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Whether you're adding them to your own hot chocolate or including them in a gift basket to a lucky someone, these peppermint marshmallows are sure to make the season cheery and bright!

overhead view of peppermint marshmallows in hot chocolate

Guys, I have a confession. A confession that will surprise all of none of you if you've been with me for any length of time.

My confession: I like my hot chocolate extra. Extra chocolate. Extra marshmallows. And a big ol' helping of extra indulgence. Why? Well one, because I'm an adult and I do what I want. And two, because winter is me time.

Summer bod? Hibernating under three layers of sweaters and a parka. Leg shaving? Optional... at best. More pajama pants wearing than should be legal? Probably. Snuggled up somewhere next to a heater with a warm beverage? You know me too well.

And as long as we're indulging, we might as well be extra about it. So extra, that we make our own marshmallows... colorful marshmallows... in festive holiday flavors. The trifecta of extra.

So go ahead, cozy on up to that heater and grab yourself a hot cup of chocolate with a heaping handful of these peppermint marshmallows. Here's to us time! Pajama pants: optional.

How to make peppermint marshmallows

First, make the marshmallow base.

You’ll need to prepare your gelatin, make a sugar syrup, and whip up some egg whites. Add your gelatin to your syrup, combine with your egg whites, and whip until fluffy.

Second, color half of the marshmallow red.

Load the white and red marshmallow into two separate piping bags and pipe 6 lines of marshmallow (3 of each color) onto a piece of plastic wrap, alternating colors.

Place another piece of plastic wrap over the top of the marshmallow, roll it up and twist the ends.

collage of peppermint marshmallow base being wrapped in plastic wrap

Third, pipe your marshmallows.

You'll want to pipe your marshmallows onto powdered sugar dusted parchment paper using a large, round tip (I used an Ateco 809).

You can smooth out any bumps or raised areas on your marshmallows by wetting your finger and running it over the top of the marshmallows.

Allow the marshmallows to dry for at least 8 hours but preferably overnight.

overhead view of baking sheet with piped marshmallows on it

Finally, dust your marshmallows with powdered sugar.

Even once they've dried, the tops of your marshmallows will likely still be a little sticky. To remedy this, simply dust them with a little powdered sugar, brushing off any excess.

hand dusting marshmallows with powdered sugar

Expert tips

Never made hand piped marshmallows? No worries! Here are some quick tips to help you make them right the first time around:

Hand piped marshmallows are all about consistency. You’ll want to whip your marshmallow until light and fluffy but still very malleable. You’ve nailed your consistency if you can pick up a spoonful of your freshly whipped marshmallow, drop it back into the bowl, and it reabsorbs in about 20 seconds.
Once your marshmallow is the right consistency, put it in a piping bag and pipe immediately. Marshmallow will slowly firm up, even in a warm room, so you’ll want to pipe your marshmallow immediately.
Grease AND dust your parchment paper with powdered sugar to make peeling off those marshmallows a breeze.
If you're having a hard time getting the marshmallows to release from the piping bag/tip, simply wet your fingers and use them to "cut" the marshmallows and press them back onto the parchment
After you dust your marshmallows with powdered sugar, they can look a little faded. This means there's still too much excess powdered sugar on them. I find the easiest way to remove it is the rub the marshmallows back and forth in my hands.
Storage: homemade marshmallows will keep for about a month when stored in an airtight container in a cool place.

side view of cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and a sparkler

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