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When mini marshmallows or even regular-sized marshmallows just won’t do, snag a bag of giant marshmallows. Our Test Kitchen’s favorite is Campfire Giant Roasters.
When we say these marshmallows are giant, we mean it! They measure about 3 inches across and are just as tall. Maggie Knoebel in the Test Kitchen describes these as “bright white with a soft, pillowy texture.” These Campfire marshmallows have a nice, sweet flavor—exactly what you expect when you pick up a bag at the store.
Where these marshmallows really shine, though, is around a bonfire. Oversized mallows like these are perfect for making s’mores. When toasted, these Campfire marshmallows get perfectly golden and the inside is soft and glossy. “The goo inside is just so good,” explains Maggie.
Of course, you don’t need to use these just for s’mores. You can use them in any marshmallow recipe that calls for melted marshmallows. They will take a little extra time to melt, but they’ll work just the same in the end.
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Vegans know that finding good vegan-friendly ingredients like marshmallows is a challenge. In our taste test, our team found a brand they truly loved and can call the best vegan marshmallows: Dandies.
Dandies are an excellent dupe for traditional marshmallows; they have that classic marshmallow shape, color and sweet flavor. Texture-wise, these marshmallows are a bit denser, but they have a chewy texture that our team enjoys.
If you plan to toast these marshmallows over the fire, you’ll be very pleased. “These caramelized so nicely,” says Sarah.
One thing to note: Vegan marshmallows don’t melt quite the same as traditional marshmallows. Melt slowly and stir, stir, stir is our Test Kitchen’s advice!
How We Tested Marshmallows
Our team rounded up 10 different brands of marshmallows including vegan and gourmet options for this marshmallow buffet. Our testers didn’t know which brand they were sampling to avoid any sort of bias. For this taste test, our team judged the marshmallows according to these criteria:
- Appearance:Â Most marshmallows are squat and round, but there are some cube-shaped ones out there! No matter the shape or size, they should look bright white and appetizing.
- Texture: A good marshmallow should be light, spongy and slightly chewy.
- Toast- and melt-ability:Â This is definitely a marshmallow-specific category! Good marshmallows should toast up to a perfect golden brown (unless you get too close to the campfire) and should melt easily for adding to recipes.
- Flavor:Â Marshmallows should taste sweet. Some may be flavored with vanilla. Whatever the case, they should taste pleasant and never artificial.
Check out which brands our Test Kitchen would happily add to these marshmallow-filled recipes.
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing food, kitchen gadgets and cleaning gear looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.
If you want to fill your pantry and fridge with the best products, check out these tests: