Patriotic Marshmallow Pops

These Patriotic Marshmallow Pops are the perfect 4th of July dessert! Use my easy homemade marshmallow recipe to create star-shaped marshmallows, then dip them in Pop Rocks candy. There’s a burst of edible poppin’ fireworks in every bite!

Celebrate the red, white, and blue this 4th of July with Patriotic Marshmallow Pops! Just follow my easy instructions to make your own homemade marshmallow (so fun and delicious!) and cut it into star shapes. Then dip the sweet, puffy stars in Pop Rocks candy, for a mini edible fireworks show in every delectable bite!

Why We Love This Patriotic Recipe

I’m a 70’s child, so Pop Rocks are simply a part of my vocabulary. I still remember introducing our daughters to this popping candy when they were young – it brought big smiles and lots of happy chatter. Needless to say, I was elated that one of my favorite childhood candies brought them so much joy! Here’s why we love these 4th of July marshmallow pops:

• Homemade marshmallows. Store-bought marshmallows are fine, but nothing beats making them yourself! They’re soft and fluffy, with a noticeably fresh flavor and texture. And they’re easy to make – I’ll guide you through the process, below.
• Pop Rocks! There’s just nothing else like this nostalgic candy. The popping texture and sound, plus fun flavors, are like no other candy. And they give awesome textural contrast to the plushy marshmallows.
• Celebratory. Red and blue Pop Rocks are perfect for star-shaped patriotic desserts, but you don’t have to stop there. You can whip up marshmallow pops for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations, and tailor the marshmallow shapes and Pop Rocks colors to match!

Is It Hard to Make Marshmallows?

Making homemade marshmallows is not difficult. I’ve included some tips lower down, but the main takeaways are to use a candy thermometer to ensure the marshmallow mixture is cooked to the correct temperature, plus a stand mixer to beat the mixture. Just follow my instructions and you’ll be rewarded with unbelievably soft, fresh marshmallows!

What You’ll Need

Here’s a look at what you’ll need to make these pops. Find the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.

• Powdered sugar – This is used to coat the inside of the baking pan so the marshmallow doesn’t stick.
• Water – This combines with the powdered gelatin to create the famous thickened texture of marshmallows.
• Gelatin – This recipe calls for packets of unflavored gelatin, found near the Jell-O at the grocery store.
• Granulated sugar – To sweeten the marshmallow.
• Corn syrup – This adds another layer of sweet flavor, plus a sticky, gooey texture.
• Salt – Just a pinch of salt contrasts with the sweetness of the marshmallow.
• Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract gives the marshmallow its familiar vanilla flavor.
• Pop Rocks – Use blue and red Pop Rocks for 4th of July celebrations.
• Sticks – You can use lollipop sticks or sturdy paper straws.

How to Make Patriotic Marshmallow Pops

Take a look at how to make these homemade 4th of July marshmallow pops below. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.

• Prepare. Spray a 9” x 13” pan with nonstick cooking spray and coat it with powdered sugar.
• Soften gelatin. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin over water. Let stand for 10 minutes to hydrate and soften.
• Make sugar syrup. Combine water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan, then heat over medium-high. Clip a candy thermometer onto the saucepan and cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 240°F. Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush, dipped in water, to wipe away any sugar crystals.

• Mix. With your stand mixer on low speed, carefully add the hot sugar syrup to the softened gelatin. Then add the vanilla and increase mixer speed to medium-high. Beat for about 8 minutes. Mixture will turn from clear to white, and be very thick and sticky.
• Cool. Spread the marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and set aside for 1 hour, until cool and firm.

• Cut. Transfer marshmallow to a sheet of parchment and use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the marshmallows.
• Add Pop Rocks. Press the cut sides of the star marshmallows into the Pop Rocks and insert sturdy paper straws or sticks to complete the pops.

Tips for Success + Variations

This is one of my favorite 4th of July desserts. Here are a few tips to help you make these homemade patriotic marshmallow pops, plus some variations!

