Traditional Confectionery

part of: Sugar Cane

Marshmallows are a soft, spongy sweet made by whipping air into a hot sugar syrup that’s been mixed with gelatin. The result is a cloud-like confection that melts on the tongue. They’re one of the simplest sweets in concept but surprisingly tricky to make well at home.

In Australia, marshmallows are a childhood staple — toasted over campfires, threaded onto sticks at birthday parties, or piled into rocky road. They’re also used in baking, melted into slices and crispy treats, or floated on top of hot chocolate. Pink and white marshmallows are a particularly nostalgic combination in Australian confectionery.

The original marshmallow confection was made using sap from the marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis), but modern versions rely entirely on gelatin for their texture. Vegan alternatives using agar or carrageenan are increasingly available.

Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Sugar and corn syrup (or glucose syrup) are dissolved in water and boiled to a specific temperature to create a concentrated syrup. Gelatin is bloomed in cold water, then melted and combined with the hot syrup. The mixture is whipped at high speed for several minutes, incorporating air to create its characteristic fluffy texture. Flavouring and colour are added during whipping. The aerated mixture is piped or poured into moulds or trays dusted with cornflour and icing sugar, left to set, then cut into pieces and coated to prevent sticking.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 318kcal
Protein 1.8g
Carbs 81.2g
Fat 0.2g
Fibre 0.1g Sugar 57.6g
Mass Distribution

10 miniatures is about 7 g — roughly 20 kcal of this.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon 1.52kg
Freshwater 2.25L
Land 56.4m²

Where it comes from

In the kitchen

Used as

sweet toasting confection

Goes well with
chocolate graham cracker sweet potato cocoa vanilla
Classic dishes
  • S'mores
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Rocky Road

Keeping it

In the pantry: about 365 days (from date of purchase).

Advice from Cubud’s own keeping notes — how to keep it, not a measured number.

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

Where to next

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