PINK PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• 1. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom and 2 sides with parchment paper, and then coat the parchment with cooking spray. Set aside.
• 2. Put sugar, corn syrup and ¾ cup water in a small sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring and let the mixture come to a boil. Raise heat to medium high; cook until mixture registers 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• 3. While sugar is boiling, sprinkle gelatin over ¾ cup water in a glass or other heat proof bowl. Let stand 5 minutes to soften. Place the bowl in the microwave, and head in 20 second increments until the gelatin is dissolved. Between each zap in the microwave, whisk the mixture. You want it to be warm and liquid, with no rubbery or grainy chunks. Add a few drops (3 or 4) of food coloring to the gelatin mixture. Stir in peppermint extract; set aside.
• 4. Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Whisk gelatin mixture into sugar mixture with mixer running, gradually add to egg whites. Mix on high speed until very thick, 12 to 15 minutes. This is the best time to adjust the color. You can add drops of food coloring to the fluff while it's whipping in the mixer. Add one drop of food coloring at a time, let it integrate, and continue adding until the fluff becomes the color you want it.
• 5. Pour mixture into lined pan. Let the marshmallow stand, uncovered, at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Once firm, turn the marshmallow block out onto a well oiled cutting board. Spray your knife with cooking spray and cut into squares. If you want to make different shaped marshmallows, I recommend cutting slices of marshmallow off of the block (like slicing a ham), oiling a cookie cutter and VERY SLOWLY cutting out the shapes. If you push down too fast, the shapes come out all wonky.
• 6. Some flavor variations I have tried and recomend: Coconut: exchange extract for imitation coconut flavoring. Omit food coloring. Roll in toasted shredded coconut after marshmallows are cut. Banana: Exchange extract for imitation banana flavoring. Use yellow food coloring. Dip bottoms of cut marshmallows in chocolate, and top with a walnut, also dipped in chocolate. Citrus: Exchange extract for lemon or orange extract (NOT oil). Use corosponding food coloring. Dizzle with dark chocolate. Bailey's: Exchange extract for Irish Cream Concentrate (can be found in specialty food supply stores). Use one drop of red, yellow, and blue food coloring at a time while the mixer is running to make a light brown/cream color. Pumpkin Spice: Exchange extract for vanilla. Add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spices to the sugar before boiling. I recomend using a bigger/taller pot than usual for boiling the sugar, because for some reason the addition of spices makes the sugar bubble and foam more than usual. Omit food coloring for natural color from the spices, or add orange food coloring for festive fall marshmallows.