Make your own Marshmallow Fluff at home with a few simple ingredients. Perfect as a filling but works great as a simple frosting too!
I made marshmallow fluff for a recent baking project. I could have easily bought this from the store, but I wanted to try and make my own to see how it would turn out.
I’m actually glad I did as the store-bought marshmallow fluff can actually be very runny and not easy to work with.
How to Make Marshmallow Fluff
If you’ve made an Italian meringue/buttercream before, the process is very similar.
You’re basically pouring boiling sugar into whipped egg whites, a process that I am slowly getting more and more comfortable with. Molten hot sugar is intimidating! Be extra careful with it when you’re making this recipe.
Aside from molten sugar, the process was simple and the marshmallow fluff turned out PERFECT! The most difficult part was not devouring the whole thing straight out of the mixer bowl with a spoon.
If you’re not into boiling sugar (I don’t blame you) you can make this recipe for 7 minute frosting instead. It’s very similar except that it uses a Swiss meringue technique instead of an Italian meringue-like we have here. It’s slightly less stable/thick, but should work just fine.
I’ve used this Marshmallow fluff recipe a few times now and I love it. I often make more than I need and freeze any excess to be used at a later time (usually in Rice Krispie treats).
Tips for making this homemade Marshmallow Fluff :
- For an easier but slightly less stable version you can make 7 minute frosting instead.
- Make sure all of your equipment is grease-free. If there is even a speck of grease (or egg yolk) the meringue will not whip up. I wipe everything down with lemon juice before adding the egg whites.
- You will need a thermometer to make this. My favorite is from Thermapen.
- Use caution when making the sugar as it will be very hot!! You’ll want to pour it very carefully, and slowly into your partly whipped egg whites. The sweet spot for this is getting the stream right between the whisk and the sides of the bowl, so the syrup doesn’t get splashed around by the whisk.
- The spread can be rewhipped by hand if it becomes flat or you can put it back on the mixer to re-whip.
- If you have excess fluff left over, you can freeze it in an airtight container to use at a later date. I recommend using it in Rice Krispie treats!
- I do not recommend using store-bought marshmallow fluff in place of homemade if the recipe calls for it. The store-bought stuff can be very runny and will totally ruin your dessert!
Where to use Marshmallow Fluff:
- S’mores Cake
- S’mores Cookie Cups
- Fluffernutter Cookie Cups
- Hot Chocolate Cake
- Sweet Potato Cake
- Peanut Butter S’mores Cookies
Homemade Marshmallow Fluff
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup corn syrup or honey
- 3 large egg whites room temperature
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place water, sugar, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Insert a candy thermometer into the pot and heat over medium-high. Do not stir from this point on as crystals will form.
- Wipe down your mixer bowl, whisk, etc with lemon juice or vinegar to ensure they are completely grease free.*
- Place egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- When the sugar syrup reaches about 225°F, start whipping the egg whites to soft peaks. Approx 3-4mins.
- When the whites are ready, the sugar syrup should be at 240°F. Remove from the heat, turn mixer to medium and very slowly and carefully pour the sugar syrup into the whites in a thin, steady stream.**
- Once all of the syrup is in, set mixer to medium/high and continue whipping. The whites will deflate at first, but they will thicken and fluff up.
- Continue to whip for 7-8 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and fluffy.
- Add in vanilla and whip until the fluff has cooled completely.
- Use right away as a frosting or filling or transfer into an airtight container and store for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.***
Notes
** The sweet spot for this is getting the stream right between the whisk and the sides of the bowl, so the syrup doesn’t get splashed by the whisk.
*** The spread may need to be re-whipped to fluff it up again.
Originally published on Jan 20, 2015
Moth says
I’ve made this twice as a base recipe for fruity marshmallow fluff. I personally prefer stiffer fluff, so I brought the sugar to around 155-160°F (hard ball stage) instead of 140°F (soft ball stage).
Instead of using vanilla at the end, adding about 15g of citric acid and a bit over half a teaspoon of fruit flavoring directly to the sugar as soon as I took it off the heat made it nice and sour and fruity. (Couldn’t find a recipe for sour or fruity fluff, but this was easy to adapt! I’d add 5-10 grams of citric acid if you just want a nice fruit flavor without it being particularly sour)
Esther says
Thank you for pointing out that we can also use honey, as I don’t always have corn syrup. Good thing you mentioned that the egg white will deflate before fluffing up again. Overall great and clear instruction.
Olivia says
Thank you, Esther! I’m glad you found it easy to follow 🙂
Emily says
This was really good! Just be aware that if you use honey instead of corn syrup the fluff will have a VERY honey-forward flavor, but it worked really well in my scenario! I used it as an ingredient in a filling for homemade oatmeal cream pies and it was yummy! 🙂
Olivia says
Hi Emily! Your combo sounds totally delish. Glad you loved it!
