Chocolate Marshmallow Slice

A few weeks ago my blogging friend, Suzanne Perazzini from Strands of My Life released her e-cookbook, Afternoon Tea.  What is special about this cookbook is that all the recipes are what I would regard as treats – something sweet to have when you invite the girls around for afternoon tea, something sweet to enjoy after dinner or something sweet to wolf down when you just need that kind of a boost or call for comfort.  Yet what is unique about all these recipes is that not one of them contains cane sugar.

Suzanne is intolerant of refined sugar, grain, wheat, nut, gluten and dairy.  And having rattled off that list you are probably imagining that she survives on sprouts and oxygen but that isn’t actually the case.  Suzanne enjoys all the things we all love like chocolate, meringue, lemon curd, caramel and marshmallow and the 50 recipes presented in her cookbook, most of which are not on her blog, show you how you can make all these favourites in a way that’s not going to cause any kind of a reaction to anyone you know with a food issue.

I really admire Suzanne.  She is a wife and mother, works full-time and has spent a long time battling health issues with doctors and a range of health professionals being unable to properly diagnose her condition.  By doing her own research, Suzanne discovered what was wrong with her and what she needed to eliminate from her diet to avoid adverse reactions and issues.

Chocolate Brownie base, marshmallow centre, chocolate banana frosting

Chocolate Brownie base, marshmallow centre, chocolate banana frosting

This cookbook is certainly very personal and an absolute labour of love and it has been my honour for Suzanne to have allowed me to share one of her recipes on my blog.  All of Suzanne’s recipes have been trialled and tested and all are reliable.  There are so many recipes in this cookbook that I would love to try so narrowing it down to just one wasn’t easy but I’m a huge fan of marshmallow and I wasn’t sure I had every had marshmallow that wasn’t made with sugar.  I was so intrigued I just had to make it.

The uni students were home today and constantly hovering all over me as they could smell the chocolate brownie base coming from the oven and had their fingers in the bowl of the marshmallow and couldn’t believe the frosting wasn’t sweetened with icing sugar but instead, a banana and pureed fresh dates.  Do give this a try and hop over to Suzanne’s blog where you can order her e-cookbook for less than $20.00.

Chocolate Marshmallow Slice

Chocolate Marshmallow Slice

Chocolate Marshmallow Slice

Makes:  16

Degree of Difficulty:  3/5

Cost:  This isn’t the cheapest slice I’ve ever made, mostly because I didn’t have the majority of the ingredients in my pantry.  You could substitute for cheaper alternatives however, if you do have allergies and intolerances you would probably end up spending a lot more in medical bills.

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 500g /17.5oz sugarless chocolate
  • 6 eggs (separated)
  • 250g/9oz coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 24g/1oz Stevia

For the marshmallow:

  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tbsp gelatin
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp salt

For the topping:

  • 1/2 cup coconut cream
  • 4 tbsp date puree
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • pinch salt
  • 1 large, ripe banana
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • Coconut

For the base:

Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.

Grease and line an 18cm x 27.5cm slice pan.  I used a 22cm cake tin. 

Chop chocolate into the top of a double boiler and add the coconut oil.  Place over simmering water and melt.  Add the vanilla and remove from the heat then quickly stir the egg yolks into the chocolate.

Beat egg whites in a bowl until stiff but not dry.  Beat in the stevia a little at a time until stiff peaks form.

Stir 2-3 tbsp of meringue into the chocolate then gradually fold the chocolate into the meringue.  Turn into baking tine and bake for 45 mins.

Remove from the oven and let stand for 30 minutes.

For the marshmallow:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the gelatin with 1/2 cup of the water and leave to soften.

Pour the other 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan along with the honey, vanilla and the salt.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Using a thermometer, continue to boil the mixture until it reaches 240°F/115°C.  This should take less than 10 minutes.  Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat.

