Baking Challenge - July '10

This month we have Marshmallow Cookie Sandwiches.  Don't click on the link.  Seriously, don't bother.

This was the most aggravating, disappointing kitchen experience I have ever had.  Let's get started, shall we?

1.  Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray; line with parchment. Sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup water in the bowl of a mixer; let stand for 5 minutes.

Martha's recipes are known for their specificness.  She did not say to spray the parchment, so I did not - remember this.  We then sprinkle on the gelatin.

2.  Heat granulated sugar, corn syrup, remaining 1/3 cup water, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until syrup reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.

This step was simple and straight forward, except it took 15 minutes, not 5.  Therefore, my gelatin sat on the water for 15 minutes, not 5 - remember this.

3.  Whisk gelatin in mixer on low speed, adding syrup in a slow, steady stream down side of bowl. Whisk, gradually increasing speed to high, until almost tripled in volume, about 8 minutes. Whisk in vanilla. Transfer to baking pan. Smooth top. Let stand until set, at least 3 hours.

Whee!  Fun, it was like making Fluff.  I forgot to add the vanilla, oops.  But once the marshmallow was in the pan, it was break time.  Clean up was also very easy because the mixture dissolved in hot water.

4.  Cut out nine 2 1/2-inch square marshmallows using a cookie cutter or a knife dipped in confectioners' sugar. Dip surface of crackers into chocolate to coat, and transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes. Sandwich marshmallows between crackers, chocolate sides in.

Here we have my marshmallows:

The sugar would not stick to my knife, so I sprinkled it on the top.  I still had a hard time cutting, so I slid the whole block onto a plate and used kitchen shears - so much easier!  Coating the graham crackers in chocolate was easy peasy.

Then it was time for assembly.  Remember how I didn't spray the parchment?  The recipe didn't say to do this, so I assumed that meant I shouldn't.  When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.  The parchment paper would NOT COME OFF.  I wound up using my kitchen shears to cut away the bottom layer.

And remember how the gelatin and water sat for 15 minutes?  I did not wind up with marshmallows, I wound up with taffy.  See Exhibit B:

I spent so much time fighting with this darn goo, it just kept stretching instead of cutting.  And I certainly did not end up with pretty squares; just blobs. 

But I finished and managed to make 9 sandwiches.  However, because I was so mad, there was no plating to be had.  Those suckers could stay on the baking sheet.

They were also a mess to eat and weren't that tasty either.  Too much marshmallow goo, not enough chocolate.

I've decided that no kind of homemade, gussied up little "marshmallow cookie sandwich" will ever complete with a regular s'more.  So I will continue to buy Jet-Puffed, chocolate bars, and graham crackers, and burn my marshmallows, and I will love them so much more than this horrible misguided creation from Martha.