Pillowy soft homemade Dulce de Leche marshmallows swirled with a layer of gooey caramel and a touch of speculoos spice. Easy to make and so much better than shop brought ones. They're perfect for hot chocolate, S'mores and gift treats.
Before I headed back to work after some time off, I took full advantage of getting into the kitchen and having a creative session.
I also took full advantage of a lie-in followed by days in the sunshine. So, in all honesty, that creative session wasn't as long as I anticipated.
But... it didn't all go to waste!
I went to with something didn't really involve being a slave to the oven, and just 10 minutes of being stood over the hob; Dulce de Leche marshmallows!
MTB Foodie had made marshmallows as gifts to go in Christmas hampers before, and I remembered them not being that difficult. Oh, and scraping down the bowl afterwards was like eating marshmallow fluff.
Sugar and Spice
So putting Ian's tried and tested recipe into action, I gave it a few tweaks with some Dulce de Leche and a great Speculaas spice mix which The Speculaas Spice Company kindly sent me to try out.
Anything with caramel ticks all the boxes for me, especially my chocolate marshmallows ice cream that has thick ribbons of it running through it.
So, I give you soft, bouncy Dulce de Leche marshmallows rippled with a thick layer of caramel, tinged with the warm and spicy Speculaas; perfect.
How to make Dulce de Leche marshmallows
Making marshmallow is really not as hard I was expecting it to be. Yes, you need to keep a watch on the sugar as it gets so hot, but the whole process doesn't take that long. Here's how you do it...
Making a sugar syrup
First up you'll want to get the gelatine sheets into a large bowl of cold water to soak. Add them in one-by-one so they soak properly.
While they are soaking, make the sugar syrup by gently heating in a large saucepan along with the liquid glucose and cold water.
When they are dissolved turn the heat to high, and bring the syrup to a rolling boil. Use a sugar thermometer to let it reach 125-127C or the firm ball stage - head down to the recipe for more details.
As the sugar heats up, beat the egg whites until stiff, then carefully pour in the syrup while still beating.
Making the mixture
Remember the gelatine sheets? Take them out of the bowl and give them a squeeze to get rid of the excess water.
Add the sheets to the sugar and egg mixture, and continue beating until dissolved. If you're adding a touch of speculoos spice, add it to the mixture now and stir through, and keeping beating.
Rippling the caramel
When you're ready line a brownie pan with clingfilm or plastic wrap, and dust with icing sugar; and spread half the mixture over.
Spoon the Dulce de Leche over the top of the marshmallow and use an offset spatula to swirl it through. Finish off with the remaining marshmallow before leaving it to set for at least 6 hours or overnight.
How do you keep homemade marshmallows fresh
These marshmallows should be layered between baking parchment in an air-tight container and stored in a dry place, at cool room temperature. They should then keep up to 2 weeks.
Sprinkling the marshmallows with a dusting of icing sugar will also help keep them from getting sticky.
DO NOT keep the marshmallows in the fridge or freezer as they will become hard, and get really sticky when they thaw out.
Top tips for pillowy soft marshmallows
Marshmallow making can seem a bit daunting, working with hot sugar syrup isn't one of my favourite things. But once you've done it a few times it gets a little less scary.
To help you on your way to candy perfection, here are a few top tips to get awesome dulce de leche marshmallows:
- Use a sugar thermometer - Getting the sugar mixture to the right stage, firm ball, means getting the temperature spot on. The best way is to use a sugar thermometer. In fact, I wouldn't make marshmallows without one! I use a traditional one stands in the pan, or you can use a probe or infrared one.
- Do not stir the sugar syrup - This is so important! If you continuously stir or shake the sugar syrup while it is heating, it can cause the sugar to crystallize. Instead, swirl the pan every now and then to prevent hotspots.
- Set in a baking tray - Some freestyle their marshmallows, but I prefer to set mine in a baking tray. A deep brownie pan works best. You'll get a slab of fluffy marshmallow that you can cut up into the perfect size for melting into hot chocolate.
