Recipes (and Ideas) to Use Up That Old Bag of Marshmallows (2024)

by Heather

Recipes to use up marshmallows are sometimes needed. That is if you don’t want to throw away that old stale bag in the back of your cupboard.

Did you know that marshmallows were once atreat for royals only? Ancient Egyptians were so crazy about it that it was a dessert reserved for kings! There’s no denying that the squishy, soft, and spongey marshmallow is a mouthwatering, delicious treat.

But you can easily get creative to use up the bag of marshmallows that’s been deep inside your kitchen cabinet for an eternity. We will show you how to create delicious desserts with marshmallows in no time.

Recipes to use up marshmallows

In my family, we often have leftover marshmallows after holidays or gatherings. Over time, I have gathered a collection of tips and tricks for how to use up these leftover marshmallows before they go stale.

I have broken out the tips into two categories:

  • Old and stale marshmallows
  • Fresh marshmallows

Hacks to Use Up Marshmallow Hacks (for old or stale leftover marshmallows)

If you’ve got some old leftover marshmallows deep inside your kitchen cabinet, you can still put them to good use. We are going to show you exactly how with these great marshmallow hacks.

Make Frosting

Marshmallow frosting can be a great addition to your homemade cakes, and it’s quick and easy to make.Gooey marshmallow – your taste buds will go crazy! To get started, follow this marshmallow frosting recipe:

  1. Put 4 egg whites, 1 cup of sugar, and ½ a teaspoon of cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl.
  2. Simmer some water and place your heatproof bowl on top. Make sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
  3. Stir the ingredients in the heatproof bowl with a beater for 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Put the bowl into your mixer and gradually put it on high.
  5. Beat for around 6 to 7 minutes.

Extend the Life of Brown Sugar

When stored for a long time, brown sugar can harden and turn into a bunch of rocks. This is because it loses its moisture, so you will need to find something to replenish it.

To extend the life of brown sugar and keep it soft during long-term storage, place marshmallows on top and close it in an airtight container.The marshmallow will give moisture back to your sugar, allowing it to stay nice and soft. And no, your sugar won’t taste like marshmallows.

Protect Cake

Fondant is known to be good to protect cakes. But, marshmallow fondant does the job beautifully and is much easier to make.And it tastes better than store-bought brands! The secret is using mini marshmallows. These give the fondant a delicious vanilla flavor. You can use marshmallow fondant just like regular fondant.

Many bakers like working with it due to its smooth and stretchy texture.
To make marshmallow fondant, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Powdered sugar
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Water

To make a beautiful marshmallow fondant in no time, follow this simple recipe:

  1. Add one big bag of marshmallows (around 1 pound) to a stainless steel bowl.
  2. Add a few tablespoons of water.
  3. Put the mix over a Bain Marie for 5 minutes. Your mixture should look nice and soft.
  4. Put it on the mixer on medium speed, using a flat whisk
  5. Dump a generous amount of powdered sugar into the mix to bring the dough together. The mixture should now look soft but start to firm up.
  6. Put some canola oil on your hands to get the sticky fondant out of the bowl.
  7. Scrape the marshmallow fondant out of the bowl.
  8. Kneed your fondant. If you feel like it’s still a little sticky, add in more powdered sugar.
  9. Wrap the marshmallow fondant nice and tight in cling film. Do not store it in the fridge. Keep it in your cupboard at room temperature.

Bait to Catch Fish

Did you know that you could use marshmallows as bait to catch fish? Using marshmallows as bait might seem strange, but it’s a proven method. Put a small piece of marshmallow on your fishing rod, and you’ll get a bite in no time.Even fish love this indulgent snack!

If you don’t believe us, check out thisvideoof a fisherman using marshmallows as bait to catch fish.

Recipes to Use Up Marshmallow (for fresh leftover marshmallows)

Halloween Marshmallow Pops

Jazz up the Holidays this year with these delicious Halloween marshmallow pops. Aren’t you bored of store-bought candy? These sweet treats are incredibly easy to make and will surely be a hit at your next Halloween party.

Here’s how to make Halloween marshmallow pops.

