Marshmallow Cookie Sandwich

I've recently discovered the art of marshmallow making, and it's a lot easier than I thought it would be, as long as you have a decent stand mixer, and use the correct ingredients.

The first batch I made were a little soft, as I didn't use enough gelatine. The next batch didn't even get off the ground as I used vegetarian gelatine. The third batch were just perfect though, so this is the recipe I'll be using in future to make various flavoured marshmallows.

I added some crushed freeze dried strawberries to this batch, and some dried strawberries to the cookies, and sandwiched them together to make cookie sandwiches.

Marshmallows - makes 25/30

8 leaves gelatine

cold water

400g caster sugar

50g golden syrup

1/2 tsp salt

100ml water

tsp vanilla extract

20g freeze dried strawberries, crushed

equal parts cornflour & icing sugar

• add the gelatine leaves to a bowl and cover with cold water & set aside
• prepare an 8"x10" baking tin by lightly greasing with a flavourless oil, or cooking spray (I use a silicone baking tin which makes it easy to remove the marshmallows)
• add the caster sugar, golden syrup, salt, 100ml water & vanilla to a large saucepan
• gently heat until the sugar has dissolved
• increase the heat and bring to the boil
• let the syrup bubble away without stirring, until it reaches 235C on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage)
• squeeze the liquid from the gelatine leaves and add the leaves to the bowl of a food mixer
• with the motor running and a balloon whisk attached, pour the syrup onto the gelatine leaves
• whisk for approx 10 minutes until soft peaks form, and then add the crushed strawberries & whisk to combine
• pour into your prepared tin and leave for a few hours to set
• once set, turn out onto a surface dusted with your cornflour/icing sugar
• using a sharp knife (lightly greased) cut into squares, dusting with the cornflour/icing sugar as you go

Cookies - makes 12 large round cookies

225g caster sugar

60g butter, softened

225g self raising flour

1/2 tsp salt

tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

50g dried strawberries

• beat the sugar and butter together
• stir in the flour, salt, vanilla and egg, until well combined
• stir in the dried strawberries, and mix well
• if you want large round cookies then divide into 12 and roll dough into balls, then place well spaced apart onto one or two greased & lined baking sheets
• for square cookies :spread the dough onto a greased & lined baking sheet and flatten out
• bake in a preheated 180C oven for approx 10-15 minutes until puffed up & golden brown
• cool the round cookies on a wire rack
• for square cookies :slice the large cookie into squares and allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before cooling on a wire rack

For added indulgence, add a little strawberry jam onto the cookies, and microwave for 5-8 seconds