Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows

If you have never had homemade marshmallows then you are missing out. They are so much better than the store bought - out of the bag - rubbery kind.

Basic Vanilla Marshmallows

4 packets of gelatin envelopes
3/4 cup water
1 Tbs vanilla extract
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup water (no I did not forget and repeat - you need 2 separate 3/4 cups of water)
1 1/4 cups corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt

Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with a non stick spray then sprinkle with powder sugar, use a heavy hand with the powder sugar.
Fit a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. In the mixer bowl combine the 3/4 cup water with vanilla extract. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid to bloom (soften).
Add the sugar, salt, corn syrup and other 3/4 cup of water to a heavy sauce pan ( I use my 2 quart sauce pan). Bring to a boil with the lid on and with out stirring. *I don't do this. I bring it to a boil and continue to stir it. I have issues with it boiling over so I watch it like a hawk.* Continue to boil the mixture until it reaches soft ball stage (240 degrees).
With the mixer at medium speed, pour all of the hot syrup slowly down the side of the bowl into the awaiting gelatin mixture. Be careful as the hot syrup is VERY hot and may splash. Use caution!!! If you have a splash guard, this would be a great time to use it. When all of the syrup is added, bring the mixer up to full speed.
Whip until the mixture is very fluffy and stiff, about 8 - 10 minutes.  Pour the marshmallow into the parchment lined pan and smooth. You can spray your spatula with cooking spray to help scrape the bowl and smooth the marshmallow mixture.
I now sprinkle the top with powder sugar.
Allow the marshmallows to sit for 10 -12 hours. I usually make these in the evening and allow them to sit over night. *Most recipes call for mixing the powder sugar with rice flour, it is not necessary. The plain powder sugar is fine.*
Turn the slab out onto a cutting board. Slice with a pizza cutter dipped in powder sugar. Cut into even squares. You can now dip in powder sugar, dip into melted chocolate, or how ever you would like to decorate them.

There are many variations to these marshmallows. Experiment and tell me what you created! Better yet - share!