Gold Medal Marshmallows
June 19, 2012 by Missy
Camping and BBQ season is here!
I am afraid some of you might have missed this essential tutorial (I originally posted this a couple years ago). It is a MUST READ before you brave any camping trip!…or have your next girl’s night, or summer BBQ, or sugar craving, or…well…just read it.
Gold Medal Marshmallows
I don’t claim to have many talents, but if there were an olympic sport for marshmallow roasting, I am confident you would see me on the highest platform proudly wearing a gold medal. You might be thinking, “Roasting a marshmallow? That’s easy.” I beg to differ. You must have many things to make it in the big leagues. The right equipment, the right fire, and most importantly, an impossible amount of patience. I am going to try and teach you my skills, but really, I think it is a gift I was born with and I am not sure I can pass it on.
First some bad news, camping season is coming to a close. But the good news is while it is preferable to be camping when attempting this tutorial, it is not essential. There are so many cozy backyard pits around that you can roast to your heart’s content any night of the week. It does have to be night by the way. Who am I kidding. I have roasted mallows for breakfast when I am camping:) One of my favorite girls’ nights was spent around a backyard campfire roasting some mallows. I have even been known to roast one over my electric stove in a pinch - not quite as good, but it works.
Materials Needed:
the telescoping kind (easy to pack) with the little turning wheel (this allows for expanded mallow turning time without hurting your wrist – very important feature). These are one of my favorite things to give as presents because I love them so much! Most people don’t know about them and they love them as well. You can get them for just over 5.00 on Amazon (eligible for free super saver shipping) – the only other place I have found them is Fred Meyer in the camping section for about the same price.
Gigantor marshmallows (have you seent these babies? They are 3 times the size of regular marshmallows! I have only been able to find them at Fred Meyer but I am sure they are sold in other stores.:)
And / OR
Jet Puffed marshmallows (don’t let store brand marshmallows fool you. They are NOT the same)
AND / OR
Peeps. You read that right. Peeps. Hate them, until you roast them. Crystalized sugary outside with a perfectly gooey middle. Don’t knock it ’till you try it.
AND / OR
Starbursts. Nothing to do with marshmallows, but try roasting them – my cousin is on to something here, mmmm.
Tutorial:
1. Take your Humungo marshmallow and stab it gently in the center with your roaster. Note: some people like to try and roast many marshmallows at once, while I respect this time saving technique, I do not practice it myself because it usually means a burned top marshmallow and an under done bottom marshmallow. I suggest sticking to one at a time.
2. Find the perfect coals. This is the most important step of the tutorial so DON’T MESS THIS PART UP! It is essential that you don’t try to roast over flames. You must find a little spot where the coals are nice and hot, but not flaming. Notice the bottom left pocket of goodness in this photo…
3. Lower your marshmallow into the coals (depth depends on how hot the coals are – you’ll have to get a feel for this. It takes practice so don’t curse the first black marshmallow. It happens. Feel free to curse the third or fourth, however because I hate to say it, but it might just mean you don’t have what it takes) and slowly turn it around and around.
4. Continue twirling.
5. Keep going. At this point it might help you wait if you tell yourself about how you are developing patience because after all, it is a virtue.
6. You might be noticing some brownage coming on to the scene here. This is good. Keep turning.
7. More browning. Your center is starting to get soft and your mallow might be wanting to slip off. To avoid a mallow fire dive, be sure your roaster is parallel with the ground. Keep turning.
8. You are almost there and your mouth is starting to salivate. This is the critical point that will make or break perfection. There is a fine line between deliciously crispy golden brown outside perfection, and scorched. Don’t cross the line. Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.
9. It’s ready. Take it off the fire and let it cool slightly. I usually like to do this by waving it around in everyone else’s face so they can admire my talent and wish they were me. You can also use this time to practice your if - then statements. “If you will clean up the camp dishes, then I will roast a mallow for you just like this one.” Works every time.
10. Gently tug on the mallow and the crispy outside will slip off. Help it make its way to your mouth and try not to sing my praises for teaching you this skill until after you enjoy your hard work. Your patience has rewarded you, young padawon.
Look at the size of this marshmallow – I told you they were HUGE!
Double bonus for buying the gigantor mallows is after you eat the outside, you get to re-roast without re-loading. You’ve already started the middle melting process – just finish it off with some more brown goodness and mallow #2 will soon make its’ way to your mouth.
Now if you want to wreck a perfect sweet treat by making it into a s’more, now is the time to do so. I realize I am in the minority when it comes to s’mores. I am not a fan. Why ruin a perfectly perfect treat by hiding all its flavor and texture with chocolate and crackers? But to each his own. If you decide to follow the crowd, just do me a favor and not use store brand grahams. It is essential that you use Honey Maid or you really will ruin your mallow.
ENJOY
the puffy white goodness that is a perfectly roasted marshmallow!
These pictures are KILLING me! must. find. fire…and mallows…
updates and free printables delivered straight to your inbox!
I award the Gold Medal to Missy – for perfectly golden brown marshmallows!
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..Mason jars aren’t just for canning =-.
These looks so yummy! I just got some giant marshmallows at walmart.
Missy I love that this is considered one of your talents! Thanks for sharing:)
Holy Cow those mallows are HUGE! That’s some serious talent there.
