It may seem simple to ask for vegetarian marshmallows, but conventional options are off the table. Did you know that these fluffy sweet treats contain some truly gruesome ingredients? Let’s stop sugar-coating the truth to uncover the real story behind this classic confection. There are plenty of options for buying genuine vegan marshmallows and making your own from scratch!
Soft and chewy, yet light and ephemeral. Eating a good marshmallow is like biting into a vanilla-scented cloud. While some of the mass-produced extruded variety can be tooth-achingly sweet, evolving technology has given rise to a more balanced mallow, making them even more addictive than before.
Artisan marshmallow makers whip up dreamy flavors and dips to transform the simple squares into gourmet delicacies that far exceed the old-school jet puffed variety from the 1950s. Shouldn’t your snacking habits get with the times, too?
It’s a common mistake made by fledgling vegetarians and vegans. Who could ever be suspicious of such an innocent, nostalgic childhood indulgence? Marshmallows are mostly whipped sugar, after all.
Unfortunately, the gelling agent that keep their bouncy shape (gelatin) is made straight from animals, and that’s not all. These are what you need to look out for when shopping for vegan and vegetarian marshmallows:
A Note About Sugar: Sugar itself is plant-based, made either from sugar beets or sugar cane, but the way it’s processed may involve animals. To clean and clarify granulated sugar to become a pristine white color, it’s sometimes passed through bone char filters, which are exactly what they sound like. This is never specified on labels, so you may need to contact the manufacturer if you’re concerned. So… is sugar vegan? This question sparks much debate, but most vegans consider sugar vegan. It’s a plant-based food and there are no animal products in the ingredients. If you consider the processing of sugar, you’d also need to consider that most of our fruits and veggies are grown using animals products.
As awareness of ingredient quality grows, so does the demand for better options. Now, there are many places where you can buy vegan marshmallows. Most mainstream grocery stores carry them, either in the natural foods section or the baking aisle. Trader Joe’s even has their own house brand of mini marshmallows that are “accidentally” vegan! Next time you’re shopping for something sweet, look for these brands at the store.
A pioneer in the field, Dandies was the one of the first companies devoted to entirely plant-based marshmallows. They make full-sized marshmallows ideal for roasting over a fire to make s’mores, mini mallows perfect for topping cups of hot cocoa, and super-sized “Campers” marshmallows. They also offer special seasonal flavors like maple, pumpkins spice, and peppermint during the autumn and winter months. You can find these at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, natural foods stores, some mainstream grocery stores, and on Amazon.
While the entire company isn’t vegan, they do make a specifically gelatin-free line of marshmallows, sold only at Walmart. Availability can be limited, so double-check with your local store before heading out.
You might miss it if you’re not looking closely because these don’t explicitly say “vegan” loud-and-proud on the front of the package. But take a peek at the ingredient label and you’ll find that these marshmallows are vegetarian and vegan. Rumor has it that they’re repackaged Dandies sold at half the price!
Dandies: This brand makes the list again for their fluffy vegan marshmallow cream. Free from corn syrup and top allergens, this light-as-a-cloud treat is perfect for vegan fluffernutter sandwiches and anything else that loves marshmallow cream!
Funky Mello: Smooth, gooey, and stunningly clean marshmallow cream is now accessible to everyone! Made from the magic of aquafaba, AKA chickpea brine, these spreads are free of all common allergens. They come in vanilla, strawberry, and cookie flavors to make every dollop delicious. You can find them online and in select Whole Foods Markets now, with more locations coming soon.
Suzanne’s Specialties Ricemellow Creme: Before we had whole marshmallows, we had sticky, spreadable Ricemellow Creme. This wholesome alternative to conventional marshmallow fluff is made with soy protein and brown rice syrup. These blue and white tubs have slowly fallen out of favor, fading away from mainstream markets, but are still available from some online stores.
Lightly caramelized over an open flame, a freshly roasted marshmallow is a thing of beauty. Even if it’s slightly burnt, that crunchy exterior that gives way to a sticky, liquefied center is still completely crave-worthy. Marshmallows are already delicious straight out of the package, but using them as ingredients other treats creates a next-level mallow experience.
Q: Can I veganize a traditional marshmallow recipe by replacing the gelatin with agar?
