my mom's homemade marshmallow recipe -- in honor of her birthday

since today is my mom's birthday, I wanted to share with you, one of her favorite recipes. she loves to make homemade marshmallows and the boys love to make and eat them with her. they are a little difficult, but well worth it. one word of warning though, once you try homemade marshmallows, those from the store just will not cut it anymore!

homemade marshmallows

makes about 24 two-inch squares that can be layered between sheets of parchment and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

nonstick vegetable oil spray

1 cup cold water, divided

3 1/4-ounce envelopes unflavored gelatin

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup potato starch*

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. line 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan with foil. coat foil lightly with nonstick spray.
2. pour 1/2 cup cold water into bowl of heavy-duty mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Sprinkle gelatin over water. let stand until gelatin softens and absorbs water, at least 15 minutes.
3. combine 2 cups sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup cold water in heavy medium saucepan. stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush. attach candy thermometer to side of pan.
4. increase heat and bring syrup to boil. boil, without stirring, until syrup reaches 240F, about 8 minutes.
5. with mixer running at low speed, slowly pour hot syrup into gelatin mixture in thin stream down side of bowl (avoid pouring syrup onto whisk, as it may splash). gradually increase speed to high and beat until mixture is very thick and stiff, about 15 minutes. add vanilla and beat to blend, about 30 seconds longer.
6. scrape marshmallow mixture into prepared pan. smooth top with wet spatula. let stand uncovered at room temperature until firm, about 4 hours.
7. stir potato starch and powdered sugar in small bowl to blend. sift generous dusting of starch-sugar mixture onto work surface, forming rectangle slightly larger than 13x9 inches. turn marshmallow slab out onto starch-sugar mixture; peel off foil. sift more starch-sugar mixture over marshmallow slab. Coat large sharp knife (or cookie cutters) with nonstick spray. Cut marshmallows into squares or other shapes. Toss each in remaining starch-sugar mixture to coat. Transfer marshmallows to rack, shaking off excess mixture.

* a food thickener made from cooked, dried, ground potatoes, this gluten-free flour is also known as potato flour; available at most supermarkets.