What are Dehydrated Marshmallows? Dehydrated marshmallows are marshmallows that have had most of the water removed from them through a drying process.
How can you make dehydrated marshmallows? There are several ways to dry marshmallows at home. We go through several on them in this post, including using an air fryer.
What happens if you dehydrate marshmallows? Once dried, marshmallows are a chewy, slightly crispy treat.
Why Dry Marshmallows?
Marshmallows are made from a mixture of sugar, water, and gelatin that is whipped to form a soft, spongy confection. The mixture is usually flavored with vanilla extract and dusted with cornstarch to prevent sticking.
This sweet treat has a variable, but generally short shelf life fresh. Moisture in the air degrades the cornstarch coating and the marshmallows start clumping into a mass of sticky goo.
Ultimately, The shelf life of fresh marshmallows depends on how they are stored, your climate humidity, and how long ago they were manufactured.
In general, marshmallows that are stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place will last for several months. Marshmallows that are left in the plastic bag you purchase them in or stored in a humid environment will spoil more quickly. Usually only a few weeks after opening the bag. Refrigerating and Freezing may help extend the life some.
What happens if you dehydrate marshmallows? Drying marshmallows extends their shelf life up to a year when properly dried and stored. The removal of moisture helps to prevent spoilage and that awful clumping mass. By drying your marshmallows you extend the shelf life and keep them in the pantry.
This can be especially useful if you have leftover marshmallows that you want to save for later. Just dry them and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Are Lucky Charm Marshmallows Dehydrated?
Yes, Lucky Charms marshmallows and other cereal marshmallows are dehydrated. But if you want to make dried marshmallows like lucky charms you will have your work cut out for you.
The marshmallows in Lucky Charms are shaped like stars, moons, rainbows, horseshoes, clovers, blue diamonds, and red balloons, and they are flavored with a blend of fruit and spice flavors. They are made with sugar, corn syrup, modified cornstarch, dextrose, gelatin, and natural and artificial flavorings.
If you want to make your own Lucky Charm style marshmallows at home, you can use a regular marshmallow recipe and add in the flavorings you prefer. Cut the marshmallows in any shapes you prefer and follow the instructions for drying marshmallows.
How to use Dehydrated Marshmallows
So what to do with dehydrated Marshmallows? The uses for dehydrated marshmallows are vast. These sweet crunchy treats can be enjoyed in many, many ways.
A List of Ideas for Using Dried Marshmallows:
- Handy Pantry Item: Keep dried marshmallows for up to a year in your pantry. Place them in an air tight jar like this one to keep the moisture out.
- Snack: Dried marshmallows make a tasty and portable snack on their own, especially for outdoor activities like camping or hiking.
- Trail mix: Add them to a trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for a sweet and crunchy snack.
- Hot cocoa: Stir a few dried mini marshmallows into a mug of hot cocoa for a creamy and sweet twist on the classic winter beverage.
- Baked goods: Use dried marshmallows as a topping for cookies, brownies, or other baked goods. You can also mix them into the batter or dough for a festive and colorful twist.
- Marshmallow rice crispy treats: Mix dried marshmallows into a batch of rice crispy treats for a chewy and slightly crispy twist on the classic recipe.
- S’mores: Use dried marshmallows as a substitute for fresh marshmallows in s’mores or other campfire treats.
- Add dried marshmallows to your favorite homemade granola recipe.
- Salads: Add a few dried marshmallows to a fruit salad for a sweet and playful touch.
- Make your own Homemade Cocoa mix with dehydrated mini marshmallows on top. It makes a nice foodie gift in a cute jar for friends, family and neighbors. Make you own label like we did with our Cricut crafting tool. It makes labeling easy and creative.
- Rehydrating the marshmallows: Depending on the level of dehydration, you may be able to rehydrate the marshmallows by soaking them in water for a few hours or overnight. Once rehydrated, you can use them in recipes or as a topping for desserts, such as hot cocoa or ice cream. Don’t soak them too long, however, or they will dissolve.
Ultimately, the best way to use these yummy crunchy marshmallows will depend on your personal taste and the occasion. Experiment with different uses to find the ones that you enjoy the most.
How To Make Dehydrated Marshmallows:
Can you make dehydrated marshmallows? Yes, Dehydrating marshmallows is simple. Place the marshmallows in a low-humidity environment, such as a food dehydrator, air fryer like mine, or an oven set to a low temperature, for several hours.
What Size Marshmallow is Best for Dehydration?
The size of marshmallows that are best for dehydration will depend on your personal preference and the purpose of the dehydrated marshmallows.
If you want to use the marshmallows in recipes or as a topping, small dehydrated marshmallows may be more convenient because they will be easier to measure and incorporate into the recipe.
On the other hand, larger marshmallows make a satisfying mouthful for a snack.
