If you've never had homemade marshmallows, you are truly missing out. They are nothing like the store bought ones. Homemade marshmallows are soft and fluffy and delicious. They are also surprisingly easy to make and make great gifts! Wrap them in clear cellophane bags and give them out to loved ones on Valentine's Day.



Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Liquid or gel food coloring
Confectioners' sugar, sifted, for dusting the marshmallows

Directions:
1. Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper, making sure to leave an overhang on all sides.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and with the mixer on high, slowly pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes.
3. Spread marshmallow mixture evenly into pan. Squeeze a few drops of food coloring into the pan and swirl around using a wooden skewer. You will have to work fast at this point and swirl the food coloring before the marshmallow sets. This will give you a "swirl" marshmallow. If you want to tint the entire marshmallow, then add the food coloring during step 2 after the mixture has been in the mixer for a few minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight.
4. Carefully remove marshmallow from pan. Remove all plastic wrap and/or parchment paper. Lightly dust the top of marshmallow slab with confectioner's sugar and cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sharp knife. A pizza cutter also works very well. If you find that the knife is sticking to the marshmallow, you can spray it with non-stick cooking spray OR dust it with confectioner's sugar. After marshmallows are cut, lightly dust the entire marshmallow with confectioner's sugar to keep from sticking. Store in an airtight container.