Summertime Flower Cupcakes

Summertime flower cupcakes are great because they look like a dessert you would buy at a bakery! Get creative and create these gorgeous summertime flower cupcakes with the kids. They’re super easy to make and lots of fun too! And they’re great for birthday parties!

Here’s how to make summertime flower cupcakes.

Homemade S’mores

One of the easiest recipes to use up marshmallows is that of theclassic s’mores. All you need to make this lovely dish are four ingredients you might already have at home. Who needs cookies when you’ve got s’mores?
For your homemade s’mores recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • 4 Digestive biscuits
  • Butter
  • 1 bar of dark chocolate
  • Marshmallows

To make delicious homemade s’mores, follow this simple recipe:

  1. Take 4 Digestive biscuits, put them in a sealable plastic bag, and crush them inside.
  2. Melt ¼ cup of butter.
  3. Mix ¼ melted butter and 1 cup of crushed biscuits in a bowl.
  4. Place the mixed biscuits and butter into a pan.
  5. Press it all to make a crust.
  6. Cut small pieces of a dark chocolate bar and place them on top of the crust. You can also use chocolate chips if you prefer.
  7. Neatly place your marshmallows on top of the dark chocolate.
  8. Preheat your oven to 160 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes.
  9. Bake for 15 minutes. Your little pie is ready! It is great paired with hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

Name a better duo than chocolate and marshmallows – I’ll wait. Instead of boring toasted marshmallows on a campfire, check out these chocolate-dipped marshmallows.
For your chocolate-dipped marshmallow recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • White chocolate
  • Large marshmallows
  • Sprinkles
  • Straws, sticks, or forks

To make chocolate-dipped marshmallows, follow this simple recipe:

  1. Break your white chocolate into chunks and place the chunks in a glass jar
  2. Place the glass jar in the microwave and take it out when the chocolate has melted.
  3. Stick a straw, a stick, or a fork into a marshmallow.
  4. Dip your marshmallow into the melted chocolate.
  5. Dip your marshmallow into the sprinkles, or place the sprinkles on top with your fingers.
  6. Place your marshmallow into a glass and let it cool for 5 minutes.

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

For your butterscotch peanut butter marshmallow recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Unsalted butter
  • Peanut butter
  • Butterscotch chips
  • Salt
  • Vanilla extract
  • Small, multi-colored marshmallows

To make gorgeous butterscotch peanut butter marshmallow squares, follow this simple recipe:

  1. Add ¼ cup of unsalted butter, 1 cup of peanut butter, two cups of butterscotch chips, and ¼ teaspoon of salt to a stainless steel bowl.
  2. Mix and melt it slowly on low heat until it’s all melted.
  3. Add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
  4. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes until it cools.
  5. Place baking paper inside a square or rectangular pan.
  6. Once the mixture has cooled down, add 5 cups of multi-colored marshmallows and stir until every piece is coated.
  7. Add it to your pan and spread evenly.
  8. Put your pan in the fridge for 1 hour to let it harden.
  9. Finally, cut your dessert into square pieces, and voila!

MORE TIPS FOR USING UP EXTRA INGREDIENTS

Recipes to Use Up Leftover Sour Cream

Recipes to Use Up Extra Eggs

Recipes to Use Up Extra Half and Half

More Sweet Treats to Try

28 Microwave Desserts

Fruity Pebbles Treats

14 Desserts Using White Cake Mix

Blueberry Custard Cream Pie

Korean Strawberry Milk

Mini Apple Pie Roses

Have questions or suggestions? Leave them in the comments below. Until next time: Stay salty, and sweet 😉

Recipes (and Ideas) to Use Up That Old Bag of Marshmallows (2024)

FAQs

What can you do with expired marshmallows? ›

Marshmallows don't really go “bad” that I am aware of. Personally, I would try to use them. You can soften hard marshmallows by dipping a sealed bag in a hot pot of water boiling for a couple of minutes. The expiration date is just a best by date.

Can you make rice Krispies with stale marshmallows? ›

Don't use old marshmallows.

