How To: Dehydrate Marshmallows
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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.
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💡 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
- Prepare the marshmallows to be dehydrated. Full sized marshmallows can be cut in half and decorative marshmallows can sliced into more manageable sizes.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Dehydrating marshmallows in the oven
- Prepare the marshmallows as above in steps 1 & 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.
- Check the marshmallows at least every 20 minutes, until completely dry. If they are still soft, keep on cookin!
- Begin checking for doneness at the 1 1/2 hour mark.
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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📖 Printable Recipe
How To: Dehydrate Marshmallows
Ingredients
- 1 bag marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
In the Dehydrator:
- Prepare the marshmallows to be dehydrated. Full-sized marshmallows can be cut in half and decorative marshmallows can sliced into more manageable sizes.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
In the oven:
- Prepare the marshmallows to be dehydrated. Full-sized marshmallows can be cut in half and decorative marshmallows can sliced into more manageable sizes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Check the marshmallows at least every 20 minutes, until completely dry. If they are still soft, keep on cookin!
- Begin checking for doneness at the 1 1/2 hour mark.
Notes
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 use dehydrated marshmallows:
- Sprinkle them into a cup of hot cocoa, or add them to a homemade hot chocolate mix.
- 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.
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.Recommended Equipment + Ingredients
Nutrition
Pin this dehydrated marshmallows guide:
So do these soften and get creamy like the fresh marshmallows when you add them to hot chocolate?
They behave a lot like the freeze-dried marshmallows in a commercial hot chocolate mix. They soften a bit, get melty and add marshmallow flavor. They definitely tend to get steamed and re-soften to a gooey consistency when baking, but they tend to melt more in hot cocoa.
okay so i am diabetic and made sugar free marshmallows for the first time ever. they’re alright, they’re fine, they’re cool, they are definitely better than nothing, but… they’re not real marshmallows, obvi. i was hoping dehydrating them would make them a little more recognizable for me. y’know like the little itty-bitty ones that come in the container you can shake onto your drink/food? the cute ones? you know what I’m talking about.
anyway, that’s what I’m going for. my marshmallows are in a sheet form so I’m going to cut them really small since you said they puff up. i have an air frier that also dehydrates. i’ve never used this setting but you’ve got me excited to try it!!
sorry i know I’m reviewing this 5 stars before even trying it but i just HAD to let you know that the section that really got me was “the moist important thing here is to keep them dry” actually made me laugh out loud so thanks for that, that’s what won me over to give this a real go lol. I’ll be back after the dehydration process to let you know if it worked for the SF marshmallows!
My marshmallows melted and dried flat in my dehydrator, what did I do wrong? Thanks for the help!
That is so strange. Was the temperature too high? That’s the only thing that would have caused them to dry out like that?
@Bailey, mine melted in the oven at 170F so no you aren’t alone. I hope my review doesn’t get weeded out because it was an epic marshmallow disaster in my place with it all over the floor, oven, stove, pot, burnt my arms and hands, when I tried to scrape it off the parchment and into the pot to salvage into squares.
YIKES! I am so sorry to hear that happened. That is NOT what is supposed to happen, you are definitely right there. I have done it successfully in the past. The variables I can think of are different marshmallows might have a different melting point or oven temperatures.
I honestly thought you were making marshmallows, not just cutting up bigger one
Sorry, the recipe title wasn’t clear. That said, I do have a marshmallow recipe as well!
I would love to try
So I just bought the Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator. Cut mini marshmallows in half, coated in powdered sugar, and stuck them in. Did my best to make sure they werent touching. They are on the first two trays. I had them in there at 120 for 11 hours. I tested some at the 11 hour mark, and they tasted drier, but they were chewy, and stuck to my teeth. So I turned the heat up to just above 150, and 2.5 hours later, a similar result, but drier and airier. Am I putting the door on wrong or something? There is an open space about a centimeter wide on the side of the door. Also, the trays weren’t too hot to the touch
Hey Alicia, sorry for the delay getting back to you, but it sounds like the door was on properly. I’ve found that the humidity in the environment can make a big difference in your dehydrating time – I live in a really dry area, but if you live somewhere with high humidity it can definitely take longer.
I’ve been making these for years using mini marshmallows but before I dehydrate them I coat them with cocoa powder. I’ve never had them melt before but sometimes they have taken longer to get done because of high humidity.
Coat them with cocoa powder, you say?! I must try this.
Hi!
Oven method questions ●
Do I need to keep separation and air in between the mini marshmallows?
I do not have parchment paper so I have aluminum foil, Will I achieve the same effect?
I made an attempt at dehydrating some marshmallows a few weeks ago, it was just terrible. I used the lucky charms fun little colored marshmallows I put them in the oven at 170 did not use any sort of foil, paper or spray on my pan. Went for a walk with my sweet toddler monster I came back to a fluffy absolutely incredible smelling fail. ( I’m not even going to ask what I did wrong)
Hi June, It’s best to keep air space between them, it decreases airflow.
Parchment paper is silicone coated, so it prevents sticking. You may be able to get away with aluminum foil if you give it a quick spray with cooking spray. I’d maybe try with only a few first to see if it works.
I’d encourage you to keep your eye on the marshmallows in the oven, as another commenter found her oven melted her marshmallows. If they start to melt, I would prop open the oven door with a wooden spoon. Good Luck!
I’m new to dehydrating food. I had a bag of marshmallows I didn’t know what to do with so I followed your instructions and they came out perfect. I will definitely be making more in the future. Thank you so much💜💜💜
SO happy to hear you loved them!
Can you dehydrate the fun shaped ones too? Like the Christmas shaped ones? Or are they too big?
Hey Marsha, I don’t see why not. They’ll just take longer to dehydrate I’m thinking!