The Marshmallow is a confection that, in its modern form, typically consists of sugar or corn syrup , water, gelatin that has been softened in hot water, dextrose , and flavorings, whipped to a spongy consistency. more

The Marshmallow is a confection that, in its modern form, typically consists of sugar or corn syrup , water, gelatin that has been softened in hot water, dextrose , and flavorings, whipped to a spongy consistency. One commonly proposed theory about the origin of marshmallow holds that the traditional recipe used an extract from the mucilaginous root of the marshmallow plant , a shrubby herb ( Althaea officinalis ), instead of gelatin ; the mucilage was used to soothe sore throats . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] However, while concoctions of all parts of the plant have been used as medicine, a more likely origin for the modern sweet can be found in old recipes: Stems of marsh mallow were peeled to reveal the soft and spongy pith with a texture similar to manufactured marshmallow. This pith was boiled in sugar syrup and dried to produced a soft, chewy confection. [ 3 ] Commercial marshmallows are a late-nineteenth-century innovation. Since Doumak's patented extrusion process of 1948, marshmallows are extruded as soft cylinders, cut in sections and rolled in a mix of finely powdered cornstarch and confectioner's sugar (icing sugar). Not all brands coat their marshmallows in confectioner's sugar. Most of the current brands of commercially available marshmallows in the United States and Canada are made and copacked by Kraft Foods and Doumak, Inc , under such names as Jet-Puffed, Campfire, Kidd and numerous "private label" store brands. less