A: Unfortunately, no. Marshmallows have a very specific structure and while agar can make a good gelatin substitute in some cases, it would create something more like foamy jello in these recipes.
Q: Can I make sugar-free marshmallows?
A: Since sugar is the primary ingredient in all marshmallows, vegan or not, it’s really difficult to replace it entirely with alternative sweeteners. You may have better success creating a marshmallow creme, which can be made entirely with low-glycemic liquid sweeteners like maple syrup.
Q: Are vegan marshmallows gluten-free?
A: Yes! Marshmallows contain no wheat or gluten ingredients, so they’re perfectly safe for those with celiac disease. If you have an extreme sensitivity, however, check to make sure that they’re not produced in a factory that shares equipment with other gluten-containing products.
Q: Where can I buy vegan cereal marshmallows?
A: Otherwise known as marbits, these tiny, dehydrated marshmallows are the best parts of many kid’s cereals. While there aren’t any complete packaged marshmallow cereals that are vegan, you can make your own Vegan Lucky Charms from scratch if you’re feeling ambitious.
Q: Will vegetarian marshmallows melt?
A: Most marshmallows are stable at room temperature, but will slowly dissolve when you apply heat. That means they’ll melt into a mug of hot cocoa or dissolve into a hot syrup when cooked. If you live in a particularly hot or humid climate, it’s still best to store them in an airtight container in the fridge to be safe.
Are you having trouble finding store-bought vegetarian marshmallows? Or are you a crafty lover of homemade sweets? Make your own homemade marshmallows from scratch! This recipe by Hannah Kaminsky will have you tying up your apron and licking your fingers in no time. This recipe has been tried, tested, and perfected, and is the ultimate way to make your own marshmallows at home. All without harming a soul!
There are some ingredients that may be unfamiliar to you, such as:
But you can easily find these at most grocery stores or online. We linked to he more unique ingredients on Amazon in the recipe card to make it easy!
If aquafaba is new to you, we have a whole “What is Aquafaba” guide that you should definitely take a peek at. Aquafaba is the liquid brine from chickpeas that have been cooked—and it’s a magical ingredient and egg substitute in vegan recipes. You can get aquafaba by simply opening a can of chickpeas (aka Garbanzo beans), and pouring out the liquid into a bowl. That liquid is your aquafaba! Alternately, you can cook chickpeas yourself and use the liquid they cooked in as your aquafaba.
Print me! Did you know you can easily print our recipes? Just tap the “Print Recipe” button in the recipe card. You can keep a stack of new recipes to try in your kitchen—or better yet—create a recipe binder where you keep all your favorites!
This phenomenal homemade vegetarian marshmallow recipe is reprinted with permission from Super Vegan Scoops: Plant-Based Ice Cream for Everyone by Hannah Kaminsky. Vegan marshmallow recipe photos by Hannah Kaminsky.
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Does the agar powder contain carrageenan?
It shouldn’t! This brand is really reputable, and it’s just adar powder: https://amzn.to/3zv84B2 🙂
So excited for this because I love just snacking on marshmallows! Love this
So happy that there are many more vegan marshmallows available now! S’mores, here I come!
i can’t believe i used to buy these!!! your recipe is so tasty and easy to make!
Perfect vegan marshmallows! I am so happy I found this recipe!
It is real! everything can be veganized! Loved this recipe and I am sharing it with my friends! This is so cool!
I’m SO excited about these vegan marshmallows! They are so delicious, and I’m so proud of myself for making my own from scratch! So much fun and such a satisfying recipe 🙂
Interesting! Going to have to try this one!
Love dandies! Such a helpful guide, thank you!
Vegan marshmallows are such a joy to eat! What a great guide!
It can be tough to find marshmallows without gelatin, but this recipe makes it so easy to make them yourself! They turn out so amazing – thank you so much for sharing!
Great information! And these marshmallows are so fluffy & delicious!
these turned out amazing! and the guide is so helpful. Thank you
omg thanks for sharing how to make these. I was buying these from stores and SO $$$$
Love this guide and delicious recipe for vegan-friendly marshmallows! This information is incredibly helpful and much appreciated!
This is a genius idea! The texture is so nice! Love this recipe.