• Use a candy thermometer. Some people can make marshmallow by touch and feel, but I am not one of those people. I rely on a candy thermometer to tell me when the sugar syrup is at just the right temperature for making perfect marshmallow. No guesswork!
• Use a stand mixer. You will need to beat the sugar syrup and gelatin for 10 minutes to create the thick, sticky marshmallow mixture. This is not an exercise workout that your arms want to take on. Trust me – use a stand mixer.
• Make the marshmallow stars ahead of time. If you want to make these a day in advance, go ahead and create the marshmallow stars and store them in a cool dry place – but wait to add the Pop Rocks until shortly before eating them. The popping candy reacts to air and moisture, and should not be applied too far in advance of eating. You can apply the Pop Rocks up to a couple of hours before serving, but the crisp popping texture will vary depending on your area’s heat and humidity.
• Change up the flavor. Vanilla flavoring is the most common when it comes to marshmallows, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to that. You can use other flavor extracts – try peppermint, mint, almond, lemon, orange, or strawberry. Peppermint swirl marshmallows are a favorite around here!
• Other shapes and colors. If you want to make poppin’ marshmallow treats for other celebratory occasions, simply change up the marshmallow shapes and use other colors/flavors of Pop Rocks.

More 4th of July Recipes

• Mojito Fruit Salad – with jicama stars!
• White Chocolate Dipped Strawberries – in red, white & blue!
• Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwiches – more stars!!
• Red Velvet Sheet Cake
• Monster Cookie Bars – use red, white & blue M&Ms!
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Watermelon Margarita
• Sangria in Rosé, Bourbon, and Blue

Patriotic Marshmallow Pops

Yield: 12

prep time: 30 minutes mins

cook time: 10 minutes mins

total time: 40 minutes mins

These Patriotic Marshmallow Pops are the perfect 4th of July dessert! Use my easy homemade marshmallow recipe to create star-shaped marshmallows, then dip them in Pop Rocks candy. There's a burst of edible poppin' fireworks in every bite!

5 Stars (1 Review)

Print

Ingredients

• powdered sugar for coating pan
• ⅔ cup water, divided
• 3 envelopes (.25 ounce each) unflavored gelatin (find this next to the Jell-O at the grocery store)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 pinch of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 packets (.33-ounce each) Pop Rocks in red and blue colors (use more or less, depending on how much you apply)
• sturdy paper straws or lollipop sticks

Instructions

• Lightly spray the inside of an 9'' x 13'' pan with nonstick cooking spray. Very generously coat the pan with powdered sugar and set aside.
• Pour ⅓ 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 ⅓ 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°F. Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush, dipped in water, to gently wipe away any sugar crystals.
• With stand mixer on low speed (do not attempt this recipe with a handheld mixture), 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 marshmallow 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. Sprinkle a little powdered sugar evenly over the top.
• Run a wet knife around the perimeter of the cooled marshmallow, then transfer the marshmallow onto a sheet of parchment paper.
• Dip a small star-shaped cookie cutter (mine measures about 1½" wide) into a shallow bowl of water and then cut the slab of marshmallow into star shapes. This is a sticky job, but it helps tremendously to dip the star cutter into the water in between cuts. Repeat this process until the whole slab of marshmallow is cut.
• To apply the Pop Rocks, only open 1 packet at a time. Press the cut sides of the star marshmallows into the Pop Rocks. Then insert sturdy paper straws (what I used) or lollipop sticks to finish them off. These are best enjoyed shortly after the Pop Rocks are applied (see Notes below).

Notes

To make in advance: You can make the marshmallow a day in advance. The Pop Rocks, however, do react to air and moisture, and should not be applied too far in advance of eating. For the optimal Pop Rocks eating enjoyment, you should be fine to apply the Pop Rocks up to a couple of hours prior to serving, but that will vary greatly depending on heat and humidity, etc. Store them in a cool dry environment until ready to eat.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 230kcal Carbohydrates: 59g Sodium: 31mg Sugar: 58g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!

© Brenda | A Farmgirl’s Dabbles

Cuisine: American

Course: 4th of July, Dessert