Chocolate Marshmallow

Homemade chocolate marshmallow - fluffy and gooey marshmallows infused with decadent chocolate - a match made in heaven! 

There are many advantages of making your own marshmallows at home - better flavor, better texture, and just an all-around better marshmallow. But an added benefit of homemade marshmallows is that you can make them all sorts of fun and delicious flavors!  Nothing against a traditional vanilla marshmallow - but if you can have a chocolate-flavored marshmallow, why wouldn't you?! 

If you're a marshmallow fan, you may also like my S'mores Cupcakes or my Triple Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies!

Lots of people are either intimidated by the idea of making marshmallows, or they just don't know that it's possible.  The truth is, not only is it possible but it's actually a lot easier than you think!  Okay, the process can be a little bit messy, but if you don't mind getting slightly sticky then the end result will be the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate marshmallows that everyone will be begging you to make time and time again!  The perfect sweet treat for chocolate lovers! 

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to Make Chocolate Marshmallow
• What to Use Chocolate Marshmallows For
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Related
• Recipe

Ingredients

Chocolate marshmallow uses the same basic ingredients as in regular marshmallow recipes, but with some extra ingredients for the chocolate magic. 

• ​Sugar - Marshmallows are made of mostly sugar.  You want to use extra-fine white sugar (caster sugar in the UK).  

• Corn Syrup - You're looking for clear, light corn syrup.  If you can't find that, look for glucose syrup.  If you really can't find either, golden syrup will do the trick but may alter the flavor slightly 

• Gelatine Powder - Make sure you use gelatine powder for this marshmallow recipe.  I often use leaf gelatin sheets in my recipes, but for marshmallows, you really want the powder - it usually comes in little sachets and you can find it in most supermarkets. 

• Cocoa Powder - It's best to use dutch-process cocoa powder - the texture and flavor will be better than with natural cocoa powder. 

• Espresso Powder - This is optional, but I find it really helps to deepen the chocolate flavor of the marshmallows.  It won't taste like coffee, it will just enhance the natural flavor.  Make sure you use espresso powder and not instant coffee granules.  Espresso powder can usually be found in the same section of the grocery store, but it is a lot finer. 

• Chocolate - We'll swirl some melted chocolate into the marshmallow for extra chocolate flavor - you can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate, whichever you prefer.  Make sure to use real chocolate and not chocolate chips - as they won't melt properly!

• Vanilla - Use vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste - try to avoid vanilla essence. 

• Powdered Sugar - We'll mix powdered sugar with cocoa powder to make the coating for the marshmallows.  This will stop them from being sticky.

See recipe card for quantities. 

How to Make Chocolate Marshmallow

The process of making chocolate marshmallow is a little different than making regular marshmallows.  It's just a couple of extra steps but it will be so worth it! 

• Before you begin, line a 10" square cake pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper.  Make sure every bit of the inside of the pan is covered - otherwise, your marshmallow might get stuck.  

• Now we want to bloom the gelatin.  Pour half of the cold water into a medium bowl and sprinkle the gelatin powder and salt on top. Don't stir it, just let it sit there and do its thing while you prepare the rest of the recipe.  As it sits it should start to absorb the water and form into a puck. 

• In a separate bowl, mix the boiling water with the cocoa powder, vanilla, and espresso powder.  The heat from the water will bloom the cocoa powder and help to bring out a deep chocolate flavor.  It should form a thick, glossy paste. Set the small bowl of cocoa paste aside until you need it later. 

• For the marshmallow base, in a medium saucepan, add the remaining water, the sugar and the corn syrup.  Mix everything together and then put it on medium heat with a candy thermometer inserted.  Once it's on the heat, don't stir it or move it around, just let it sit still and slowly turn into sugar syrup.  As it boils, and the sugar dissolves, it will turn clear and thick. 

• Let the sugar mixture boil until it reaches a temperature of 250°F / 121°C.  With regular marshmallows, we would normally boil until just 240°F / 115°C, but we need the chocolate marshmallow to be able to take the extra moisture in the cocoa mixture, so it needs to be taken to a slightly higher temperature.  
  
  It might seem like your syrup takes a while to get to temperature and is hovering around the same spot for ages - do not turn up the heat - this is just the water evaporating from the mixture, it won't be able to get any hotter until all the water is gone, so just be patient.  Once the water is gone though, it will rise very quickly so don't walk away - watch it very closely.

• While you are waiting for the syrup to come to temperature, put the bloomed gelatin into the bowl of your stand mixer with a whisk attachment on it (don't turn it on yet). You could technically do this with an electric whisk, but it takes a long time to whip up and your arm may get very sore, so I recommend a stand mixer if you have one. 

• As soon as the thermometer reads 250°F / 121°C, remove the pan from the heat immediately.  Start your mixer on medium speed to break up the gelatin and begin pouring the sugar syrup in in a slow and steady stream.  Try not to hit the side of the bowl or the whisk with the stream, just get it in between if you can.  Add it slowly as it is whipping, until all the sugar syrup is in. 

