Nov 8
2012

Giant Double Chocolate-Orange Marshmallows + A Giveaway!

in ad-free, Book Reviews, Candy, Chocolate, Dessert, Fuji Gift List, Giveaway, Gluten Free

Giant Double Chocolate-Orange Marshmallows

Giant Double Chocolate-Orange Marshmallows . . . the words alone are enough to make me swoon, but the actual finished marshmallows put me into a happy chocolate trance.  These marshmallows came from the genius baking mind of Abby Dodge, one of my favorite cookbook authors, and one of my favorite people in general.  Abby is supremely talented—she studied in Paris at La Varenne and has written nine cookbooks.

Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets by Abigail Johnson

Abby has a new book out that is a must-own: Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets, 100 Delicious Desserts to Pick Up and Eat.  The book is filled with recipes for desserts that don’t need a fork or spoon to eat, making them perfect to serve at a holiday party or even pack in a picnic!  The book would be a perfect gift for someone who loves to whip up sweet treats, which is why I’m putting it on the Fuji Gift List this year!

Fuji Gift List 2012

Abby took a break out of her busy schedule to chat with me about her new book.  I asked her how the new book came about and she said that it was the result of a conversation she had with her editor who was talking about being sick and tired of desserts being so big.  Abby’s response was “Hold on! Why don’t we take all those classic big birthday cakes and cheesecakes, and whoopee pies, and make them all minis?  Something that you can eat out of the palm of your hand?”  She went on to say, “I really feel that is the best part of my job, when I can have someone on Twitter, on Facebook, my editor, a friend, or a colleague say ‘wow that’s good, but if you added x, y, or z . . . what do you think?’ And it turns into something even better.  I’m a big believer in sharing in the food world.”  So Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets was born.  Not only did Abby dream up smaller versions of peoples’ favorite sweet treats, but she also included a whole host of ways to switch things up.  She said that she really wants people to understand that there is so much you can do within one recipe.  “Just because you don’t like nuts doesn’t mean you shouldn’t like that recipe!”

Whipping up homemade marshmallows

In the spirit of switching things up, Abby offered to dream up a Fujified version of one of the recipes in the book.  We decided on her recipe for Homemade Marshmallow Chicks and then consulted the Fujilings on flavors.  The result was this amazing recipe for double chocolate-orange marshmallows.  This recipe uses gelatin instead of egg-whites, making the process easier.  These squares of fluffy chocolaty goodness are hard to mess up, even if you forget to fold in the mini chocolate chips like I did the last time I made them!

Cutting the marshmallows

Although making homemade marshmallows requires a bit more effort than buying a bag of them at the store, I guarantee you that they taste a million times better!  These marshmallows are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to drool-inducing creations that are in Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets.  The Fujilings agree:

Guess what? I have a copy to give away!!  So enter to win (details after the recipe below) and make yourself a batch of these double chocolate-orange marshmallows while you’re waiting to find out if you’re lucky.  Or, you could always order your own copy, and if you get lucky and win, you have a gift for the baker in your life!

Double Chocolate-Orange Marshmallows

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Giant Double Chocolate-Orange Marshmallows ~ Fuji Style!

Special recipe adaption by Abby Dodge, from Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets

Makes 16, 2-inch marshmallows

For dusting:
1/2 cup (2 ounces) confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup (1 ounce) cornstarch
1/4 cup ( ounces) natural, unsweetened cocoa powder

For the marshmallows:
1 3/4 cups water, divided
2/3 cup (2 ounces) natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
3 packages (1/4 ounce each) unflavored powdered gelatin
2 cups (14 ounces) granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup or golden cane syrup
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of table salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1. To make the dusting mixture and prepare the pan:  Put the confectioners’ sugar, cornstarch and cocoa powder in a small bowl and whisk until blended. Lightly grease a 8 x 8-inch baking pan (I use a straight-sided type for nice, straight-sided marshmallows) and sprinkle about one-third of the sugar-cornstarch-cocoa mixture evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan.

2. To make the marshmallows: Pour 1/2 cup water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Slide the pan from the heat, add the cocoa powder and whisk until well blended and smooth. It will be very thick. Set aside. (This can also be done in a microwave using a small, heatproof bowl to bring the water to a boil.)

3. Pour 3/4 cup water into bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with whisk attachment and sprinkle the gelatin over the water. Let sit until the gelatin is moist and plump, about 5 minutes.

4. Put the remaining 1/2 cup water, sugar and corn syrup in a medium, heavy saucepan. Cook, stirring, over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Set a candy thermometer in the pan and increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Boil, without stirring, until the hot syrup is 258°F.

5. With the mixer on medium-low speed, slowly pour the hot syrup into the gelatin mixture in a thin stream down the side of the bowl (avoid pouring syrup onto the whisk, as it will splash against the sides of the bowl). Gradually increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the mixture is very thick, about 12 minutes. The outside of the bowl will still feel quite warm.

