Sugar-free Marshmallows

Healthy marshmallow? Move over Darryl Lea ... these homemade marshmallows are a winner!

You will be amazed at how easy these are to make and they only have three ingredients: water, gelatin and your sweetener of choice. We chose erythritol.

What is Erythritol?

Erythritol belongs to a class of compounds called sugar alcohols. Most sugar alcohols are found in small amounts in nature, especially in fruits and vegetables. The way these molecules are structured gives them the ability to stimulate the sweet taste receptors on your tongue. With only 6% of the calories of sugar, it still contains 70% of the sweetness!

Erythritol is different from other sugar alcohols. Most of it gets absorbed into the bloodstream before it reaches the colon. This means that unlike most sugar alcohols, it is much less likely to cause gas or digestive upset, especially if you are only consuming a small amount.

Erythritol is also a great choice because it doesn't raise blood sugar levels. This makes it an excellent sugar replacement for people with diabetes or insulin resistance.

So without further adieu ...

What you will need

• 60mls water
• 1.5 Tablespoons gelatin
• 125mls water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup erythritol

How to make them

• Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
• Pour 60mls water into a mix-master bowl and sprinkle over the gelatin. Leave for 5 minutes to bloom.
• In a small saucepan add 125mls water, vanilla essence and salt. Pour the erythritol into the centre of the saucepan, but do not stir.
• Turn heat on high and bring liquid to just below a simmer. You don't need it to boil, just to get hot enough for the erythritol to completely melt. Watch carefully or it may suddenly boil over! As soon as you see bubbles on the edges and the erythritol has melted, turn off the heat.
• Pour mixture into your mix-master bowl, over the top of the bloomed gelatin. Turn on the beaters and mix until light, fluffy and thick (around 3 - 5 minutes).
• Pour into your lined baking tray and smooth out with a few quick strokes.
• Refrigerate until set (around 1.5 - 2 hours)
• Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Katrina

...

*The information on Erythritol was sourced from this great website. Check them out for more helpful health information.