Viva Nostalgia

Remember the super sticky sweetness that was the mallow cookie? A seventies treat that grew into a wagon wheel fit for a brown bagged lunch. The sweet classic with a dollop of strawberry jam under the marshmallow for just a little extra kick of sugar.

I would pick off the outer chocolate coating to reveal the marshmallow mountain only to carefully separate it from the cookie support to get to the jam in the centre. Ahh memories.

How delightful it was to discover that the July Daring Baker’ challenge was hosted by Nicole at Sweet Tooth. She chose Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies and Milan Cookies from pastry chef Gale Gand of The Food Network.

Not only have I never thought to recreate this childhood treat, being a bit of a make if from scratch kind of gal, I hadn’t yet shared this sweet delicacy with my own kids. Until today.

My God. I don’t think I have ever seen their eyes pop quite so far from their heads. I had them at the chocolate blobs long before they even realized the marshmallow surprise inside. I’m not exactly sure why I hadn’t attempted my own marshmallows before, but having recently making a big batch of summer strawberry jam with them, I made two bowls. One vanilla and the other a fresh strawberry marshmallow, so sweet and pink it could make your teeth ache just by looking at it. Either way, with the dollop of jam or the whole pink mess, the combo was perfect with the dark chocolate and lavender bar I’ve been hoarding for a little while now.

Naturally, I was out of a few ingredients, and a challenge wouldn’t be a challenge if I didn’t have to go and change the recipe and wing it, so here’s my version. A bit smaller of a batch and actually a smidge healthier (all considering) with a sifted whole wheat flour for the cookie. I’d have to say they were quite tasty. Just as guilty, but smile inducing and sticky finger licking, just as I remember them all the same.

MARSHMALLOW COOKIES
Adapted from Gald Gand’s Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies

BISCUITS

3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour, sifted with bran removed
1 1/4 Cups Self Raising Cake Flour
1/3 Cup Sugar
pinch salt
8 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, chilled
Zest 1/2 Lemon (organic or very well scrubbed)
2 Eggs, whisked

Combine the two flours,  sugar and the lemon zest in the food processor.
With the motor running, add the butter. Once it resembles coarse crumbs, add the eggs and reduce the speed.
Continue to mix until everything just comes together in a ball of smooth dough.
Wrap in plastic and flatten into a disk. Chill in the fridge or freezer for at least 1/2 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut out using a 2″ round or ornate cookie cutter.
Bake on a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet for about 10 minutes or until just golden around the edges.
Cool completely.

MARSHMALLOWS

1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon powdered gelatin, one packet
2 tablespoons cold water
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the water, corn syrup, and sugar in a saucepan, bring to a boil until soft-ball stage, or 235ºF on a candy thermometer. Meanwhile, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let dissolve. Remove the syrup from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix. Whip the whites until soft peaks form and pour the syrup into the whites. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff. Transfer to a pastry bag.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

12 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Melt the 2 ingredients together in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over barely simmering water or in the microwave in a glass container in 45 second intervals.

ASSEMBLY

Pipe a dollop of marshmallow onto each cookie. Let set at room temperature for 2 hours to set.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment or a nonstick baking mat. One at a time, gently drop the marshmallow-topped cookies into the hot chocolate. Lift out with a fork and let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Place on the prepared pan and let set at room temperature until the coating is firm, about 1 to 2 hours.