Carrie says
This was my first time making fluff, or cooking with something needing a candy thermometer. I didn’t have cream of tartar so I substituted for 1 tsp of lemon juice and still achieved what I assume is proper results and it tasted great. I made it to make filling for oatmeal pies but I am also considering making pegan logs.
Olivia says
Hi Carrie! So glad you liked it 🙂
Sandi Rice says
I’m making my own wedding cake. I’m in a small town and the only wedding cakes available are not delicious. Mine may not be as beautiful but mine will be delicious. I’m doing a main cake and two smaller. Three flavors, all on a pedestal cake plate. Any advice you could give?
Olivia says
Hi Sandi! I haven’t made a wedding cake myself so I can’t give advice in that regard, but if you have any specific questions about my recipes I can help you out!
Michelle says
I think I somehow managed to make nougat instead of marshmallow fluff… It sets relatively solid 🤭 and has a nougat taste to it… I’m gonna mix in some fruit or nuts to make nougat now 😅
Olivia says
Hi Michelle! I’m not sure how that would have happened! Did you make any adjustments to the recipe? Glad you were able to save it still 🙂
Heidi Nykaza says
How long do you whip until cooled? I have been whipping for about 20 min. But it tastes so good!
Olivia says
Hi Heidi! It does take a long time, 20mins is not unusual. It will take longer in a glass bowl.
Jillyjam says
I used Honey as an optional sub according to the recipe since Corn syrup is not readily available in my local supermarket. Unfortunately, the ending result tasted too sweet and the honey flavour was too overpowering. The texture and the fluffiness was spot on though. I was amazed that it only had very minimal ingredients but yielded heaps of meringue that has really good texture and height.
So just word of a wise, if you need to sub with honey, and you aren’t looking for the honey-flavoured meringue, you’re better off looking for another recipe.
Olivia says
Hi Jillyjam! Thanks for your feedback!
Rachel says
This sounds delicious! Would it be possible to make this banana flavored by adding maybe 1 tsp of banana emulsion. If so, would I need to do this instead of the vanilla flavoring or in addition to it. Thank you.
Olivia says
Hi Rachel! I think that should work and yes add it at the end.
Tessa Wakefield says
Hi, do you know if this would work instead of using marshmallows in rice crispie bars? Where you melt the marshmallows down as the binding agent? Thanks
Olivia says
Hi Tessa! I haven’t tried it myself but you can give it a go. Just add rice krispies to it and see how it comes together.
Jax says
Perfect
Olivia says
Glad you loved it, Jax!
jill says
thanks so much …it came out perfect! i would recommend this recipe to anyone to loves fluff. and wicked easy!
Olivia says
So glad to hear that, Jill!
Αλεξανδρα Γιολάντα Γκουρη says
Hello ,
I need your help pls if possible, I want to make rocky road cupcakes and the filling is marshmallow fluff , how many days prior do you recommend on doing them and keep them fresh in the freezer?
I am asking because in previous comments you mentioned that the marshmallow fluff will not stand for many days and will go runny between cake layers
Thank you
Olivia says
Hi Αλεξανδρα! I do feel like it will soften fairly quickly as a filling, which might be ok since it is contained in the cupcakes. Or you could use it as a frosting instead.
Juli says
Could this be used in place of meringue on a baked alaska?
Olivia says
Hi Juli! For sure! You could also use a Swiss meringue instead which is easier to make: https://livforcake.com/7-minute-frosting-recipe/
Dakota says
I used honey and it turned out beautifully!! Will be saving this! Thank you!
Olivia says
Thanks so much, Dakota!
Melanie says
I have trouble with the sugar syrup browning and turning to taffy before it reaches temp. I did calibrate my thermometer with boiling water. Any idea why this happens and how to prevent? I tried multiple times with same results.
Olivia says
Hi Melanie! If it is browning it has definitely gone too far. I would try a new thermometer, and make sure you’re reading in F not in C.
Angela Boudreaux says
Canthis be used to make rice Crispie treats?
Olivia says
Hi Angela! I haven’t used it myself but I don’t see why not. I would use it as is and not add extra butter.
Sara says
Hi!
How can we defrost the leftover if it was in the freezer?
Olivia says
Hi Sara! I just leave it on the counter.
Brittany says
Hi! I noticed you said you can store leftovers in the freezer or an airtight container at room temp. Can I use this as a filling for a cake and then refrigerate the cake? The frosting I want to use requires refrigeration. Thank you!
Olivia says
Hi Brittany! Yes, that will be fine but note that the fluff will soften and turn runny over time as it gets in contact with the fat from the cake layers.
Kelly Kelly says
Hi there, how high do you turn the burner on to cook the sugar mixture?
Olivia says
Hi Kelly! I mention this in the recipe. I cook it on med-high on the stove.
Kelly Kelly says
Thank you, my eyes were obviously not working. lol! Thankyou for this recipe! I’m making it today.
Olivia says
I hope you loved it!