6. Stop the mixer, scrape the chocolate mixture into the mixing bowl and add the orange zest, vanilla and salt. Mix on medium high until well blended and cooled but not cold, about 5 minutes. The volume will decrease but that’s to be expected. Add the mini chips and, using a rubber spatula, gently fold until evenly incorporated.

7. Scrape the cooked marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and, using a lightly greased, offset spatula, spread evenly. Set aside, uncovered and at room temperature, until completely cool, firm to the touch, and no longer tacky, about 6 hours.

8. Using your fingers, peel the marshmallow away from the edges. The marshmallow will fall back to the edge but it will no longer be stuck. Sift about one-third of the remaining sugar-cornstarch-cocoa mixture over the top of the marshmallow and sift the remaining mixture into a medium bowl. Put a large cutting board on top of the pan and invert the pan onto the cutting board. Lift off the pan, using your fingers to help peel the marshmallow away from the pan, if necessary.

9. Using a lightly greased, sharp knife, cut the marshmallow lengthwise into 4 equal strips and then cut each strip into 4 pieces. Toss the marshmallows, in batches, in the remaining cornstarch-confectioners’ sugar-cocoa mixture until lightly but thoroughly coated. The marshmallows will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.


==========================================

Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets Cookbook Giveaway!

There will be one (1) lucky winner who will receive a copy of Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets by Abigail Dodge, courtesy of The Taunton Press!

  • Rules: The giveaway will close Friday, November 16th, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. The giveaway is open to all readers. The winner will be chosen randomly and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.  To enter, please follow the steps below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }

vaishali November 8, 2012 at 11:32 am

awesome!

Reply

Rebecca@A Dusting of Sugar November 8, 2012 at 11:32 am

Those are beautiful mallows! I just want to hug them, haha. Also, I always love looking at your little red fishy. He is especially cute wrapped in a bow ^_^

Reply

Joy November 8, 2012 at 11:57 am

I love marshmallows and I can’t wait to try making them myself this year.

Reply

Corey November 8, 2012 at 11:59 am

I’ve been itching to make my own marshmallows now that I’m in my own apartment. Before, I used to help my mom – and by help, I mean lick the bowl and get the stuff absolutely everywhere!

Reply

Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie November 8, 2012 at 12:35 pm

Oh wow those look so awesome! Love the mini chocolate chips. I have never made my own marshmallows, but I think I really need to.

Reply

Sarah H.P. November 8, 2012 at 1:01 pm

I must make these marshmallows!

Reply

Carla November 8, 2012 at 1:19 pm

Love homemade marshmallows! I must do for my big and little men in the house!

Reply

Urban Wife November 8, 2012 at 1:50 pm

I’ve never made homemade marshmallows. These look fabulous and I have to say, the chocolate + orange combo is one of my favorites!

Reply

gail November 8, 2012 at 2:38 pm

thanks for this giveaway!

Reply

Robin C November 8, 2012 at 3:40 pm

I’ve only recently started to make marshmallows, I will be adding this recipe ASAP.

Reply

Fuji Nana November 8, 2012 at 3:55 pm

Just watched your video four times in a row. Who needs marshmallows when you’ve got such cute li’l sweeties? Still, I wouldn’t turn down one of your DOUBLE chocolate-orange marshmallows if you offered me one…

Reply

Sarah Reid, RHNC (@jo_jo_ba) November 8, 2012 at 4:11 pm

WOW I didn’t know you could do marshmallows with chocolate! So many possibilities!

Reply

Micha November 8, 2012 at 4:21 pm

I’m a huge Abby Dodge fan and this book is the first thing you see on my wish list for Christmas. I did get this book from the library and made at least 5 recipes out of it before I sadly had to return it. Your daughter’s are just too adorable :)

Reply

Alison (AlisonCanRead) November 8, 2012 at 5:26 pm

I’ve never made marshmallows before but it looks like a lot of fun. And delicious!

Reply

Therese November 8, 2012 at 5:38 pm

Oh my, I love making marshmallows and these look delicious!

Reply

Sandra November 8, 2012 at 5:45 pm

Homemade marshmallows area a holiday staple at our house, but we have yet to do a chocolate version. These will be on the list to make this year!

Reply

Jayne November 8, 2012 at 7:08 pm

I’ve never in my life seen such gorgeous marshmellows before! We were mostly confined to those spongy white ones. This has turned my world upside down.

Reply

Kelly G November 8, 2012 at 7:39 pm

These marshmellows look amazing!

Reply

Nicole-Lynn November 8, 2012 at 7:53 pm

Oh wow, those marshmallows look delicious! Thanks for sharing and the recipe!

[email protected]

Reply

Amanda Thompson November 8, 2012 at 8:56 pm

Those are the prettiest marshmallows I’ve ever seen!

