marshmallows

Neon pink stalks of rhubarb and sweet and snappy peas may be nature's cue that Spring has sprung, but I don't quite process the transition until I've sunk my teeth into my first sugar-crusted Peep of the season. Sure, Just Born has branched out with seasonal variations as of late — we were particularly fond of a gingerbread iteration that debuted this Winter — but it's a tall order to top the classic that I, like many, grew up with. Now, without giving too much away, I'd argue that they've done just that with their latest offering: a confetti-bedecked Vanilla Créme Peep to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary.

Keep reading to learn what makes these confections shine.

Like many, Peeps played an integral part in the Easter celebrations of my youth. Almost too cute to eat, and with a pleasantly spongy texture punctuated by a dense and crackly coating of sugar, they were the treat I yearned for year-round. So it was a touch bittersweet to discover a few years back that Just Born (the Peeps parent company) had decided to spawn seasonal sweets for nearly any occasion. Sure, I could get my fix at a moment's notice, but as with many treats with a limited season, when their availability escalated, their sparkle diminished.

Given my aforementioned feelings, I was a bit unsure how to feel about their latest offering, spiced gingerbread men. Would they be a welcome addition to the chubby chick and cheery bunny fold, or would they fall flat? Moreover, would Peeps translate well beyond the classic vanilla flavor?

I'm seriously obsessed with marshmallows: something about their light, fluffy texture and subtly sweet flavor makes me think I'm not really indulging. That is, until I look down and see that most of the bag is missing. I especially love creating homemade marshmallows with unusual flavors, and since blueberries are practically bursting from the tables of farmers markets everywhere, it's only appropriate to highlight their sweet, seasonal goodness in a marshmallow form.

Shauna Sever's Marshmallow Madness! cookbook has a recipe for strawberry marshmallows that uses no artificial extracts, only real fruit puree and freeze-dried berries. Intrigued, I tweaked the recipe a little to create these adorable, bite-sized blueberry marshmallows. The freeze-dried berries rehydrate slightly in the marshmallow and provide more berry flavor and a chewy texture.

Toss these mini marshmallows on top of frozen yogurt, dip them in melted chocolate, or eat them solo. They make a great gift or a fun party snack. Now's the time to make a homemade batch of blueberry marshmallows.

Rather than share chocolates and champagne with your significant other or girlfriends on Valentine's Day, pair your bubbly with rose marshmallows instead. Making these fluffy, pillowy marshmallows can be a heart-pounding experiment that requires a little speed, yet the light, melt-in-your-mouth pockets are foolproof if you are prepared and have read the recipe several times.

If you are in a festive mood, use themed cookie cutters for adorable heart-shaped marshmallows. The scraps can easily be cut up into bite-sized pieces that are equally as enjoyable. For an even more decadent treat, dip the marshmallows in white chocolate fondue. Are you ready to add luscious, homemade marshmallows to your culinary repertoire?

Click here to view the recipe.

After tasting one at Rachael Ray's Burger Bash, we totally agree with eatswimshop: Spike Mendelsohn's toasted marshmallow milk shake may be the best milk shake ever.

The toasted marshmallow milkshakes at Good Stuff Eatery in DC are the best milkshakes I've ever had. So I was super excited when I found the recipe on Joy the Baker's blog. Each milkshake has actual toasted marshmallows in it, plus ice cream and milk and another marshmallow on top. It's super easy and quick to make your own.

Visit her blog for more photos and the recipe. If you've had something amazing recently, share it with us in the YumSugar Community.

Looking for a special sandwich to make your honey on Valentine's Day? Whip up a chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow fluffernutter melt. This gooey sandwich is not only delicious, but it's also full of aphrodisiacs. Watch the video to learn how it's done!