The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Marshmallows

Thousands of years ago, ancient Egyptians made marshmallows from nuts, honey, and the sap of a plant called Althaea officinalis, also known as marsh mallow. Today, the popular candy still takes its name from this centuries-old plant, but the ingredient is no longer typically included in the recipe.

Instead of marshmallow root sap, most marshmallows on the market contain gelatin, which is derived from animal skin, bones, and connective tissue. But not every marshmallow is made this way. Vegan brands use plant-derived alternatives, such as carrageenan, extracted from red seaweed, and agar-agar, a gelatin-like ingredient derived from red algae.

Vegan marshmallows are just as tasty and versatile as their gelatin-based counterparts. You can eat them straight from the bag, bake with them, toast them over an open fire, or use them to make perfectly gooey s’mores.

RELATED: Swap Out Gelatin for These Vegan Alternatives Instead

Dandies

1 Dandies offers a range of seasonal flavors  

If you’re looking for a bit more flavor than just the standard marshmallow, try Dandies. Made with carrageenan, all its options—including vanilla, maple, pumpkin, and peppermint flavors—are vegan and totally allergen-free. In addition to its regular-sized marshmallows, it offers mini and jumbo marshmallows (perfect for s’mores).
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GoodMallow

2GoodMallow’s marshmallows are made with real fruit

Yummallo

3 Yummallo offers classic vegan marshmallows

Yummallo is a leading marshmallow brand and offers several different variations of the squishy candy. There’s Rainbow, Spaghetti Marshmallows, and even Unicorn Poop. But unfortunately, it hasn’t released any vegan versions of these options. However, it does offer standard vegan marshmallows made with carrageenan.
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Sarah McLaughlin | VegNews

4 Freedom Mallows are a must for hot cocoa

After a decade of research, British brand Freedom Mallows launched in 2013 with a mission to share its vegan, allergen-free marshmallow recipe with the masses. Since then, its range has expanded to include Regular Vanilla Mallows, Mini Pink & White Vanilla Mallows, marshmallow-stuffed chocolate bars, and even hot chocolate kits. 
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Max Sweets

5 Max Sweets’ marshmallows are sugar-free

For a healthier marshmallow option, reach for Max Sweets’ Max Mallow. The sugar-free brand uses carrageen for its vegan marshmallows and omits sugar, including sugar alcohols. Choose from flavors like Classic Vanilla, Burnt Caramel, and Huckleberry.
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How to make vegan marshmallows

While a handful of brands offer vegan marshmallows, gelatin marshmallows still dominate the market. But you don’t have to buy marshmallows at all. You can make your own from home, using only the ingredients that suit you. To get you started, here are three different vegan marshmallow recipes.

Simple Vegan Blog

1 Vegan marshmallows with aquafaba

Aquafaba (chickpea water) is without a doubt one of the most popular ingredients for making vegan marshmallows at home. It is an egg-white alternative that helps give marshmallows the right texture and consistency. Instead of gelatin, the recipe calls for agar powder, which you combine with sugar, cornstarch, cream of tartar, and vanilla extract. After you’ve finished, you’ll need to let them sit for roughly two hours, then pop them in the oven for another hour. The result: squishy, foamy, delicious vegan marshmallows to use however you please. 
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Happy Food Healthy Life

2 Vegan marshmallows with pea protein

This recipe is ideal for creating perfect, pillowy marshmallows without spending several hours. The prep takes around 20 minutes, and the setting time is about one hour. Instead of aquafaba, this recipe calls for pea protein powder, mixed with xanthan gum (a vegan food additive), tapioca flour, sugar, baking powder, and agar powder.
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Taste of Home

3 Vegan marshmallows with agar powder and dairy-free butter

Like the above, this recipe relies on agar powder as a gelatin substitute. But it also calls for vegan butter, as well as the standard ingredients, like sugar and corn syrup. If you prefer a minty flavor, you can also add peppermint extract. The recipe itself is relatively quick, and the result is squishy and delicious, but the setting time is at least 12 hours, plus another hour in the fridge (so don’t make these in a last-minute rush!).
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