As someone who always has the best intentions of baking yummy treats for all the holidays a la Betty Crocker and then fails miserably at following through with that plan, I wanted to whip up something quick and fun for Valentine's Day this year that I would actually make. I love the idea of cake pops because they're so darn cute and already individually portioned, which is great for sharing them at work or school. But let's be real, making them can be an all day affair and ain't nobody got time for that. Unless you do, and then kudos to you. If you're short on time but still want to satisfy your sweet tooth, then marshmallow pops are the perfect compromise. Plus, you practically get to jump right into the fun part - the decorating!
To make these fun and easy treats, you'll need:
Jumbo marshmallows (I used the HUGE ones but I think a size smaller would be fine too)
White chocolate candy coating
Paper straws or lollipop sticks (mine are from the Target Dollar Spot)
Sprinkles for decorating
Food coloring (optional)
To prep your marshmallows for decorating, cut a small slit into the bottom of the marshmallow and insert the straw. This will help it hold and prevent squishy marshmallows. Lay them out on a flat tray or plate (I just used a plastic cutting board) and pop them in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
While the marshmallows are in the freezer, melt your chocolate coating according to the package instructions. I used two different bowls so that I could color one batch pink and keep one white, but you can do whatever combination you'd like! Also, lay out your sprinkles in bowls so they'll be ready for decorating.
From here you can pretty much take creative control and decorate your marshmallow pops however you want. Just be sure to move quickly so that the chocolate doesn't harden in the bowl and the marshmallows don't thaw out too much. Having them nice and cold is key so that the coating will set quickly and keep the sprinkles in place. Even still, it doesn't hurt to pop the final product in the freezer for a couple of seconds until they are really set.
I had a one-woman assembly line going, taking a couple marshmallow pops out of the freezer at a time and putting them back in the freezer after they were decorated. Keep going until they're all done. I found it best to roll the marshmallows in the chocolate and let the excess drip off the end, then dust the sprinkles all around until you achieve your desired look. It really is that easy!
