Marshmallow Just Got Cooler – Meet the Mallow Maid.

Marshmallows have just got cooler! These gorgeous, sweet treats have just got a bit of attitude. We spoke to the owner of The Mallow Maid, Sarah, about her innovative flavours, her inspiration and having her Marshmallows showing what they are made of in Vogue and Glamour magazines! 

When and where and how did The Mallow Maid start?

I have always loved cooking and baking. I remember standing on a chair in the kitchen next to my Mother when I was a child watching and ‘helping’ her to make cakes and pasties. Coming from Devon pasties were an important thing in our house!
Mum always followed recipes from the 34th edition of the BeRo Home recipes book published in 1974, the 1st edition was published in 1923! I still have that book today and I use it often for the old favourites. All the top treats in the book are marked with a star.
Moving to the Lake District from Devon turned out to be the making of me! I became more and more creative enjoying hobbies such as Felting and Sewing and my passion for baking began to grow.

I started to bake cakes and tray bakes for a couple of local tearooms in the summer of 2015 and was always on the lookout for something new.
I became frustrated at trying meringues and macarons both being annoying and stressful and ending up in the bin, but out of the sugary rubble I managed to create these moreish Marshmallow treats. I began to add, take away and reinvent various themes upon themes and tested them on friends and family with encouraging results.
I handmake the Marshmallows in small batches in my cosy cottage kitchen deep in the heart of the Lake District, and they are truly scrumptious!

In January 2017, I decided after such positive feedback to go ahead and create a website and start selling my product online. I found a small company who offered affordable Woo commerce websites without breaking the bank and my husband and I began to put together the wording. I found a local photographer however the photos didn’t really represent the style I was looking for and so the next day I went out and purchased a reasonable camera and began taking the photos myself. I was chuffed to hear back from the website company that they were very professional! It also kept the budget low and had my own stamp form the start.

Lemon Drizzle Marshmallow

How do you come up with flavour ideas?

There are so many interesting flavour combinations out there. I decided that to start off my business I would make 7 different flavours, mainly ones that I like! Lemon, Lime & Pistachio, Coconut, Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Peppermint & Chocolate and Rose Water. I obviously taste tested them. I sent some to my friends and family in Devon and took loads to work for my colleagues to try. I also attended local farmers markets and events and the feedback was overwhelming. As with everything you have some people who don’t like the texture or the mallows can be too minty but generally the feedback is positive.

The taste and texture had to be right as this was going to be my business and my future so it took a lot of trying this and trying that, trawling through recipe books and researching different techniques. I decided to use egg whites for my Marshmallows. I found that they made the marshmallows have more volume and a more delicate (light as air) texture. A far cry from the shop bought ones we are all used to. Sometimes I would spend the day making and creating different flavours that ended in total disaster, but I persevered with it and I’m glad I did as the end results are so delicious.

That old saying ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’ is so true and I think that if you want something bad enough you’ll keep going until its right.

Which is your favourite?

I love all the flavours but my favourite has to be the Perky Peppermint & Chocolate, as a child I always went for the minty flavours especially mint choc chip ice cream. It is however closely followed by the Sublime Lime & Pistachio which has been a huge hit with customers and probably the best seller.

Sublime Lime and Pistachio Marshmallow – The Mallow Maid

How long does it take to make a batch of mallow?

It takes between 20 to 30 minutes to make a batch of marshmallow. I have recently bought a bigger mixer so that I can make 2 batches at once. I use 9” square trays per batch and the mallowy mixture usually fills to the brim.

First, I put sugar, water and a touch of Golden Syrup into a pan and bring to the boil. It must reach ‘firm boil’ to ‘hard boil’ on a jam making thermometer. I whisk the egg whites to almost stiff peaks and add my gelatin to boiling water to dissolve. Once the sugar syrup has reached temperature I remove from the heat and allow all the bubbles to clear before pouring my gelatin mixture in. Then I add this to the egg whites on slow speed. When everything is combined I turn up the speed and whisk for about 5 minutes. You can then add flavourings and colorings. Then pour the mixture into a lightly greased tin and leave it to set overnight.

Once the mallow has set I turn it out onto a dusted surface of corn flour and icing sugar. And then using a very sharp knife I cut into squares. I usually get 36 marshmallows from each batch. I pop them into little bags and tie with a ribbon.

Favourite reason why people buy your Marshmallows?

The Marshmallows are great for wedding favours or as a gift or treat for someone special. If anyone prefers their wedding favours to be packaged in a unique way or personalized then they can get in touch. Email [email protected] and we can discuss options.

What is your most exciting moment so far?

The journey itself has been exciting. I have no experience of running my own business and it’s been a real eye opener I can tell you. Somedays I guess I felt like giving up and then an email from British Vogue landed in my in box! At first, I didn’t believe it and so checked the email address and googled Vogue and realized it was true. They came across my Marshmallows through social media and thought they would look great on their ‘Vogue Gifted Ideas’ page. So, over the course of 3 months my marshmallows were featured. They have also been featured in Glamour magazine.
I hope that there are so many more exciting times ahead

What’s new for the future?

I have been considering a new style of packaging. I have found something I really like so it won’t be long before I introduce that. Then I will approach local farm shops with the hope that they stock my product. I have had a hamper company contact me looking to add my marshmallows to their Christmas hampers so that will be great. And then I feel it will be a good time to introduce a new flavour or two.

Some of these scrumptious Mallows are now available here.  Or have a look at these gorgeous treats at www.mallowmaid.co.uk . Some of the yummy and innovative flavours include Elegant Rosewater, Perky Peppermint and Chocolate, Comforting Coconut Marshmallows…. Lovely gifts or a great treat for yourself. They also make great little stocking fillers.

Instagram – @la.juniper       Twitter – @homeofjuniper     Pinterest – @lajuniper1      Facebook – @lajuniper

#fillyourhomewithflowers #homeofjuniper