Are marshmallows a type of meringue?

Question

Whipped egg whites...a hot sugar syrup...gelatin. Just wondering is homemade marshmallows can be considered a type of meringue, even though they aren't necessarily baked. Any pastry chefs in the house?

Answer 1

Happy cooker is right.  Per my Joy of Cooking cookbook, which has a recipe for making marshmallows, there are no egg whites in the recipe.  Here is their recipe:

MARSHMALLOWS

3 T gelatin

1/2 c cold water

2 c sugar

3/4 c light corn syrup

1/2 c water

1/4 tsp salt

2 T vanilla

That's all that is in the recipe.  No egg whites.

So, to answer your question, they aren't like meringue.

Now, I have a recipe for a 7-Minute frosting with the consistency of marshmallows (the inside when the marshmallow is warm) and it is made with egg whites, sugar, a little corn syrup and water.  That would be more like meringue than marshmallows.

Answer 2

There are no egg whites in marshmallows so technically, they are a confection not a meringue.