Could those marshmallows look more scrumpdelyicious? Oh my goodness, what a truly gifted girl you are, Missy! Your claim to Olympic-status talent in marshmallow roasting is spot-on!
And I laughed my head off at your descriptions! You’re THE BEST!
I testify that you truly are a gifted marshmallow roaster. Maybe even the best I’ve ever met. I have seen your gifts in person and tasted your marshmallow roasting skills. YUM>
Cute post.
There are strawberry flavored mixed w/ erg ones at Porters for those from east Idaho they were two for $5 last week. My sister in law found them at wince as well
Sorry typo regular ones
I LOVE that you somehow made marshmallow roasting into a post. I have to admit,…this is a fabulous post.
I even roasted a marshmallow on my gas cooktop after I read it. 
Seriously. At 1 AM.
we are going camping labor day weekend, and smores are always at the top of my to do list
Oh my! Your photos make me want to go camping just so I can eat some perfectly roasted marshmallows! I love this post! Thanks!!!
I challenge you to a roast off. Do you accept?
bring it Mindy!!!
Um, I would just like to be invited to your campout. You are truly my hero. There. I just said what everyone else is thinking anyway.
Holy cow! Those are some BIG marshmallows. I really wish Jet Puff made them though. They’re our favorite brand to toast over a fire.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..BLT pancakes with basil cream =-.
You are a girl after my own heart. However, if you and I were to be in the same campground at the same time, I might just have to challenge you for your gold metal, because I too, roast a mean marshmallow. How people eat them any way other than this is beyond me. I have GOT to find those gigantor marshmallows!
.-= Autumn@The Fickle Hobbyist´s last blog ..Would You Call This a Cross-Post =-.
Big marshmellows are also available in WinCo and Lee’s Marketplace (in Utah).
Oh yummmmmy! I toast my marshmallows on the stove
.-= Amy @ Blowout Party!´s last blog ..Fab Freebies- Free Printable Back to School Book Labels! =-.
Kick it up a notch with peanut butter cups instead of just chocolate. YUM!!
We picked up a bag of these monstrous marshmallows a couple weeks ago. Can you believe we haven’t even roasted a one yet?
You are absolutely right about Peeps – we made indoor s’mores under the broiler with Peeps/chocolate & Peeps/Caramel eggs after Easter – YUM!!!!
ROASTING peeps… brilliant!
.-= Molly @ The Creative Maven´s last blog ..The Sweet Dreamer PJ Pant- Free Pattern Tutorial =-.
Missy! You are a marshmellow roasting pro! I have long been a fan of the roasted peeps myself. I’m glad to see that you are up to something good! (Your mom passed this along to my mom, who passed it along to me) Hope you are well.
Angie Baird Haft
I have to agree with you about the smores thing. I think it totally ruins the marshmallow’s toasty goodness. I LOVE chocolate, and I like graham crackers, I just don’t love them all together. I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat one though if someone offered me one, I just prefer to eat them separetely.
Exactly – you hit the nail on the head with that desciption. Totally agree.
NICE Missy! I am so jealous of those mallows! I’m going to go get some for Friday. I’m seriously drooling.
What a wonderful talent to have Missy! lol……..now I’m CRAVING a marshmallow and chocolate!!……I just picked up some french vanilla marshmallows at the store yesterday, can’t wait to try them!
Thanks for linking up! Have a GREAT weekend!
.-= TidyMom´s last blog ..Bakerella’s Cake Pops Book! =-.
French Vanilla?? I am intrigued. I will keep my eye out for these.
Oh my. It is pouring down rain outside right now, but I’m dying for a roasted marshmallow from reading this. I can’t wait to make some soon!
I love this post! You are SO right!! My whole life I thought I “loved” burnt marshmallows only to find this roasting secret you are talking about, by accident, a few summers ago
We were using an odd shaped fire pit and there were lots of great smoldering coals, so I started roasting over those….I noticed the mallows start to expand w/ the heat, then turn this delicious brown color…what do you know, they are a million times better than burnt mallows 
I was roasting for other people the rest of the night 
Glad someone is sharing the ‘secret’!!! Oh…and glad to hear you’re not a fan of s’mores either! I’ve never liked them….just give me a good roasted marshmallow
Awesome directions. I love step #9…LOL! I’ve seen those HUGE marshmallows too. They’re gigantic! And you’re right…toasted marshmallows by themselves are best.
This is, without a doubt, the only way to roast a marshmallow! I love that you included the roasting of the inside gooey part after you pull off the golden shell… It’s the roasting technique that just keeps on giving!
I totally agree with the s’mores. Instead of graham crackers and chocolate, I use the fudge stripe cookies! (Kroger makes an off brand that doesn’t have a hole in the middle for the marshmallow to ooze through) Delicious!!
Good idea, I will have to try that!
Checked on Amazon for the telescopic roasters. Found them but none say anything about having the turning wheel. Any suggestions?? Love this post want to get these forks!!
I checked on amazon for the telescopic forks. I found them but none of them said anything about a turning wheel. Do you know if that’s the same ones you get? Any suggestions would be helpful! I really would love to try this!
If you click on the link in the post to the one I have, the red wheel is the thing that turns it. It is my favorite roaster by far!