Marshmallows are one of those foods that are popular among every category of people – men, women, kids, adults. Many people consider marshmallows to be a must for every camping trip and some people use them together with hot cocoa.
In addition, this sugary food is used as a dessert and as a Thanksgiving treat. You probably know that they don’t contain any fat, but they are rich in sugar which makes them bad for our health.
An ordinary marshmallow comes with a significant amount of added sugar – 4 grams. This might not sound much to some people, but you are probably aware that people usually eat more than one marshmallow. For example, one cup of so-called mini marshmallows used as a dessert recipe or to cover hot chocolate comes with an amazing 29 grams of added sugar.
In other words, you will consume 400 calories and cross the recommended daily amount of sugar intake by 10 grams.
Excess Sugar Brings Many Health Risks
Excessive consumption of sugar boosts the calorie content and this practice can result in weight gain or even obesity. On top of that, foods packed with sugar, including marshmallows, often come with low amounts of nutrients too.
Additionally, if your diet is packed with too many sugary products, you won’t be able to consume fruits, veggies, and whole grains because you will be saturated.
According to many scientific studies, sugar is associated with a huge number of long-term health issues. As a matter of fact, consumption of added sugar in large quantities has been associated with:
- A few different types of cancer including pancreatic cancer
- Heart disease
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Teeth problems including cavities
- Food addiction
- Diabetes and insulin resistance.
A Recipe for Healthy Marshmallows
With the help of these soft homemade marshmallows that rely on honey as a sweetener, you will get the well-known flavor without the negative consequences of sugar.
In addition, these marshmallows can be prepared in two versions – coconut and chocolate. It is up to you to choose the ones that suit your needs and desires. Once you try these marshmallows you will probably forget the ones found in your store.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Half a cup of cold water
- 1 ½ tablespoons of gelatin
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- Half a cup of honey
- Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Directions:
First of all, take a loaf pan and slowly grease it. After that, use parchment paper to cover it and grease the paper.
Place ¼ cup of cold water in a medium-sized bowl and put the gelatin above the water. Leave it like that until it gets softer.
Take a small pout and put the salt, honey, and the remaining water (1/4 cup). Heat this mixture on medium heat. Wait until the mixture reaches 240 degrees with the help of a candy thermometer. Once the right temperature is reached, remove the mixture from the heat.
Take the hand mixer, set it on low, and start mixing the hot syrup and the gelatin mixture. Just pour the hot syrup slowly into the bowl. When all the ingredients are mixed well, pour the vanilla and speed up the hand mixer. Keep beating for about 15 minutes or at least until the mixture starts looking fluffy and thick.
In the end, it should get the texture of a regular fluffy marshmallow. Put this mixture in the pan and leave it (without covering the pan) for 5 to 12 hours until it gets dry. After that, just cut the mixture into squares and enjoy!
As we said before, there are two versions:
Cocoa Version: Roll the finished mixture and cut the treats in Healthline.
Coconut Version: Take half a cup of unsweetened coconut flakes and toast them. Next, sprinkle half of it in the pan, scrap in the mixture, and cover it with the remaining coconut flakes.