Marshmallow

Marshmallow refers to an aerated confection made by whipping a cooked sugar syrup with gelatine or egg white, then folding in flavourings. Its French name, guimauve, comes from the marsh-mallow plant, whose mucilage once served as the gelling agent before gelatine replaced it. Soft and springy, it is cut into cubes rolled in sugar or starch. Artisan versions are often flavoured with orange blossom or fruit, moving beyond the industrial vanilla standard.