Butta Buns

Survey says that the average American has the attention span of 7 minutes to concentrate soley on one activity. Making these marshmallows with a hand-held mixer is a great way to test that statistic.

If you have a stand mixer, I envy you. Of all the things I’ve ever made, marshmallows really try my patience because I’m forced to stand relatively still for 10 minutes with both hands occupied. For someone with a 30 second attention span, this is quite daunting. But the results are worthwhile.

Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

14 oz. sweetened coconut flakes

3 packages of unflavored gelatin

1/2 c. cold water

1.5 c. sugar

1c. light corn syrup

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

confectioners sugar

beer in a tall sturdy stein*

a good long straw (omit if you have a fancy stand mixer)

Pre-line a cake pan or casserole dish with a sheet of wax or parchment paper so that the bottom is completely covered. Dust with the powdered sugar. If you want really thick marshmallows use a square dish.

First, toast the coconut in a dry pan over a low flame, stirring often. It should take about 5-8 minutes. Sprinkle half of the toasted flakes on the bottom of the pre-lined baking pan.

In a large bowl, bloom the gelatin in the water and set aside. It should get really thick and look completely solid.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it boils and reaches 24oF on a candy thermometer.

Stand Mixer: Set the paddle on low speed, stirring the dissolved gelatin and slowly add the boiled sugar mixture. Turn the speed to high and let it whip for 15 minutes until very thick and gooey. Enjoy your freedom. Turn off the mixer, add the vanilla, and turn back on for a few seconds to mix it in.

Hand Held Mixer: Insert long straw into beer and keep it at a working distance where you can bend your head down without taking your hands off the mixer and bowl. With the beaters on low speed, stir the dissolved gelatin and slowly add the boiled syrup. Turn the speed up to high and stir in a circular motion. Keep at it for 15 minutes. Fantasize about owning a stand mixer and calculate what needs to be cut from your budget to afford one. I can only keep this up for 3 minutes, the next 12 are spent trying to bend sideways to reach that straw without interrupting the nice circular pattern of the beaters. At the very last 30 seconds, add the vanilla, making sure it gets mixed in well.

Pour over the coconut flakes in the cake pan. A rubber spatula is recommended, its very sticky work. Evenly sprinkle the remaining toasted flakes. Leave the pan out, uncovered overnight or at least 6 hours. A little trick when you cut them, use lots and lots of confectioner’s sugar.

*I hear Target is selling wine in juice boxes these days, this is good too, just as long as there’s a straw for reaching.

Read Full Post »