- Prevent sticking - When spreading the marshmallow mixture in the baking pan, lightly coat your spatula with either butter or coconut oil and it will help prevent the mixture from sticking.
- Use an offset spatula for swirling - Invest in an offset spatula for swirling that thick gooey dulce de leche through the marshmallow; it makes it so much easier and you get a good spread of caramel.
Looking for more inspiration?
Fancy trying some other homemade marshmallows, then why not check out these recipes for inspiration:
- Strawberry Marshmallows
- Butterscotch Marshmallows
- Passionfruit and Vanilla Bean Marshmallows
- Lemon and Rosemary Marshmallows
Pin Dulce de Leche Marshmallow
Have you made this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think, so please post a comment and star rating below. You can also share a picture on Instagram, don't forget to tag me @crumbscorkscrews!
Dulce de Leche Marshmallows
Ingredients
For the Marshmallows
- 10 x Gelatine Sheets
- 500 g Caster sugar
- 50 g Liquid glucose
- 2 Eggs Whites only
- 100 g Dulce de Leche
- 1 teaspoon Speculoos Spice Mix optional
For Dusting
- 50 g Cornflower
- 50 g Icing Sugar
Instructions
- Line a square baking tin or a brownie tray with clingfilm and sprinkle with a good layer of icing sugar.
- Fill a large bowl with cold water and add the gelatine sheets one by one.
- In a heavy-based saucepan, add the sugar, liquid glucose and the cold water.
- Gently heat the sugar mixture on a low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Over a high heat, bring the sugar mixture to the boil, until it reaches 125-127C (firm ball stage) on a sugar thermometer. Take extra care as the sugar mixture is very hot and sticky.
- As the sugar is boiling, using a stand mixer beat the egg whites until they are stiff. I prefer a stand mixer as it keeps my hands-free for dealing with the sugar mixture.
- When the sugar mixture has reached the firm ball stage, carefully pour the mixture steadily into the egg whites, whilst the stand mixer is still beating.
- Remove the gelatine sheets from the cold water and gently squeeze out any excess water.
- Add the soaked gelatine sheets one at a time, to the whisked egg and sugar mixture, whilst the stand mixer is still beating.
- Add the Speculaas spice mix and continue beating the mixture for 10 mins until the mixture is thick and just pourable.
- Scrape half the mixture into the lined baking tin and using a palette knife, spread out the mixture.
- Add a dulce de leche on top of the marshmallow mixture, and using a palette knife swirl the caramel into and through the mixture.
- Leave the marshmallow to set for at least 6 hours. Do not keep the marshmallow in the fridge as it will not set properly.
- When the marshmallow is firm, gently turn the marshmallow out onto an board dusted with icing sugar, and cut with a sharp knife dusted in icing sugar.
Notes
- If you don't have a sugar thermometer, it is possible to check that the sugar is at the correct stage without. Drop a little of the boiled sugar syrup mixture into a glass of very cold water. If the sugar sets to a firm but malleable ball, the sugar has reached the firm ball stage and is ready to use.
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Copyright © 2021 Crumbs and Corkscrews. Unauthorised use and/ or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/ or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Crumbs and Corkscrews with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Disclosure: With thanks to The Speculaas Spice Company for sending me a sample of their Speculoos Spice Mix to try out.
Lou
It's been a while since I made these, I think I might have to make them for Christmas again this year 🙂
Ann Marie McMullin
This looks delish. I imagine once you swirl the dulce de leche into the 1/2 of the marshmallow mixture in the pan, you spread the rest of the marshmallow mixture on top? I'm going on a hunt for the speculaas spice...
Lou
For sure you can spread it over the top and make it really gooey and caramelly... Mmm! I've a recipe for Speculaas that I need to just write up, but let me know if you need it sooner and I'll drop you an email 🙂
Kavey
Love love love the "I shall call him squishy" text!
Beth
Oh Louise, these look AMAZING! I just wish I knew someone who actually likes marshmallows to share them with - even I draw the line at eating them all by myself!
Beth x
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