Healthy Homemade Marshmallows (No Corn Syrup!)

This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I may make a small commission when you shop from my provided links. This helps me to grow my business, at no extra cost to you!

My easy homemade marshmallow recipe

Fluffy homemade marshmallows made with grass-fed gelatin and honey or maple syrup. This simple, nourishing recipe skips the corn syrup and artificial colors found in many store-bought marshmallows.

I discovered homemade marshmallows a few years ago when I headed down my own healing journey and started paying closer attention to ingredient labels at the grocery store. While they sounded like a potentially intimidating thing to make at home, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that homemade marshmallows are actually incredibly simple. And when you use simple ingredients like grass-fed gelatin and honey or maple syrup, they can be a surprisingly nourishing treat without the corn syrup you'll find in many conventional marshmallows.

Why Homemade Marshmallows?

I’m not sure if you’ve picked up a bag of marshmallows at the store recently and looked at the ingredient list… but I remember being a little shocked when I did. There were multiple ingredients that we actively try to avoid in our household.

Corn syrup, sugar, dextrose, modified cornstarch, water, contains less than 2% of gelatin, tetrasodium pyrophosphate (whipping aid), natural and artificial flavor, blue 1.

Yikes.

Even the “healthier” versions at the store still had ingredients I wasn’t crazy about, and I was even less crazy about the price.

I assumed homemade marshmallows would be one of those recipes that required a candy thermometer, a very specific technique, and a whole lot of patience (which I was not about). But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they are actually incredibly simple to make.

That's why I love this healthier marshmallow recipe: I can use simple, nourishing ingredients that I already love having in my kitchen, like grass-fed gelatin, local honey, and real vanilla, while skipping the corn syrup, artificial colors, and other ingredients I’d rather avoid.

Benefits of Grass-Fed Gelatin

Gelatin is one of my favorite things to keep in the kitchen, and it's what gives these homemade marshmallows their light, fluffy texture. But beyond just making fluffy marshmallows and gummies, gelatin is also a great source of amino acids that can be supportive of overall health.

Here are a few reasons I love using grass-fed gelatin:

• It's a source of collagen protein. Gelatin contains amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Perfect Supplements' gelatin provides 10 grams of protein per scoop.

• It contains amino acids that support the body. Glycine and proline are important amino acids found in collagen and gelatin. Gelatin is one of the ways I like to incorporate these nutrients into our diet.

• It can support gut health and digestion. Gelatin is often included in gut-focused, traditional-food diets and supports gut function and digestion.

• I love the quality of the source. I can’t say this for all brands, but Perfect Supplements Gelatin is sourced exclusively from Brazilian pasture-raised, grass-fed cows and is third-party tested.

• It's a simple ingredient. The only ingredient is bovine gelatin, with no fillers or flow agents. It's also non-GMO, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

I personally love having a high-quality gelatin like this in my kitchen because it's so versatile. It's an easy ingredient to incorporate into nourishing, gut-healthy recipes like homemade gummies, custards, ice cream, and of course, these marshmallows.

Use code JENNTAYLOR for 10% off your Perfect Supplements order.

Homemade Marshmallow Recipe

I played around with multiple different marshmallow recipes until I finally perfected my own. I typically make these homemade marshmallows with raw local honey, maple syrup, or a combination of the two. Both work beautifully, but my personal favorite is half honey and half maple syrup. It gives them just the right amount of sweetness without either flavor becoming too overpowering.

Items you’ll need:

• Small saucepan

• 8×8 baking dish

• Parchment paper or coconut oil for lining or greasing the pan

• Electric mixer

• Silicone spatula

Ingredients:

• 1 cup filtered water

• 44 grams of Perfect Supplements gelatin (4 scoops)

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 1/3 cup raw local honey or maple syrup (either will work, but my personal favorite is to do half of each!)

• Optional arrowroot powder for dusting

Instructions:

1. Bloom the gelatin.
Pour the water into a mixing bowl and sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the top. Let it sit for a few minutes to bloom and absorb the water.

2. Dissolve the gelatin.
Transfer the bloomed gelatin mixture to a saucepan and heat over low heat, whisking occasionally, until the gelatin is completely dissolved.

3. Add the sweetener and vanilla.
Once the gelatin is dissolved, add your honey, maple syrup, or combination of the two, along with the vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.

4. Whip it!
Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer or use a large bowl with an electric hand mixer. Whip on medium-high to high speed until the mixture becomes thick, fluffy, and marshmallow-like. This can take 10–15 minutes, so don't give up if it seems like nothing is happening at first!

5. Transfer to a baking dish.
Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish and pour the marshmallow mixture into it. Smooth the top as needed.

6. Let them set.
Place the dish in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or until the marshmallows are completely set.

7. Cut and enjoy!
Once set, cut the marshmallows into squares. You can enjoy them as-is, or lightly dust them with arrowroot powder to prevent them from sticking together. Store in an airtight container and enjoy within one week.

How to Enjoy Homemade Marshmallows

Of course, you can absolutely eat these homemade marshmallows straight from the container (and I won't judge if you have one, two, or three!). But there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy them, too.

My favorite way? On top of a warm mug of homemade cacao. I especially love using my favorite Beauty & Bliss Cacao from SubLuna for this.

They're also delicious in hot chocolate, homemade s'mores, or as a fun little homemade treat for the holidays. And if you're making these with kids, you can cut them into different shapes for a little extra fun.

Have you tried making homemade marshmallows? I’d love to know how they turned out!