It’s undeniable that fluffy and sweet marshmallows are one of the best ways to cozy up your favorite beverages and desserts! And once you discover that you can make your own gut-healthy marshmallows in a matter of minutes, there will be no limit to the creations and recipes you can make with them! You won’t need to sacrifice your health for it either. Here is the most versatile and simple recipe for making healthy vanilla bean marshmallows from scratch!

Supplies

9”x13” baking dish with parchment paper
Stand mixer (or electric mixer) with whisk attachment
Measuring cups and spoons
Small saucepan
Spatula

Ingredients:

2/3 cup water (divided)
2 tbsp. beef gelatin (I use grass-fed beef gelatin)
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla bean powder (or substitute for vanilla beans from half a pod, or 1 tsp. vanilla extract)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
Optional: powdered sugar for keeping the mallows from sticking together in storage

Directions

Prepare a 9”x13” dish by lining it with parchment paper.

Place a 1/3 cup of the water into your mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl. Sprinkle the beef gelatin slowly and evenly over the water. Allow to sit undisturbed for at least 5 minutes before you move on to the next steps.

In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1/3 cup of water, maple syrup, and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and let simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

homemade marshmallow recipe with pictures

Scrape the sides of the bowl of gelatin mixture, then turn your mixer on low speed (usually speed 3) for 10 seconds. Slowly pour in the hot water and syrup/sugar mixture and continue to whisk until combined (about 1 minute).

Turn the mixer off, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the vanilla extract, vanilla bean powder, and salt. Turn the mixer speed to high (usually setting 8-9), and beat continuously for around 5 minutes, or until the mixture is thick like marshmallow fluff. You’ll know it’s done when you lift the beater out of the bowl and the fluff sticks to the beater instead of sliding down or off. Be careful not to over-mix or you’ll end up with clumpy marshmallows.

Working quickly, immediately transfer marshmallow fluff mixture into the prepared parchment-lined dish, and smooth the top with a spatula. The marshmallows will begin to set up very quickly. Optionally sprinkle the top with more vanilla bean powder.

Allow to rest undisturbed on the counter for a minimum of 3-6 hours before cutting them into individual marshmallows. I usually cut them into 20 pieces (4 rows of 5). Or, you can dice them into little cubes to make mini marshmallows (makes around 160)!

You may optionally sprinkle with a thin layer of powdered sugar to prevent sticking before storing them piled in a jar, but I usually store them right in the dish that I made them in.

Cover with airtight wrap and store at room temperature for up to 5-7 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What happens if I over-mix the fluff?

If you happen to over-mix the fluff during that step, you may end up with odd or dense marshmallows. They will still be edible, but will not be the best texture. You can use those in a recipe that calls for marshmallows in a baked recipe (like on top of a casserole) to help mask the odd texture.

If needed, be sure to check every ten seconds during the end of mixing step to be sure you do not over-mix it. The fluff should stick to the beater, or just barely start to slide when the beater is lifted out of the bowl.

Do you have to store homemade beef gelatin marshmallows in the fridge?

No, you do not have to store beef gelatin marshmallows in the fridge! However, They’ll only last for around 5-7 days at room temperature. For longer storage, you can place them in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months!

How long does it take homemade marshmallows to set up?

There are many variables that have an impact on the amount of time it takes for homemade marshmallows to set up, but it usually takes anywhere from 3-6 hours at room temperature.

How to Make Toasted Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

Here are some ideas for how to toast your homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, to enhance the flavor and widen the recipe possibilities!

Roast them on a stick over campfire
Use the broil setting on your oven to toast them alone or on top of sweet pies and casseroles
Use a kitchen torch to toast them on top of drinks and desserts

Benefits of Beef Gelatin Marshmallows

There are so many benefits to making homemade marshmallows, especially these vanilla bean marshmallows with beef gelatin! These mallows are gut-healthy (due to the components of grass-fed beef gelatin), and they contain some protein to help towards your macros goals! Not to mention they don’t have any of the yucky and unhealthy ingredients that are often found in store-bought mallows.

Ways to Use Homemade Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

These scratch-made vanilla bean marshmallows are absolutely delicious in a variety of recipes! You can use them anywhere that would call for store-bought marshmallows.

Some ideas include:

S’mores recipes
Roasting them over a campfire
Enjoy them on top of my healthy hot chocolate
Eat them on their own as a ready-to-go dessert with gut health benefits
Or use a kitchen torch to turn them into toasted vanilla bean marshmallows!