to incorporate. Let stand for about 10 minutes, or until the gelatin has softened.
In a saucepan, off the heat, combine the remaining 1/3 cup of water and the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Place the pan over medium-high heat. Clip a candy thermometer on the inside of the pan, making sure it doesn’t touch the bottom. Cook the mixture without stirring until it reaches 240°. Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush, dipped in water, to gently wipe away any sugar crystals.
With your mixer on low speed, very carefully add the hot syrup to the softened gelatin. Add the vanilla and increase the speed to medium-high. The mixture will start out clear, but quickly turns very white. Beat for about 8 minutes, or until the marshmallow gets very thick and sticky, and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, in string-like pieces. This will really give your mixer a workout.
Spread the mixture into the prepared pan using a lightly oiled spatula. With wet hands, press the batter evenly into the corners of the pan. Just keep rewetting your hands to help with the stickiness. Set aside for at least 1 hour, or until the mixture is firm and cool.
Run a wet knife around the edge of the cooled pan to loosen the marshmallow. Remove the marshmallow from the pan, onto a sheet of parchment paper.
Dip your small heart-shaped cookie cutter (mine measures 1-3/8" wide by 1-3/8" tall) into a shallow bowl of water and then cut the slab of marshmallow into heart shapes. This is a sticky job, but just have patience. It’s worth it! It helps to dip the heart cutter into the water in between cuts. Repeat this process until the whole slab of marshmallow is cut.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt about 14 ounces of the chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment. Be very careful to not get the chocolate too hot. When the chocolate is almost all melted, stir by hand until it is completely smooth. Then add the remaining 2 ounces of chopped chocolate and stir again until completely smooth. This will help to cool down the chocolate. Stir in the shortening until completely incorporated. This will help to thin out the chocolate a bit. Pour chocolate into medium size glass for dipping the pops into.
Stack 2 marshmallow hearts on top of each other and press a 6" treat pop stick down through the center, stopping just before you go all the way through the other side. Repeat with remaining marshmallow hearts until all your pops are assembled.
Dip each marshmallow pop down into the chocolate, leaving just a bit of the white marshmallow showing at the end with the stick. Lift up and gently tap excess chocolate off. Press top of heart into sprinkles of your choice, or just sprinkle the whole coating of chocolate.
Set the chocolate dipped marshmallow pops upright in a glass and allow to completely set. If you're in a hurry, pop them into the refrigerator for a bit to speed up the process.
If you want to give these as gifts, place a pop in a small cellophane treat bag and tie with a ribbon. Talk about a fun gift!!
Source
Marshmallow recipe adapted from jam it, pickle it, cure it by Karen Solomon (one of my favorite books!)
I’m linking up with the following:
- Cheryl at TidyMom for I’m Lovin’ It (Dry Skin Remedy)
- Allison at Alli ‘n Son for Sweet Tooth Friday (Dark Chocolate Champagne Cupcakes)
- Lindy at Itsy Bitsy Paper for I Heart Valentines Linky Party
Love this! Gorgeous, Brenda!
Thanks, Liz!!
These are amazing! They turned out great. I hope you will link them up to my I Heart Projects Party.
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2012/01/t-shirt-wrapped-candle-holders.html
Aww, these are so adorable, and such a cute idea. I’ve been wondering what to do for Valintine’s Day treats and I think I may have found what to make
Becca recently posted..Double Chocolate Cookies
Thanks, Becca!
You make the most beautiful treats. They are lovely.
Many, many thanks to you, Christina!
No doubt it is the prettiest Valentine’s treat I have seen this season!
Thank you so much, Zee!
Oh but I love all the photographs in this post! What kid or adult wouldn’t love to have a few of these adorable looking treats!
Paula recently posted..Vintage Valentines
Thank you, dear Paula!
These are very cute! This year I’ll be single on Valentines day but I’m planning on making some foodie presents for my single friends just because I think its nice to cheer your single friends up on a day like this which can be really depressing for people on their own!
Harriet recently posted..Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
I think Valentine’s Day is for everyone!! A day to let everyone dear to us know how much they are loved. Happy Valentine’s Day, Harriet!
Just found your blog, I think through the Lasagna Soup recipe. Love this little treat, yum! Also glad to see I’m not the only person who uses the phrase “artsy-fartsy” to describe things she does
Can’t wait to see more!
Just found your blog, I think through the Lasagna Soup recipe. Love this little treat, yum! Also glad to see I’m not the only person who uses the phrase “artsy-fartsy” to describe things she does Can’t wait to see more!
Mariah recently posted..Words v. Actions
So nice to meet you, Mariah! And that phrase…comes from my mom and grandma. My husband isn’t such a fan of it.
I’ve always loved chocolate and marshmallows together and this is such a sweet presentation.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..A New Site and a Special Announcement
By 240 degrees, do you mean Fahrenheit? Us Canadians just want to make sure!
Yes, that’s correct, Arlee! Fahrenheit!
These are so cute, Brenda!
Shaina recently posted..Last-Minute Buffalo Chicken Dip Bites
Thanks, Shaina!
I am working up the courage to try marshmallows! These are beautiful, Brenda!
Thank you! With a name like “sugarbelle”, I wouldn’t think you should be lacking courage to try marshmallows, though.
Honestly, give it a shot. They are so FUN to make!
Sounds great! It will make a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.
Apfelkern recently posted..Klöppeln
Thank you!
SO cute Brenda!!
Thanks for linking up!! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2012/super-bowl-party-food-2/
Have a great Sunday!
TidyMom recently posted..I’m Lovin’ It: How I Beat Dry Skin
These are so cute!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel recently posted..Weekend Love: 2/5/2012
Thank you, Rachel!
I love these, so perfect for valentines day!
Lisa [With Style and Grace] recently posted..Orange Blossom [Birthday] Cupcakes
Wonderful…
These are the cutest things! I have never made marshmallow. Your ideas are great.
FestivePartyGirl recently posted..Party Food Ideas
Thank you so much! Making marshmallows is some of the most fun I have in the kitchen!!
I’m so glad you posted this on google +, I don’t have a clue how to use it but I did get to see your post about these! Just adorable, can’t wait to try and make some! Pinned!
Joan Hayes@chocolate and more recently posted..Hot Chocolate Muffins
Hi Joan! I’m just starting out with google + myself…I need to request a tutorial from my husband, since he uses it more. Thank you so much for sharing my post, I appreciate it.
How far in advance can these be prepared? Thank you.
Hi Lori! You could surely make these the day before serving. Or you could make the marshmallow several days prior to serving, and then just dip them the day before or the day of. The marshmallow keeps really well, but I would try to keep the chocolate fresher.
I’m kind of obsessed with homemade marshmallows myself lately – in fact I just bought another package of gelatin mix at the grocery store this morning. It kind of ruins you for store bought marshmallows!
Jen recently posted..Tomato Basil Soup
I love what you guys tend to be up too. This
sort of clever work and reporting! Keep up the great works
guys I’ve added you guys to our blogroll.
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