Reply

Kim C. November 8, 2012 at 9:19 pm

I really need to make homemade marshmallows again and I think these would be the perfect recipe to start with.

Reply

Rebecca November 8, 2012 at 9:58 pm

Looks fantastic! I’ve never made marshmallows, but I love eating homemade ones, so maybe I should give it a try.

Reply

Karine November 8, 2012 at 10:01 pm

Can’t wait to try this recipe. We love home made marshmallows.

Reply

Amy November 8, 2012 at 10:58 pm

Lovely…what a wonderful cookbook to have. I love these chocolate orange mallows you made. :) There’s nothing like homemade fluffy mallows!

Reply

Iryna November 8, 2012 at 11:18 pm

Thank you for the recipe! With two big holidays approaching – it’s a perfect treats to make!
And the book is so awesome!

Reply

Candace November 9, 2012 at 4:00 am

I’ve never made marshmallows, but am inspired to start right now.

Reply

Joanne Gregory November 9, 2012 at 6:13 am

Sounds like a cookbook that would get a lot of use at my house!

Reply

kristi November 9, 2012 at 6:41 am

You had me at chocolate orange marshmellows!

Reply

Maren Zaffke November 9, 2012 at 6:55 am

I love homemade marshmallows!

Reply

judy migliori November 9, 2012 at 8:00 am

Wonderful post and yummy gourmets marshmallows! I made them last year and for the topping used crushed candy canes.

Reply

Kenny November 9, 2012 at 8:20 am

Love the PSA!

Reply

Erin November 9, 2012 at 8:49 am

I love homemade marshmallows, and those look amazing!

Reply

Barbara P. November 9, 2012 at 9:14 am

I love marshmallows and I can’t wait to try making them myself this year.

Reply

Mary November 9, 2012 at 10:01 am

Mini Treats & Hand-Held Sweets = my kind of Recipe Book!

Reply

jon brierton November 9, 2012 at 10:18 am

…uh oh …now ya done it ! Gotta have ’em …

Reply

Cynthia November 9, 2012 at 10:38 am

These look amazing. And I appreciate the step-by step photos for finishing them. :)

Reply

Heather November 9, 2012 at 10:41 am

What a great giveaway! I would love to win this cookbook–I mean who doesn’t love sweet treats :)

Reply

Tracy November 9, 2012 at 10:44 am

I love the idea of homemade marshmallows. As a vegetarian who does not eat gelatin, I’ve tried making them with agar to no avail. Might try again with these though, they look so delicious.

Reply

Kellie November 9, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Looks like a fun project — and yummy too!

Reply

Eileen November 9, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Oh my – for some reason, while they look absoultely delicious (and I know they are) I am a bit hesitant to think I can successfully make these homemade marshmallows. The part that concerns me the most is getting them out of the pan without ruining them. But, I LOVE marshmallows and the thought of making my own Double Chocolate Orange Marshmallows and being able to share them with family and friends is building up my confidence. I’ll report back when, and if, I try them. I have to get a copy of this cookbook – either by your give-a-way or just ordering one. I love the title of it, the cover is beautiful and it’s just my kind of style! Thanks for a great post. I love the way you’ve been incorporating your family into your posts ~ such cute, smart girls! By the way, did you get a chance to taste See’s “Chocolate Orange” suckers that they’ve had out just before Halloween??? They’re delicious too!
Thanks Rachael,
Eileen

Reply

Jeanna November 9, 2012 at 2:31 pm

What a great holiday recipe. Perfect timing!

Reply

Beth November 9, 2012 at 3:48 pm

These sound amazing. I have never thought about making marshmallows before but I after reading this recipe I will be trying it! I even have all of the ingredients, that’s rare! What a great gift, too. Thanks for sharing this!

Reply

Jan R November 9, 2012 at 7:57 pm

LOVE this giveaway!

Reply

scrapper al November 9, 2012 at 9:32 pm

Wow, these gourmet marshmallows look delish! Congrats to Abby and thanks for the chance to win her book.

Reply

Haruko November 9, 2012 at 9:40 pm

I just may try this recipe over the Christmas holidays. Thanks for the recipe!
The cookbook looks lovely!

Reply

Thu November 9, 2012 at 10:15 pm

Marshmallows? I’ve never made them but these look so unique and delicious!

Reply

Meryl November 10, 2012 at 12:04 am

It sounds like a great cookbook!

Reply

Louis November 10, 2012 at 12:04 am

Thanks for the giveaway!

Reply

ellaci November 10, 2012 at 5:33 am

How scrumptious!!!!

Reply

Holly November 10, 2012 at 8:31 am

Miss you my friend! Just wanted to stop by and tell you I’m thinking of you and have been hoping you are all well. Life just keeps getting faster!

I love you and your fujilings (and tell them they were fantastic on their PSA!)

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: