DIY Marshmallow Vending Machine
Whether it’s Peeps, Mallomars, moon-pies or Rice Krispie Treats, marshmallows are one of the most beloved sweets around. Despite what the name might suggest, these fluffy candy-pillows don’t contain any mallow sap; they’re simply sugar syrup cooked to the soft-ball stage and whipped. So get out your Thermapen and let’s make some!
How to Make
A homemade marshmallow vending machine is a fun and interactive way to let kids enjoy a sweet treat any time. The best part is that you can personalize the treats to match the season or occasion. For example, you DIY Marshmallow Vending Machine can make heart-shaped marshmallows for Valentine’s Day, stars for the Fourth of July, or ghosts for Halloween. Using cookie cutters also makes the process more kid-friendly and allows for a variety of shapes.
When making marshmallows, it is important to follow the recipe closely. If you do not, you will end up with marshmallows that are soggy and have a dense or spongy texture. These marshmallows will also leak moisture when cut. To prevent this, it is imperative to beat the marshmallow batter until it reaches the soft peak stage, or 240°F. If you are having trouble beating the marshmallow batter to the correct consistency, check out this page for tips on mixer speeds and strengths.
While the marshmallow mixture is whisking, brush an 8 x 8 inch pan and all utensils with shortening or butter. Add the vanilla to the marshmallow mixture and whisk for a minute longer at high speed. Spread the marshmallow into the prepared pan using an oiled spatula or flexible scraper. Allow to set for at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to use, dust a pizza wheel or other cutting utensil dusted with the cornstarch and sugar mixture and cut into 1-inch squares. Store in an airtight container.
Materials
Creating this marshmallow vending machine with kids is a fun way to teach your child about money. Stuff the machine with knick knacks, candy packages and Shopkins that your child “buys” using a coin or paper clip and you have an educational and engaging science experiment. You can also use cookie cutters to create holiday-themed marshmallows such as heart-shaped, egg-shaped or ghost-shaped marshmallows to make this project even more festive.
For the base of the machine, take four oversized popsicle sticks and hot glue them together at their ends to form a square. Then, cut a handle out of one of the remaining sticks and hot glue it to the side of the main structure. Cut a hole for the head and arm holes in the box (I bribed my friends boyfriend to do this). Finally, cut out a piece of cardboard to use as a label and tape it to the front. For added detail, you can paint or wrap the entire vending machine with a bright color. This is a great project to do with a friend and is a fantastic bonding activity for kids!
Instructions
A lot of the DIY projects on this blog have been science experiments, but making a marshmallow vending machine is just plain fun. The kids will love helping you with the project and the final product is something that they can use over and over again.
Start by taking four oversized popsicle sticks and gluing them together at their ends to form a square. Make sure the sticks are even lengthwise and that you have enough room in the center for your snack packages. Then, take some cardboard and cut a handle that is long enough to reach all the way across the front of the box. Bribe a friend to help you cut small arm holes and a head hole in the box. Lastly, glue the cardboard handle in place, tape up any edges, and then add the snack packages.
When whipping the marshmallow batter, it’s important not to overwhip it. If you do, the marshmallows won’t set properly and may become soggy. Trying to correct this problem by letting the marshmallow batter sit and “cure” for several hours won’t work if it was overwhipped when scraped into the pan.
You can also add extra flavor to the classic marshmallow recipe by adding different extracts (like lemon zest, peppermint, or maple syrup) in DIY Marshmallow Vending Machine supplier addition to the vanilla called for. You can also add mix-ins such as mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs to the marshmallow batter before scraping it into the pan.