Turn your stand mixer on and slowly pour the honey mixture into the bowl containing the gelatin.  Continue beating the mixture until it becomes thick (about 10 minutes).  Turn off the mixer and pour the marshmallow onto the base of the slice.  Smooth out the top and leave to set.

For the topping:

Place everything into the food processor.  Process until smooth and creamy.

Spoon onto the set marshmallow and smooth the top.  Sprinkle over some coconut and place in the fridge to set the frosting.

Mile-high marshmallow

Mile-high marshmallow

Thanks Suzanne for a great recipe that we have enjoyed for afternoon tea and again for dessert.  I wish you every success with your book as it is beautifully presented, has great recipes and is a must-have for anyone needing to eliminate wheat, dairy, nuts and refined sugar from their diet.

Suzanne’s cookbook can be downloaded from her blog.

 

 

Comments

  1. Wow, this looks incredible – puffy, creamy-coloured, rich and indulgent, and unbelievable that it’s suitable for someone who is intolerant to such a range of foods. Just goes to show – anything can be adapted or worked around to fit everyone!

    This looks delicious Charlie, thanks for sharing this real eye-opener of a recipe!

    • I was so surprised at how well the marshmallow turned out. It’s even really white and I was expecting it to be more honey coloured. I’d make marshmallow before but only with sugar so this was a real eye-opener. I hope you try it one day.

  2. I love finding recipe books where they show creative ways to use less sugar. Your marshmallow dessert sounds really fantastic, especially with a delicious chocolate crust! Beautiful, hugs, Terra

    • If you like making marshmallow, try this recipe as it works very well and my uni students couldn’t tell the difference between this and marshmallow made with sugar – except for that slight honey taste.

  3. Those ingredients really do make it a healthy recipe and they’re beautiful to boot! Thanks for sharing.

  4. seems so beautiful… and I love chocolate and marshmallow… This should be so delicious dear Charlie, Thank you, have a nice weekend, love, nia

  5. Oh my gosh, I thought this was going to be a rice krispie treat! This is SO MUCH BETTER.

  6. I’m intrigued with this cookbook, Charlie, so thank you for the great review. These brownies are beautiful and this is such an original recipe. I am impressed, as always, that with such a busy family life you find the time to bake such beautiful and complex sweet. Do those uni students know how lucky they are? 🙂

  7. Look’s wonderful! And easy, nice cookbook review as well.

  8. Those look insanely good!

  9. I’m impressed that she took the steps she did to solve her dietary issues and came up with delicious recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone. My candy making skills are quite iffy so I’m afraid that the marshmallow filling is beyond my abilities. I still remember my Turkish delight mondo-fail that cost me my favourite small enameled pan. But, the slices look so very good.

  10. I have yet to try my hand at homemade marshmallows. Yours turned out great!

  11. What a wonderful yummy recipe indeed! I’m so impressed that she embraced the foods that were her friends and turned them into such awesome treats 🙂

  12. Hehe the uni students sound like when Celia describes her boys. I picture them as fruit flies hovering around hoping to land on a piece! 😛

  13. What a gorgeous slice, Charlie! I can see the kids hovering now 🙂

    • I know. And there was some leftover but then Arabella’s friends called in and they packed it into containers and took it with them to the designer clothes sales that are on today. Here today, gone tomorrow.

  14. Hasn’t she done such a wonderful job, I can’t wait to bake up a refined-sugar-free storm!

  15. Wow, that’s pretty amazing that she came up with such tasty recipes with so many limitations! I would totally make these bars. Yum!!!

  16. It’s amazing all the things you can make without cane sugar isn’t it. So many delicious things to try!

  17. Yum looks devine and I love that its Gluten Free! 🙂

  18. So encouraging to see someone being creative with alternative ingredients. I too am gluten free and avoid sugar, and so are many family members.

    • Hi Juliet, you should definitely give this cookbook a go. It would be perfect for you. And Suzanne must live near you too. She’s in Auckland. Have a lovely weekend.