• Stop the mixer, add the cocoa powder mix, then turn the mixer up to high speed and whip for 10 minutes. 

• Toward the end of the 10 minutes, break the chocolate up into small pieces in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted.  Set aside. 

• After 10 minutes of whipping, the marshmallow should be thick and glossy, like marshmallow fluff.  It should be making shapes as the whisk goes around, as meringue or whipped cream would.  If it doesn't look like this, keep whipping at high speed for another few minutes until it thickens up. 

• As soon as it is thick enough, pour the melted chocolate into the sweet marshmallow and swirl it around a little.  We don't want to incorporate it, just a few turns to make a pretty chocolate swirl design.  

• Immediately pour the chocolate marshmallow mixture into your prepared cake pan, you need to work quickly as the marshmallow will start setting up right away.  The marshmallow is very sticky, so it can help to use a spatula with a little bit of flavorless oil on it.  Spread the marshmallow out to all four corners of the pan and smooth it out as much as possible. 

• In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (powdered sugar and cocoa powder) for the topping until well combined.  Sprinkle some of this generously over the top of the marshmallow, covering it entirely. 

• Let the chocolate marshmallow sit out at room temperature overnight or for at least 8 hours. Don't cover it up with plastic wrap or anything - we want the air to dry out the marshmallow a little. 

• The next day, flip the cake pan upside down so that the marshmallow is tipped out onto your work surface,  Peel off the plastic wrap or parchment paper and then coat the rest of the visible marshmallow with more of the powdered sugar/cocoa powder mixture.  Let it sit like this for another 2-3 hours. 

• When you are ready to cut the marshmallow, coat a large sharp knife with flavorless oil or cooking spray and some of the powder coating mixture.  Start by trimming off the edges so you'll have nice clean sides to your marshmallows. 

• Cut into whatever size marshmallows you like - whether you want large marshmallows or mini marshmallows.

What to Use Chocolate Marshmallows For

• Eat them as they are - Chocolate marshmallows are delicious treats just as they are - have them as a snack or pop them into lunch boxes. 

• Double Chocolate S'mores - These toast up so beautifully, put them in between some graham crackers with a little extra chocolate for a gooey chocolate marshmallow s'mores treat! 

• Bake with them - You could use these in any recipe that uses regular marshmallows, such as my gooey chocolate marshmallow cookies. 

• In Hot chocolate - Of course, pop a couple of chocolate marshmallows into your mug of hot chocolate for an extra indulgent drink. 

• Marshmallow Pops - Stick the chocolate marshmallows with some cake pop sticks and coat in chocolate or candy melts for an easy treat. 

Substitutions

Vegan Marshmallows - if you want to make vegan chocolate marshmallow, you can substitute the gelatin powder for agar agar, but just know it won't have quite the same fluffy marshmallow texture. 

Brown Sugar - If you prefer not to use white sugar, you can use brown sugar instead in equal measurements.  It will also add a slight molasses flavor. 

​Cocoa Powder - If you can't find the dutch processed cocoa powder, you could also use any other regular cocoa powder you can find.  Dutch-processed cocoa powder will give the best flavor and texture, but the recipe will still work with other kinds.  Just try to use high-quality cocoa powder if you can find it. 

Variations

The possibilities are really endless with this homemade marshmallow recipe!  You can add whatever you like from your favorite flavors to mixins. Here are some ideas:

Mocha Marshmallows - For a stronger coffee flavor, double or triple the amount of espresso powder you add to the cocoa paste to make a delicious mocha marshmallow. 

Extra Chocolate - If you want even more of a chocolate hit, try throwing in some mini chocolate chips into the marshmallow mixture before stirring in the chocolate swirl. 

Chocolate-Covered Marshmallows - Try dipping your finished chocolate marshmallows in some melted chocolate!  For tips on tempering your chocolate, check out my chocolate tempering guide. You could even try a white chocolate drizzle on your chocolate-dipped marshmallows as well for extra style points. 

Equipment

• 10" Square Cake Pan - If you don't have a 10" pan, an 8" or 9" pan will also work, the marshmallow will just be taller.  You could also use a rectangular pan or a deep baking sheet. 

• Candy Thermometer - I wouldn't advise trying to make these chocolate marshmallows without a thermometer as they do need to get to a very specific temperature.  Candy thermometers are great because they clip onto the side of the pan, but any thermometer that can reach the appropriate temperatures will do. 

• Saucepan - You'll need a medium-sized saucepan to make the sugar syrup. 

• Stand Mixer - A stand mixer with a whisk attachment is best for making chocolate marshmallow.  You could use an electric whisk, but they have to whip for a long time and your arm may get quite tired. 

Storage

Store your chocolate marshmallows in an airtight container at room temperature.  They will keep like this for about a month.  Don't ever store them in the fridge as they will go all gooey (and not in a good way!). They also look super pretty stored in jars on the kitchen shelf! 

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