How To: Dehydrate Marshmallows

Dehydrated marshmallows are incredibly easy to make and even more fun to eat. Learn how to dehydrate and store marshmallows, easily, in the dehydrator or the oven.

We've entered the season in Alberta that I like to call "Why do I live where the air hurts my face". It's cold, it's snowy, and it's dark all the time.

This year, I got the bright idea that I would make all of my friend's kids a batch of a homemade hot cocoa mix as a little treat to help beat the winter blues. Try as much as I looked locally, I could not find any micro mini marshmallows for my mix.

I got another bright idea. I would dehydrate my own marshmallows for the hot chocolate mix. It did not go exactly as intended, but Eureka anyway!

This how to dehydrate marshmallows guide is dedicated to things not going as intended.

Jump to:

• 💡 Tips + Tricks
• 🗝 Key Ingredients
• 🍴Recommended Equipment
• Testing marshmallows for doneness:
• How to dehydrate marshmallows
• Dehydrating marshmallows in the oven
• How to store dehydrated marshmallows
• How to use dehydrated marshmallows:
• 📖 Printable Recipe

💡 Tips + Tricks

No. 1 --> Don't be alarmed when your dehydrated marshmallows don't shrink into Lucky Charms sized nuggets of amazingness. I mean, I was trying to make mini-er marshmallows, but they puffed up. That's normal.

No. 2 --> Cut larger, full-sized marshmallows down into smaller pieces for quicker drying and easier eating. Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the marshmallows, it's easier than a knife. Once they are cut, either dab the raw edge into powdered sugar or place them into a bag with powdered sugar and shake to coat. This will prevent sticking.

No. 3 --> When arranging the marshmallows on the drying racks, try to avoid the marshmallows touching, as good airflow will decrease the drying time. Standing the marshmallows on the flat end stops their tendency to roll around the rack. If that's too fiddly, just ensure they are in a single layer with space in between.

🗝 Key Ingredients

This is a big one. Marshmallows.

That's it!

Use big ones or small ones, or fancy ones! The only limit here is your imagination!

🍴Recommended Equipment

Dehydrator - I have and love(!) a 9 rack dehydrator by Excalibur. We use it to dehydrate citrus wheels, dehydrate garlic and onions, proof bread, and much more. It's got a 24 hour timer and very precise temperature controls. It's great!

Testing marshmallows for doneness:

There are 2 easy ways to test for doneness. One is delicious, one is messy. I like the delicious way.

--> Remove a couple of marshmallows from the dehydrator. Set them on the counter to cool for 10-15 minutes. Once completely cooled either bite into them or crush them. A fully dehydrated marshmallow will be crunchy throughout and have no gumminess in the centre.

How to dehydrate marshmallows

1. Prepare the marshmallows to be dehydrated. Full sized marshmallows can be cut in half and decorative marshmallows can sliced into more manageable sizes.
2. If cutting marshmallows, either dab the cut end of the marshmallow into powdered sugar or place them into a large ziplock bag with powdered sugar and shake to coat the sticky ends.
3. Place the marshmallows on the drying racks for your dehydrator, in a single layer. To avoid the marshmallows rolling around, place them on the flat ends.
4. Dehydrate the marshmallows at 150f until completely dried. Mini marshmallows will take between 2-4 hours and larger marshmallows will take from 3-5 hours. Begin testing the marshmallows around 2 -3 hour mark, depending on size.

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Dehydrating marshmallows in the oven

1. Prepare the marshmallows as above in steps 1 & 2.
2. Place the prepared marshmallows onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake them in a 170f degree oven. If at all possible, prop the door open with a wooden spoon.
3. Check the marshmallows at least every 20 minutes, until completely dry. If they are still soft, keep on cookin!
4. Begin checking for doneness at the 1 1/2 hour mark.

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How to store dehydrated marshmallows

These dried marshmallows should be kept in an airtight container, ziplock bag or vaccum sealed into mason jars or bags.

The enemy of dehydrated food is moisture, so the moist (ha) important thing here is to keep them dry. I like to store them in mason jars, and if I've made a large batch, I like to vac seal them into mason jars with my handy little food saver attachment.

Dehydrated marshmallows should last at least 6 months if properly stored.

How to use dehydrated marshmallows:

• Sprinkle them into a cup of hot chocolate.
• Add them to your favourite cereal - they taste just like Lucky Charms marshmallows!
• Bake them into cookies or brownies, or use them to decorate cakes and cupcakes.
• Eat them straight. Like OMG they are so good.
• Add them to a sweet chex mix or trail mix.
• Gift them with a homemade hot cocoa mix!
• Use them in your homemade S'mores Cookies!

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