  19. Thanks so much, Charlie, for doing this review. You are a wonderful cook and you have made it perfectly. This is one of my favourite recipes in the book.

  20. I am in love with the sound of that cookbook, and these slices are very impressive! What height! How fun to make marshmallow from scratch too – the closest I have come is using the vegan marshmallow mix, which was great, but still not truly from basic ingredients.

  21. What a fantastic job you did Charlie. Looks delicious. The book is amazing , Suzanne did quite an incredible job

  22. This looks stunning, can’t believe no sugar, great photos too!

  23. I admire people who have to work around their intolerances of food and then no less to produce such an incredible book – super!
    Lovely review you did for your friend Suzanne, Charlie.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  24. What an amazing recipe! Your marshmallow recipe is so different from what I have known..and I like yours more with honey.

  25. What a treat! I give people, like your friend Suzanne, such credit. She met her food issues head-on and conquered them. Writing a cookbook so that others can benefit from her experience is wonderful. I wish her good luck!

  26. Necessity is the mother of invention! It’s lovely to see such a resourceful woman; a couple of years ago I met a woman with many intolerances and she gave up and eats only a few things without passion, really quite sad.
    This slice is not only beautiful, I’m sure it’s delightful too; our bodies weren’t made to process refined sugars so it’s probably a lot easier to digest too.

  27. This is amazing!
    Unbelievable that it’s made without sugar it looks so luscious.
    Great job Charlie and Suzanne and thanks for sharing.

  28. I am delinquent on making anything from Suzanne’s marvelous cookbook…but this marshmallow slice moved right up to the top of the list! YUM!

  29. Ooh yum! I’ve been doing a bit of experimenting with sugar-free baking and can’t believe the things you can do that taste just like the naughty version!

  30. How amazing that such a beautiful gem could be so allergy accommodating. It looks fabulous. I’ve never made marshmallow, is it easy to make? GG

  31. Great looking slice! Suzanne is such a terrific cook – I think every one of her recipes are winners!

  32. Lush & Gorgeous.

    Omygosh!

    WOW.

  33. Wow she sounds like an amazing woman. And the sweet treat looks so divine. Every time I come here I add another recipe to my must try list.
    Carolyn

  34. Wow, I haven’t heard of Suzanne’s blog before but it sounds so great! I will definitely be visiting from now on! I saw this slice on your instagram and it looked sooo divineee and it sounds even better 🙂 Such beautiful photos by the way!

  35. This is totally going on my domestic diva baking list now I have so much more time on my hands. Suzanne sounds like an incredibly inspiring woman. xx

  36. As soon as I get off my diet I am making this!! Yum!!!

  37. Hi Charlie ,The marshmallow slice are screaming my name…..:)
    It’s really awesome and guess hard to stop eating too. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. Regards.

  38. A heavely & tasty sweet treat creation, dear Charlie! I love it! I can’t wait to make this!

    The bars look scrumptious & apart too! 🙂

  39. Any alternatives??

  40. Hi, Hotly Spiced et al.

    Was taken aback by the picture, looks delicious. But I have some qualms e.g. Is it FODMAP’s Diet friendly ? I took dates to be High FODMAP??

  41. Hi Marc, the recipe comes from a blogger who follows the FODMAP diet very closely and she created a cookbook of FODMAP recipes. As this recipe is in her cookbook, I’m assuming it’s FODMAP friendly. If you’d like to ask the author about the recipe, you can contact her through her website, http://www.strandsofmylife.com/blog/

Trackbacks

  1. […] Chocolate Marshmallow Slice.  My friend in Auckland, New Zealand, Suzanne, released an e-book this year on making sweet treats suitable for those following the paleo diet.  She asked me if I would like to share one of her recipes on my blog.  I made her chocolate marshmallow slice which was sensational.  The height of the sugar-free marshmallow was amazing. […]

Leave a Reply to hotlyspiced Cancel reply

*