Ever had dehydrated marshmallows before? No? Of course you have! You’ve had them in a packet of cocoa mix or in your favorite super-sugary breakfast cereal. Those are just two of the best-known foods you’ll find dehydrated marshmallows in, but there are many more recipes that can use them: s’mores cookies, cereal bars, trail mix, and a whole lot more.
But they aren’t something you can pick up at most stores. Luckily, they are super easy to make yourself, at home, with a dehydrator. In this article, I’m going to walk you through it step by step. It’s so much easier than you think!
Tools and Supplies
One of the best things about dehydrating marshmallows yourself is that you need next to nothing – assuming you’ve got the marshmallows and a food dehydrator. A few basic kitchen tools and we are off to the races.
- Marshmallows: You can use any kind you want for this recipe. Baking marshmallows that are big or small, or the novelty marshmallows like Peeps, bunnies, or anything else.
- Sharp Knife or Scissors: Larger ones are better off cut down to size for quick and easy dehydration, but you don’t have to. Likewise, if you want little marshmallow tidbits for cocoa mix or another recipe that calls for smaller portions, you can use a sharp paring knife or kitchen scissors for the task. Note that dull cutlery here will turn into an exercise in frustration.
- Cutting Board: Self-explanatory.
- Powdered Sugar (optional): If you are cutting your marshmallows down, powdered sugar is just the ticket to prevent them from sticking during dehydration and while in storage. Some folks like to roll their marshmallows in powdered sugar even if they aren’t cutting them. This isn’t strictly necessary, but it does improve the finished results somewhat.
- Dehydrator: Any kind of food dehydrator will work here. Just make sure you familiarize yourself with how it operates before you get to the instructions down below.
- Glass Food Storage Jar: If you were ever going to use glass for storing food, now is the time. Dehydrated marshmallows are especially vulnerable to air and moisture, and glass containers simply work better than most plastic kinds for the purpose.
- Mylar Storage Bags (optional): A great upgrade that will extend the shelf life of your dehydrated marshmallows are Mylar food storage bags. The metallic skin or outer layer that is distinctive of these bags completely blocks air from getting inside the bag and also helps to block light. This keeps your marshmallows fresher and tasting better longer.
- Vacuum Sealer (optional): Don’t run out and invest in one just for this recipe, but if you have a vacuum sealer that you can use with a mason jar or other food storage container, go ahead and get it out. It’s the very, very best way to keep your marshmallows super fresh after you’re done.
Alrighty, that’s all there is to it. Time to get down to business in the next section.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut marshmallows to size if desired. I recommend you cut larger marshmallows and irregularly shaped ones like novelty chicks and bunnies into small, uniform pieces.
This will greatly speed up drying and also improve consistency of drying, which will enhance the finished product. Small pieces may be done in just a few hours, but big marshmallows can take longer than a whole day!
If you want to cut small marshmallows into tidbits, do so now. Use your knife and cutting board or kitchen scissors for the job.
Step 2: Roll marshmallows in powdered sugar. This is optional, but should be done if you have cut your marshmallows or if you want to improve them overall.
Rolling the marshmallows in powdered sugar will prevent them from sticking together during drying and also while in storage. This is a good move especially if you want to eat them as a snack, add them to cereal, or to trail mix.
Step 3: Load dehydrator trays. Take your marshmallows and place them on the dehydrator trays in a single layer and with space left between. Never stack the marshmallows, but if a few are touching, they should be okay. If they are layered, that will interfere with the drying process and can facilitate spoilage.
Step 4: Place trays in dehydrator, set temperature. Place each of the trays carefully in the dehydrator to prevent the marshmallows from rolling around and bumping into each other. Then set the temperature for 150 °F / 65 ºC and close up the machine.
Step 5: Set timer. Set a timer to check on the marshmallows depending on their size. Large, jumbo, and giant marshmallows will take anywhere from 10 to 24 hours, maybe even longer. Tidbits and small marshmallows will take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours.
Step 6: Check and test. After the timer goes off, check on the marshmallows and pull one out to test. Note that, unlike most other foods, most marshmallows will not shrink, shrivel, and discolor. In fact, most will puff up a little bit!
Pull one out and set it aside to cool for about 10 minutes. Then try to crush it between your fingers or just pop it in your mouth and eat it. When they are done, they will crumble into dust with no stickiness or gumminess. If you detect any softness, they need to dry longer.
Step 7: Turn off dehydrator, allow marshmallows to cool. Once a few pass the test and are totally dry, turn off the machine, then pull out the trays and let them to cool at room temperature for around 15 minutes. You don’t want to store warm marshmallows because that will cause condensation and subsequently spoilage!
Step 8: Place dried marshmallows in bag or jar. Using a spoon or other tool so you don’t touch them, load the dried marshmallows into your storage container and make sure it is sealed up completely tight. If you have a vacuum sealer, use that to pull all the air out of the container.
Store and done! Place your newly dehydrated marshmallows in a cool location that stays dry and dark. The ideal storage temperature is around 50°Fahrenheit / 10 ºC, but as long as the spot is protected from moisture and temperature swings, you should be good…
How Long Will Dehydrated Marshmallows Keep in Storage?
This depends on the conditions and the container. In a Mylar bag or vacuum-sealed storage container, your dehydrated marshmallows should last around a year as long as they are protected from moisture and major temperature swings.
But if you just have them in the pantry and in a mason jar or something similar, you’ll get anywhere from 4 to 6 months out of them depending on how humid your household environment is.
Note that when they do start to go down in quality, they just tend to get a little chewy again but will otherwise be safe.
Obviously, if you see any signs of mold or other spoilage, or if they smell funny, just throw them out!
Rehydrating Your Marshmallows
There are a few methods for rehydrating your marshmallows, each of them fairly straightforward. Do note, though, that they won’t go back to that perfectly fresh, fluffy texture that they had before you dried them out. They tend to be denser and chewier, but still good.
Option number one is to place a bowl of marshmallows in the microwave with a small bowl of water beside it. Run the microwave on high for about 15 seconds, and then an additional 5 to 10 seconds each time, checking the marshmallows to see if they’ve gotten soft and chewy.
Another thing you can do is to steam them. Place a bowl of marshmallows over a pot of simmering water and let the steam do the work. You should gently turn or toss the marshmallows periodically to make sure they are absorbing water evenly.
The last method is the simplest and the slowest. Simply stick a food storage container with the marshmallows in the refrigerator. The cooler temperatures and humid environment will help them plump up in a day or two.
Whichever way you go, once they come back to life, you can use them as you normally would or just snack on them…
Recipe Notes
- Set your marshmallows on the dehydrator trays on a flat side to keep them from rolling around.
- Leave extra room around your marshmallows on the trays because many types swell up. If they are too close, they can sort of fuse together!
- For a real hot cocoa treat, toast your marshmallows first, let them cool, and then stick them in the dehydrator. They will have a yummy charred and caramelized flavor.
- If in doubt on the drying time, give your marshmallows another couple of hours before you test again. You can’t “overdo” them.
Tim is a farm boy with vast experience on homesteads, and with survival and prepping. He lives a self-reliant lifestyle along with his aging mother in a quiet and very conservative little town in Ohio. He teaches folks about security, prepping and self-sufficiency not just through his witty writing, but also in person.
Find out more about Tim and the rest of the crew here.