Most importantly, they don't melt nearly as well. Instead of becoming soft and gooey, they melt into a one giant blob. → Follow this tip: Save the older marshmallows for hot cocoa and s'mores, and pick up a fresh bag of marshmallows to ensure a really great batch of rice krispie treats.

Can you use old marshmallows for baking? ›

I was cleaning out my pantry and was a little embarrassed at the number of partial bags of stale marshmallows. As it turns out, you can still use them for a variety of recipes, especially baking treats!

Where can I use marshmallows? ›

From ice cream cakes to rocky road, here are our favourite ways to use marshmallows.
  1. 1Mississippi mud pie. ...
  2. 2Marshmallow jam biscuit slice. ...
  3. 3White chocolate slice with toasted marshmallows and burnt caramel sauce. ...
  4. 4Campfire cookies. ...
  5. 5White chocolate, marshmallow and raspberry cheesecake. ...
  6. 64-ingredient Mars Bar mallow fudge.

Can you use year old marshmallows? ›

Considering the information above, if your year-old bag of marshmallows has been stored properly and shows no signs of spoilage, it should be safe to use them for making s'mores. However, if you notice any mold, unusual odor, or texture, it's best to discard them to ensure your safety.

Can you eat marshmallows a year after expiration date? ›

While expiration dates are strict deadlines that indicate when a food item is no longer safe for eating, best-by dates are markers of taste, quality, and freshness. So while marshmallows aren't generally unsafe to eat past the date written on the pack, their quality will certainly deteriorate over time.

Can you use stale marshmallows in cookies? ›

Older marshmallows from an already-open package can be used, but may take a little longer to bake. Just know that older marshmallows may not fully melt.

Can dogs eat marshmallows? ›

Marshmallows, regardless of their sweetener content, are loaded with sugar, which should never be given to your pet. Even if your dog consumes marshmallows without artificial sweeteners, you should still be cautious as the high sugar levels can lead to an upset stomach, pancreatitis, and vomiting.

Can you eat 3 year old marshmallows? ›

Marshmallows tend to become stickier as they age, which can be a telltale sign that they are past their prime. Despite this change in consistency, marshmallows can remain safe to eat for 6 to 8 months beyond their marked best before date, though their optimal quality may have diminished.

Do marshmallows help a cough? ›

A viral TikTok suggests the gelatin in marshmallows can provide cough relief. Experts say there's no evidence to support this, but the placebo effect is real. Honey, hot tea, and gargling with salt water are some of the effective at-home remedies to soothe a sore throat.

Can you use hard marshmallows for Rice Krispie Squares? ›

Recipe Notes

* Make sure your marshmallows are fresh. Stale, hard marshmallows won't result in nice, chewy bars. ** Any brand is fine, but be sure the cereal you use is fresh. Stale cereal will make for stale-tasting Rice Crispy Treats.

What is the cereal with marshmallows? ›

Lucky Charms is a brand of breakfast cereal produced by General Mills since 1964. The cereal consists of multi-colored marshmallows and pieces of shaped pulverized oat, each resembling one of several objects or symbols associated with good luck.

Can I put marshmallows in coffee? ›

Putting marshmallows in your favorite coffee is a delicious alternative to cream and sugar.

Why are melted marshmallows so good? ›

Marshmallows are spun sugar with stabilizer so when you toast them or burn them(yummy ) it caramelizes and creates a harder sugar shell with many more flavours plus the texture of the melted middle adds extra sweetness and wonderful texture.

Do marshmallows last longer in the refrigerator? ›

You can also place marshmallows in your refrigerator, but they won't last as long, usually around two to three months. Sometimes the inevitable happens and you open a stored bag to find sticky marshmallows or stale clumps.

Can you freeze marshmallows? ›

Freezing marshmallows ensures freshness for far longer — in some cases, up to a year. Just be sure to thaw them properly so they retain their springiness. What's the best way to bring them back to temp? Put them in the fridge overnight to defrost them slowly, and keep them sealed airtight so no moisture gets in.

Can you preserve marshmallows? ›

To keep marshmallows fresh and unstuck, put them in a freezer-safe plastic bag or a container with a tightfitting lid and store them in the freezer. When needed, remove and thaw at room temperature, and they are good as new.

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