Mini marshmallows are the fastest to dry and make excellent snacks. This is the size we enjoy dehydrating since they dry fairly fast. Throw a few on your hot chocolate or coffee drinks. Yum!
You will need to adjust your drying times to the size of marshmallow you are working with and the method you are using for dehydration.
The drying time for marshmallows will vary based on their size, as well as the humidity and temperature of the drying environment.
To ensure that your marshmallows are fully dehydrated and ready to eat, it’s a good idea to test them by biting into one or cutting it open to check that the inside is no longer moist. You will feel or hear the crunch as you bite or cut through the middle.
How Long Does it Take to Dry Large JUMBO Marshmallows?
The time it takes to dry large JUMBO marshmallows will depend on the humidity and temperature of the drying environment, as well as the size and moisture content of the marshmallows. In general, it will take longer to dry large marshmallows than it will to dry smaller ones, as the larger size means there is more moisture to remove.
Air Drying will take about 24 hours, maybe more if your in a humid climate.
If you are using a dehydrator to dry your marshmallows: it will likely take between 8 and 12 hours for large JUMBO marshmallows to become fully dehydrated.
If you are using an oven set to a low temperature, it will take longer, anywhere from 12 to 24 hours, depending on the oven and the marshmallows.
Dehydrated Marshmallows in air Fryer will take about 4 to 6 hours to finish the large size marshmallows.
To check whether your marshmallows are fully dehydrated, you can try biting into one or cutting it open to check that the inside is no longer moist. The marshmallows should be chewy and slightly crispy when they are fully dehydrated.
The drying time for marshmallows can vary widely based on the drying environment and the size and moisture content of the marshmallows, so it’s a good idea to check on them periodically and test them to ensure that they are fully dehydrated.
Printable Recipe Card:
Here’s how we dried our marshmallows in the air fryer. I have included instructions and drying times in the notes for drying regular sized marshmallows in air, oven and dehydrator.
Dehydrated Marshmallows Recipe
Dehydrated Marshmallows are useful to have on hand. They make a great snack or gift and can be used in recipes in many, many ways. Once dried Marshmallows last 6 to 12 months in an air tight container in the pantry.
Ingredients
- 1 10 oz. bag mini marshmallows
Instructions
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat Air Fryer to 135 Degree F.
- Arrange the marshmallows in a single layer on a baking tray evenly spaced and not touching.
- Bake in the air fryer for three hours (for mini marshmallows) until the marshmallows are partially dry.
- Increase temperature to 175 and dry another 2 or 3 hours or until the marshmallows are dried.
- They are done when you can cut them with a knife and they are crisp all the way through but not too hard to eat.
- Store in air tight container. Marshmallows properly dried and stored last up to 12 months at room temperature.
Oven Drying Method:
- Preheat the oven to the lowest setting (around 200-250°F) and place the marshmallows on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 2-3 hours, or until the marshmallows are dried to the desired level of dehydration.
Using a Food Dehydrator:
- A dehydrator can be used to dry marshmallows more quickly, typically in 4-6 hours. Simply place the marshmallows on the dehydrator trays and set the temperature to around 150-160°F.
Air drying:
- To air dry marshmallows, place them on a sheet of wax paper or a silicone mat and let them sit in a dry, cool place for several hours or overnight. This method is best for achieving a slightly chewy texture.
Notes
how long does it take to dry regular marshmallows?
It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to dry regular size marshmallows, depending on the method you use and the desired level of dehydration. Here are a few options for drying marshmallows:
Air drying: To air dry marshmallows, place them on a sheet of wax paper or a silicone mat and let them sit in a dry, cool place for several hours or overnight. This method is best for achieving a slightly chewy texture.
Dehydrator: A dehydrator can be used to dry marshmallows more quickly, typically in 4-6 hours. Simply place the marshmallows on the dehydrator trays and set the temperature to a low setting (around 150-160°F).
Oven: Marshmallows can also be dried in the oven. Preheat the oven to the lowest setting (around 200-250°F) and place the marshmallows on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 3 hours, or until the marshmallows are dried to the desired level of dehydration.
Air Fryer: Expect 4 hours to dry regular sized marshmallows at 175 degrees F.
Overall, the time it takes to dry marshmallows will depend on the method you use and the level of dehydration you want to achieve and the size of the marshmallows.
Be sure to check on the marshmallows regularly and adjust the drying time as needed.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 113Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 28mgCarbohydrates 29gFiber 0gSugar 20gProtein 1g
Please let us know in the comment section below if you have questions or additional information or drying methods you want to add to this post. We love to hear from our readers.
More Recipes To Include Home Dried Marshmallows:
We have several homemade granola recipes and some cookie recipes that partner well with dried marshmallows. Dried marshmallows are also a good addition to our Granola Choco Cranberry bars.
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