Marshmallow Snowflakes

via [marthastewart.com]

Snow enforces winter's cold by trapping the earth's heat underground and reflecting away the warmth from the sun. In a play on that relationship, we've created a flurry of homemade marshmallow snowflakes floating in mugs of steaming hot cocoa. These marshmallows are fun to make; the geometric patterns are easily formed with snowflake-shaped cookie cutters.

Makes about 100

Ingredients

2 envelopes (each 1 scant tablespoon) unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Vegetable-oil cooking spray

Directions

1. Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment paper. Spray parchment; set aside. Pour 1/3 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle with gelatin; let mixture soften, about 5 minutes.

2. Place sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover; bring to a boil. Remove lid; cook, swirling pan occasionally, until syrup reaches 238 degrees (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.

3. With mixer on low speed, whisk gelatin mixture, and slowly pour the syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl (to avoid splattering). Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is thick, white, and has almost tripled in volume, about 12 minutes. Add vanilla, and beat 30 seconds to combine.

4. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; smooth with an offset spatula. Let stand at room temperature, uncovered, until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.

5. Coat a 1- or 2-inch snowflake-shaped cookie cutter with cooking spray to prevent it from sticking. Cut out as many individual marshmallows as possible; coat cutter with more spray as needed. Use marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Dust these Marshmallow Snowflakes with cornstarch to keep them from sticking to each other in storage; they'll keep in an airtight container up to a week.

1. Spread the marshmallow mixture on a rimmed baking sheet with an offset spatula.

2. Once the mixture is firm, use cookie cutters coated with nonstick cooking spray to punch out the flakes.

via [marthastewart.com]