Marshmallows are without doubt the favourite dessert of many and considered to be a definite must for camping trips, desserts, and hot cocoa. However, they are rich in sugar so are not very good for your health.
Despite the fact that they contain no fat, according to Healthy Holistic Living, what is problematic is the abundance of processed sugar in them. Unfortunately, one average marshmallow has around 4 grams of refined sugar and one cup of these treats or topping your hot cocoa with them has almost 30 grams of sugar or 400 empty calories.
What’s more, this exceeds the RDA of sugar by almost 10 grams. Oh no!
Refined Sugar Is not Good for You
As seen on Healthy Holistic Living, studies have associated diets abundant in processed sugar and negative brain effects, including poor memory and declined neuroplasticity. And, the higher the amount of refined sugar in your diet, the less room there is to incorporate veggies, whole grains, and fruits which are essential for optimal health.
Sucrose (refined sugar) and high fructose corn syrup have also been connected with serious health problems, including heart illness, obesity, some cancers, food addictions, and diabetes.
Taking into consideration that added sugar can wreak havoc in your organism, we decided to present a recipe for healthy, sugar-free marshmallows which you can prepare at home in no time. However, they do contain a specific amount of natural sugar from the fruits and honey so make sure you not exaggerate with their consumption.
Amazing, right? Let us check out the recipe below that we found on Gotta Do the Right Thing:
½ cup of raw honey
½ tbsp of grass-fed gelatine
½ cup of cold water
½ tsp of vanilla extract
1/8 tsp of sea salt
Preparation: First, oil a loaf pan and place parchment paper into it. Oil the paper as well and then put it aside. In the meantime, put ¼ cup of water in a bowl and mix it with the gelatine. Then, in a pot, combine ¼ cup of water, the honey, and salt and bring it to medium heat. Cook it for approximately 10 minutes. To check if it is ready, scoop some of the liquid and add it in a bowl of ice- if it begins to form small softballs once it cools down, this means the cooking is done.
Once done, remove it from the stove and with a hand mixer on low setting, carefully blend the hot syrup into the gelatine mixture by drizzling it onto the bowl’s side. When the mixture is homogeneous, add the vanilla and blend with the mixer on high speed for 10 minutes. When the mixture has become fluffy and thick, transfer it into the pan and leave it for 4 to 12 hours to dry. Afterwards, cut it into squares and serve.
Extra tip: Roll the marshmallows in cocoa powder prior to serving. Enjoy!
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