Strawberry Marshmallow Hearts
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A strawberry marshmallow hearts recipe made with freeze-dried strawberries, strawberry flavoring, gelatin, and granulated sugar. Featuring a pretty pink color, these homemade strawberry marshmallows are ideal for Valentine’s Day!
Why Do I Love These Strawberry Marshmallow Hearts?
In case you haven’t noticed, I really enjoy making marshmallows. Fruity marshmallows, boozy marshmallows…there are just so many possibilities. I love the way that a few simple ingredients (basically just gelatin, sugar, corn syrup and water) can transform into these delightfully squishy confections.
My strawberry marshmallow hearts recipe works especially well Valentine’s Day, or for a bridal shower, baby shower, or wedding. (These rosewater hearts are also nice for the latter!) I’ve flavored each heart with freeze-dried strawberries and a little bit of strawberry flavoring, and added a few drops of pink gel food coloring for an extra pop of color. They’re the cutest, sweetest way to say “I love you.”
Strawberry Marshmallow Ingredients
To make strawberry marshmallow hearts, you’ll need:
- Gelatin – I test most of my recipes with powdered gelatin, such as Knox. If using leaf gelatin, see this recipe for conversions and other helpful tips.
- Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar makes the sweet marshmallow base.
- Corn Syrup – I test most of my homemade marshmallow recipes with Golden Barrel, but you can also use Light Karo Syrup. Liquid glucose will also work.
- Fine Sea Salt – Fine sea salt tempers the sweetness of the corn syrup and sugar.
- Strawberry Flavoring – I tested this recipe with LorAnn Oils strawberry flavoring. If you have some left over, you can also use it to make a strawberry Oreo pie.
- Pink Gel Food Coloring – I like Chefmaster‘s neon brite pink gel food coloring for tinting pink marshmallows.
- Freeze-Dried Strawberries – Crushed freeze-dried strawberries work best. Save the rest of the bag for a batch of strawberry muffins or to make homemade strawberry sugar.
- Sugar and Starch – Potato starch and confectioner’s sugar (icing sugar) create the powdery coating that prevents the marshmallows from sticking together. If you can’t find potato starch, you can use cornstarch instead.
How to Make Marshmallow Hearts
I usually cut my marshmallows into squares using a very sharp chef’s knife, which limits marshmallow-making to an adults-only activity. But since this recipe utilizes a cookie cutter instead, kids can definitely help to cut the marshmallow slab into hearts. In addition to cutting out the heart shapes, kids will also have fun tossing the marshmallows in the powdery coating.
Gifting Homemade Strawberry Marshmallows
Homemade marshmallows work great for gifting. For starters, while it might seem complicated, this homemade marshmallow recipe is not difficult to master—it’s easy enough that even children to help to prepare these heart-shaped homemade treats for their classmates and friends. (Because they’re free from gluten, nuts, eggs, and dairy, homemade marshmallows make a reasonably allergy-friendly classroom treat. Just double-check the packaging on all of your ingredients, and remember that most gelatins are made from fish, pork, or beef.) And marshmallows will keep well at room temperature for a month or longer, so they’re also ideal for including in care packages or shipping to out-of-town friends and family.
Kids can help to bag up their homemade marshmallows, too! I like to package mine in cello bags (these heart print bags are super sweet!) tied with a festive bow, but marshmallow-and-candy skewers would also be fun. Or place homemade marshmallows in a cute Valentine’s Day mug, along with homemade hot cocoa mix.
Strawberry Marshmallow Recipe Tips and Tricks
Choose the right flavoring and coloring. Any type of strawberry extract or flavoring oil will work (LorAnn Oils is generally my first choice), but the amount needed will depend on the strength of the brand you choose. I suggest adding the extract gradually, and tasting your marshmallow mixture along the way to make sure the strawberry flavor is strong enough, without being overpowering. And if you don’t like strawberry, you can make my heart shaped rose marshmallows instead!
Pay attention to temperature. Do not attempt this recipe without a candy thermometer. My go-to is this Taylor digital thermometer, but any good-quality candy thermometer will work. If your sugar syrup is too cold or too hot, your marshmallows will not set properly.
Use plenty of oil or cooking spray. Spray your tin, your spatula, and your knife–trust me, it will make your life so much easier. If you cover your tin of marshmallow overnight, be sure to spray the aluminum foil or clingfilm/plastic wrap you use to cover the slab. Otherwise, you’ll wake up to find your marshmallow slab stuck to the plastic, and near-impossible to remove.
Line the tin. Not enough parchment or oil, and your marshmallow will stick to the pan. Visit this recipe for a more detailed guide to lining a tin for homemade marshmallows.
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
Homemade marshmallows do not require refrigeration and will keep well at room temperature for about a month. Store in an airtight container or large sealed food storage bag.
Other Valentine’s Day recipes you might enjoy:
Champagne Marshmallows
Strawberry Peppermint Patties
Ruby Chocolate Ganache
Sparkling Rosé Chocolate Truffles
Sweet Watermelon Lollipops
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cordials
Valentine’s Day Rice Krispie Treats
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
Print
Strawberry Marshmallow Hearts
- Total Time30-40 minutes (+ overnight resting time)
- Yield1 8x8-inch slab (about 28-30 1 1/2-inch hearts) 1x
A sweet and simple homemade strawberry marshmallow recipe, cut into miniature hearts.
Ingredients
Marshmallows:
Nonstick spray, for greasing tin and knife
240 milliliters water (1 cup), divided
20 grams powdered gelatine (2 tablespoons)
400 grams granulated sugar (2 cups)
160 grams corn syrup (1/2 cup)
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon strawberry flavoring
Pink gel food coloring
15 grams freeze-dried strawberries, crushed (1/4 cup)
Coating:
50 grams potato starch* (1/3 cup)
50 grams confectioner’s sugar (1/3 cup)
Instructions
Line an 8×8-inch square tin with parchment, allowing a 1-inch overhang on all sides. Spray generously with nonstick spray.
Pour 120 milliliters (1/2 cup) water into a large mixing bowl (if using a hand mixer), or the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle gelatin evenly over the water. Set aside.
In a large, heavy-bottomed stock pot, combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, remaining water, and fine sea salt. Bring to a boil and boil, without stirring, until syrup reaches 240° F (116° C) on a candy thermometer.
Carefully pour hot syrup over gelatin. Mix on high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until mixture begins to thicken. Add strawberry flavoring and pink food coloring and continue mixing on high speed until very thick and voluminous, about 8-9 minutes more. Add crushed freeze-dried strawberries and mix on low for 15-30 seconds, or until just incorporated into the marshmallow fluff.
With an oiled rubber spatula, scrape marshmallow mixture into prepared tin.
Loosely cover with a well-oiled sheet of aluminum foil. Allow to set at room temperature until firm, at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Cutting and Coating:
In a small bowl, whisk potato starch and icing sugar.
Generously dust a large chopping board with the starch-sugar mixture. Lifting by the parchment, transfer marshmallow slab onto dusted work surface. Coat top of slab with more of the powder.
With a well-oiled metal cutter, cut the marshmallow slab into hearts.***
Toss cut marshmallows in additional powder, coating all sides evenly.
Store strawberry marshmallows in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Notes
*If you can’t find potato starch, cornstarch/cornflour makes a good substitute.
**I used heart cutters to cut my marshmallows. If you do not have a heart cutter, you can use another shape, or use a sharp, oiled knife to cut the marshmallow slab into squares instead.
- Category: Candy and Confectionery
- Method: Stovetop
These are so cute for Valentine’s Day!