For Valentine’s Day, make simple raspberry honey marshmallows with kids and pair them with instant hot cocoa packets for a lovely homemade gift.
Cooking with Meredith
Cooking with MeredithMarshmallows—whether large and pillowy, pink and tangy, or soft and melty in a cup of cocoa—are a joy for children and adults alike. This raspberry honey marshmallow variation is especially festive for Valentine’s gifts, tucked into a mug alongside a packet of instant hot chocolate.
This recipe is based on an easy, old-fashioned marshmallow method that doesn’t require a candy thermometer and reliably works every time. It’s straightforward enough that young children can take part in most steps with supervision—my eight-year-old made these with me over a few weekly cooking sessions and had great results.
The heart-shaped marshmallows and instant cocoa make a charming gift: in cold climates a hot mug topped with a melting raspberry marshmallow is a seasonal treat. Cutting out hearts, dusting with potato starch, and assembling little cocoa packets are fun tasks for kids.
Kitchen notes: These raspberry honey marshmallows can weep if rolled in powdered sugar. Potato starch or cornstarch prevents weeping; potato starch is looser and gives a more even coating. Any leftover drained raspberries are great in smoothies, yogurt, pancakes, or drizzled with honey.
Sweet Homemade Raspberry Honey Marshmallows
- 400 g (14 oz) frozen raspberries, defrosted
- 3 packages gelatin (about 2 tablespoons + 3/4 teaspoon gelatin powder)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
- 1 cup (240 ml) honey
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- potato starch or unsweetened shredded coconut for coating
Defrost the raspberries in a bowl until fully thawed (overnight or several hours). Set them in a sieve over a large measuring cup or bowl and allow them to drain until you have 1/2 cup of juice. If necessary, press gently on the berries with the back of a spoon to extract enough juice.
Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the raspberry juice and stir gently until the gelatin is moistened. Let sit for 10 minutes to bloom; it will thicken considerably.
While the gelatin blooms, combine the honey and water in a medium saucepan and heat over medium until the honey dissolves. Add the bloomed raspberry gelatin, scraping all of it into the pan with a rubber spatula.
Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; it will be foamy. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm—about 20–25 minutes is typical (you can test carefully with a clean finger once it’s safe).
Prepare a pan: use a 9×13 for cubes, or an 8×8 plus a 9×9 (or two 9×9) if you want a mix of cubes and hearts. Lightly oil the pan, then dust with several tablespoons of potato starch and shake out the excess.
Pour the cooled gelatin mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer and whip on high for about 8 minutes (up to 10 minutes with a smaller mixer) until it triples in volume and becomes fluffy and pale pink. Pour into the prepared pan(s), smoothing the top with a spatula dipped in water. Let set for about 4 hours or overnight; chilling shortens the setting time.
When set, dust a cutting board with potato starch, run a knife around the pan edges, invert onto the board, and cut into cubes or use a small heart-shaped cutter for hearts. Roll each marshmallow in potato starch or shredded coconut to coat evenly, shaking off excess starch. Arrange on a rack to dry overnight.
Store finished marshmallows in a sealed container at room temperature for several weeks. They also make charming packaged gifts in cellophane bags tied with ribbon.
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Instant Hot Chocolate Mix Packets
Single serving packet:
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons icing (confectioners’) sugar
- powdered milk mix to reconstitute about 1½ cups of milk (adjust according to the powdered milk package)
Measure cocoa, icing sugar, and powdered milk into a bowl and whisk to combine. Spoon into small bags (use a cup to hold the bag open or a funnel). Tie with a ribbon. To serve, empty the packet into a mug, add boiling water, stir, and top with one or two raspberry honey marshmallows.
Guten Appetit!
Looking for more easy, kid-friendly recipes? Try other “Cooking With Kids” posts for family baking and hands-on kitchen projects. These raspberry honey marshmallows and instant hot cocoa packets make a sweet, homemade Valentine’s gift that’s simple, fun, and delicious.
You might also like: Easy, Old-Fashioned Homemade Marshmallows; Caramel Popcorn Cake; Chocolate-Dipped Apricots; Strawberry, White Chocolate & Almond Flour Muffins.
