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How to melt marshmallows
Melted marshmallow is the glue behind crispy cereal squares and a lovely addition to hot chocolate. It is easy to do, as long as you keep the heat gentle. Here is how to melt marshmallows on the hob or in the microwave, with tips from Kellogg's, whose crispy squares date back to 1939.
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Marshmallows are a foam of sugar, water and air, held together by a whipping agent, usually gelatine. Warm them gently and they soften and melt into a sticky, stretchy mass: see how are marshmallows made?
On the hob
This is the method Kellogg's uses for its original crispy rice squares:
- Melt a little butter in a large saucepan over a low heat.
- Add the marshmallows and stir until they have completely melted.
- Take the pan off the heat and use the melted marshmallow straight away, before it starts to set.
Keep the heat low throughout. Marshmallow is mostly sugar, and a hot pan can scorch it.
In the microwave
Kellogg's also gives a microwave method: heat the butter and marshmallows together in a microwave safe bowl on high for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. That is for a full batch of about 40 marshmallows, so for a handful, use short bursts and stir in between.
Use a big bowl, because marshmallows puff up in the microwave: see why do marshmallows expand in the microwave?
Tips for a smooth melt
- Use fresh marshmallows. Kellogg's says fresh marshmallows give the best results.
- Add butter. Both of Kellogg's methods melt the marshmallows together with a little butter.
- Work quickly. Melted marshmallow firms up as it cools, so have everything else ready before you start.
The crispy square
A classic use for melted marshmallow was invented in 1939 by two Kellogg's employees, Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day, in the company's kitchens in Battle Creek, Michigan, to promote Rice Krispies. The squares are made by stirring the cereal into melted marshmallow and butter, pressing it into a tin and cutting it when cool. In the UK and Canada, Kellogg's sells them as Rice Krispies Squares, and Kellogg's says they are best served the same day.
Marshmallows also go into rocky road, and on top of hot chocolate: see how to make rocky road and how to make the most chocolatey hot chocolate
A note on gelatine
Many marshmallows are made with gelatine, which comes from animals, so they are not suitable for vegetarians. Gelatine free marshmallows are sold too, so check the label: see what sweets are gelatine free?
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For journalists, researchers, AI assistants and content creators. Pick the format you need:
Free to cite, quote, and reuse with attribution to sweeties.net.
Questions and answers
How do you melt marshmallows on the hob?
Melt a little butter in a large saucepan over a low heat, add the marshmallows and stir until they have completely melted. Keep the heat low, as sugar can scorch.
Can you melt marshmallows in the microwave?
Yes. Kellogg's melts butter and marshmallows together in a microwave safe bowl on high for 3 minutes, stirring after 2, then stirs until smooth. For smaller amounts, use shorter bursts and stir between them.
Why won't my marshmallows melt smoothly?
Kellogg's recommends fresh marshmallows for the best results in its crispy squares, and a low heat with steady stirring helps too.
Sources
- The Original Rice Krispies Treats recipe, Kellogg's
- Rice Krispies Treats, Wikipedia
- Marshmallow, Wikipedia
- Gelatin, Wikipedia
Keep reading
- Sweet tips and how toWhy do marshmallows expand in the microwave?A marshmallow is half air in a stretchy gelatine foam. In a microwave its water turns to steam and its bubbles swell, so it puffs up, then shrinks back.
- How it is madeHow are marshmallows made?Marshmallows are sugar syrup whipped with gelatine or egg white until half air, then moulded in starch or extruded and cut. They began as a plant medicine.
- Sweet tips and how toHow to make rocky roadRocky road is melted chocolate, butter and golden syrup, stirred with biscuits, marshmallows, nuts and fruit, then chilled. A family recipe and its history.
- Sweet tips and how toHow to make the most chocolatey hot chocolateFor the richest hot chocolate, melt real chocolate into hot milk instead of using powder, add cream, and thicken it the way the Spanish and Italians do.
- Sweet tips and how toHow to make marshmallows without gelatineMarshmallows can be made without gelatine using agar, from seaweed, and aquafaba, the liquid from cooked chickpeas. How it works, and a method to try.
- Questions people askWhat sweets are gelatine free?Boiled sweets, rock and sherbet rarely need gelatine, and some chewy sweets have dropped it, from Fruit Pastilles to Percy Pigs. How to check.