Dyeing your own marshmallows is a way to get them the color and design you want. Color them to use as centerpieces or treats at baby showers or wedding receptions by placing them on skewers and arranging them to your liking. They can also replace Easter eggs if you're vegan or create colorful s'mores. Marshmallows have the consistency to absorb colors well, so you can achieve the color you desire.
Materials Needed
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You will need these items:
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- Marshmallows (any brand/size)
- Food coloring
- Water
- Small bowl, cup, or muffin tin
- Spoon
- Paper towel
- Wax paper
- Basting brush (optional)
- Corn starch
- Newspaper or other material to cover area
Coloring the Marshmallow
Dyeing marshmallows is a great project for kids, because it can get messy. Lay newspapers or other materials down to protect surfaces from stains and other messes.
Add enough water to the bowl, cup or muffin tin to submerge marshmallows. Add drops of food coloring to the water, approximately 1 drop of dye per 1 tablespoon of water. The more drops of coloring you add, the darker your water. Stir the water with your spoon for a couple of seconds to mix the color thoroughly.
Add the marshmallow to the colored water and press it down gently with the spoon, completely covering it in the water. Keep the marshmallow under the water for about 4 to 6 seconds and remove it with your spoon. If it's not the color you want, put it back in for another few seconds.
Drying the Marshmallow
Once you have removed the marshmallow from the water, dry it with your paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
Lay the marshmallows on the waxed paper to dry before using. Allow them to dry overnight. When they are dry, they will be sticky. With your clean basting brush or your fingers, dust them with corn starch to get rid of the stickiness. Store them in a zip-lock bag or use them right away!
Tips and Warnings
- Use different bowls and spoons when using various colors.
- Do not leave the marshmallows in the water for a long period of time, or they will disintegrate.
- To dye the marshmallow different colors, put it on a skewer and submerge one side of it for a few seconds, take it out of the water, and do the same to the other side in the other color.
- To make custom colors, mix two dye colors together: yellow + blue = green; red + yellow = orange; red + blue = purple). Adding more than two will result in a brown color. Add the dyes equally and gradually to achieve your desired color.
- For vegan alternatives, use vegan dye and make some vegan marshmallows.