These gingerbread flavored marshmallows got rave reviews from friends and family. They're so light and fluffy - as all yummy homemade marshmallows are - but the delicious gingerbread spices mixed in make it an extra special treat! Yum! Not in a gingerbread mood?  Try out Neapolitan flavored, s'more's marshmallows, chocolate covered marshmallows, or just plain-ol' vanilla marshmallows. Enjoy! 

Oops, snuck a bite! Yum!

Homemade Gingerbread-flavored Marshmallows

 

Butter 9x13 glass pan for larger square marshmallows OR butter cookie sheet for thinner marshmallows to cut into fancier shapes with buttered cookie cutters OR butter 9x13 pan and an 8x8 pan to make half thick, half thin marshmallows.

 

Combine in a mixer with whisk attachment:

½ cup cool water

3 pkg. (1/4 oz each) (This is about 2 1/2 Tbsp or 7 1/2 tsp) unflavored gelatin

 

In a small, deep saucepan, combine the following over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until syrup reaches 240F on a candy thermometer:

½ cup cool water

1 ½ cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/8 tsp. salt

 

I find heating to 240F takes ~20-30 minutes, and will go in phases of seeming not to increase in temperature to suddenly jump up 5-10 degrees.  So, make sure you’re paying attention, particularly at the end.

 

Showing the progression of sugar boiling.  It does bubble up a bit, but not too much.  Even so, I recommend using a pot that it the liquid will fill no more than halfway.

 

Remove from heat.  With mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the softened gelatin.  Increase speed to high and whip until closer to room temperature, about 8-10 minutes. 

This is how the gelatin and boil-sugar mixture will look initially.

Keep whisking and it will fluff up and look like delicious marshmallow fluff.

 

While the marshmallow whips, mix together the following gingerbread spices to equal ~2 tsp total

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
*make sure to mix together the spices first in a little bowl before adding to the pan, just to make sure you don't have lumps of any one spice.

Towards last 1-2 minutes of whipping, add in, scraping down occasionally: 

Gingerbread spices

1/2 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

Use wet hands to smooth and flatten marshmallow into buttered pan(s).  

Gingerbread marshmallows - spread into a buttered pan

Optional decorating idea: As shown a couple photos in my regular marshmallow recipe, you can use food coloring (optional) on wet tops of marshmallows, swirling around for decoration.  If you want to add decorative sprinkles (optional), add them at this point.  

Sprinkle top of the pan with powdered sugar.  Let the marshmallows rest several hours at room temperature before cutting with a buttered knife or cookie cutter.  I find I need to re-butter the cookie cutters and knives every 3-4 cuts or they start to stick. 

Dusted with powdered sugar and resting.  This helps them dry out a bit before cutting. 

You’ll want to toss your marshmallows in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together. You can either: 1. Place cut marshmallows aside on a piece of parchment paper sprinkled with powdered sugar, then toss in a large Ziploc with some powdered sugar; or 2. Place directly into a large Ziploc with powdered sugar once cut, and toss occasionally while you're cutting so marshmallows don’t stick together.  

Tossed with powdered sugar. 

Marshmallows are now ready to eat!  They can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to a couple weeks and will retain their freshness.  Enjoy!!! 

So light and fluffy and fun!   

Homemade Gingerbread-flavored Marshmallows Recipe by Successfully Gluten-Free! 

 It's an unusual combination in mac & cheese, I agree, but the flavors are delicious together.  Leeks have a unique flavor that blends so nicely with a sharp cheddar and bit of Parmesan. The fennel adds some extra oomph of flavor that I love.  All in all, it was a hit around this house. And it's the perfect cold weather type comfort food.  Enjoy! 

Had some baked sweet potato fries on the side. Yum!

Leek & Fennel Mac & Cheese

While you're preparing your sauce, you can boil your pasta as follows: 

Pasta:

Boil large pot of water + 1 Tbsp salt over high heat. 

Add and cook until desired tenderness: 

1 340g package GF macaroni (or noodle of your choice)

Drain, rinse and set aside until ready to mix into prepared sauce.  

Sauce:

In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat and cook the leeks are softened, but not mushy (~5-7 minutes): 

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

small leek, sliced (washed well)

1/4 - 1/2 fennel bulb & shoots

2 shallots, sliced

1 tsp garlic salt (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt)

1/2 tsp pepper

Cooking up the veggies.

Add and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally: 

2 cups milk

1 cup water + 1 tsp GF chicken bouillon paste 

Getting ready to thicken the sauce!

In a small bowl, whisk together: 

1/4 cup water

2 Tbsp cornstarch

Mix the cornstarch mixture into the bubbling sauce, stirring until thickens and returns to boil for one minute.  Remove from heat and add: 

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Nice and cheesy, and ready for the noodles. 

Add in the cooked, drained and rinsed pasta to the cheesy sauce.  Stir together well and serve!  Enjoy!

A tasty, rich mac and cheese. Yum!

Leek & Fennel Mac & Cheese Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

Mint Version of my Favorite Chocolate Brownes Ever Recipe!

 My dad laughed when I told him I made these because I needed them.  But, at the time, I really did.  Chocolate, mint, a slice of rich, warm brownie.  Yep, I needed these brownies. Now you, too, can make them anytime you feel the "need"!  They're based off my family favorite best chocolate brownies EVER recipe - but tweaked a bit to allow for the addition of a bunch of extra chocolate thrown in at the end!  Enjoy! 

A yummy slice of mint chocolate brownie!!!

Mint Version of my Favorite Chocolate Brownies Ever! 

Line a 9” x 13" glass pan w/ parchment paper.  It doesn’t have to be well done, just fold sides so it works and it’s covered.  If you don’t use parchment paper, expect to spoon your final brownies out – buttering just doesn’t cut it this time, folks.

Heat oven to 375 F.

Melt in bowl in microwave: (I like to microwave chocolate at 50% power in the microwave in small, 30-45 second increments, stirring regularly to avoid any burning - yes, chocolate can burn and it's very sad when it does). 

7 oz. high-quality dark chocolate (60-70% works best)

¾ cup + 2 Tbsp butter

Add and mix in:

1 cups sugar

Mix, incorporating one at a time:

5 eggs

Add and stir until incorporated:

1/4 cup brown or white rice flour

Add and stir in: 

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, since you already have dark chocolate in the batter)

Pour into parchment paper lined 9 x 13 baking pan. 

Sprinkle on top: 

1/2 - 1 cup various mint chocolate chips and bars broken into chunks. 

Ready to bake in a 9" x 13" pan lined with parchment paper

Bake at 375 F for 22 - 24 minutes.

Fresh from the oven. These smell amazing!!!

Remove from oven, leave to cool and rest on a metal cooling rack.   Yes, you can eat warm, but it’s best to let it cool a bit - 30 minutes works well to be able to cut into pieces. These are great served warm or cooled.  We love them warm with ice cream on top.  Once fully cool, these can be cut in small pieces and frozen to eat later.  Tastes great, and a nice way to have treats on-hand for special occasions.

Gluten Free Mint Version of my Favorite Chocolate Brownies Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!