I think we’ve all been there: standing for minutes on end in front of the refrigerated display case in the Magic Kingdom‘s Confectionery or Big Top Treats, staring longingly at the colorful sweet treats oh so lovingly displayed, only to turn and walk away empty handed, and somewhat sad. I get it; I’ve been there, and done that. I’ve had the internal conversation and told myself that the treat’s too expensive or I don’t need that amazing confection.
Well, two years ago, I stopped having that conversation. On a whim one afternoon in Big Top Souvenirs, I bought a Mini M&M-coated chocolate dipped marshmallow wand. And I took a picture to document the big day. And, holy cow. I should have been buying these magical things all along. Yes, they can be pricey. Four bucks here and four bucks there adds up, and, to be honest, with so many tempting treats available at Walt Disney World, you just can’t eat everything.
It’s with this delicious and decadent treat in mind that I approached this weekend’s Saturday Snacks article. I miss these treats, and I figured that maybe, just maybe, we could recreate a marshmallow confection of our own at home to help tide us over until we can again step foot into our happy place.
My objective was to try and get close to the original using items that we might already have on hand. I skipped the meltable chocolate candy coating and opted for a 12oz bag of milk chocolate chips instead. I used paper straws as my sticks, but you can use fun plastic Mickey-shaped straws or lollipop sticks if you have those available to you.
The first step is to grab your faithful roll of wax paper and tear off a sheet to place on a tray or plate. The dish will need to go into the fridge while the chocolate hardens, so make sure to grab something that’s somewhat flat and can fit in the refrigerator.
The next step is to set up a double boiler for melting the chocolate chips. Fill a pot halfway with water, and place a glass bowl on top. Bring the water in the pot to a lightly rolling boil, and place the chips in the bowl. As the water boils below, the steam that’s created will gently melt the chocolate. Be sure to stir the chips as they melt. And be sure to throw a couple into your mouth before they start melting.
While the chocolate chips are melting, skewer three large marshmallows onto your straw or stick. Three is what it seems they use at Walt Disney World, so I figured it’d be good enough for us. Surprisingly, the paper straws pushed right through the marshmallows, and proved to be a great option for the marshmallow wands.
Meanwhile, back on the stovetop, I ended up adding a couple of teaspoons of vegetable oil to the chocolate chips. I needed the chocolate to be just a bit thinner, and the oil helped greatly.
Turn down the heat to the point where the chocolate stays on the melted side of things but the steam rising from the pot below doesn’t give you a facial you didn’t ask for. Keep stirring the chocolate until it becomes glossy and smooth. You’ll need to keep stirring it after it reaches this point, too.
Next, grab a plate, and pour the Mini M&Ms out in a layer. Could this treat be any more delicious? It’s sweet tooth overload, and it’s a good thing. If Mini M&Ms aren’t your favorite, crushed Oreos, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, shredded sweetened coconut, chopped peanuts, or just about anything else, would be a great topping.
You’ll now take one of your marshmallow wands and swirl it in the melted chocolate. I had to “brush” it on with a spoon, as well. Do whatever you need to do to get that yummy chocolate onto the marshmallows.
Give your chocolate-covered marshmallows a minute, and then roll them in the layer of Mini M&Ms. The M&Ms didn’t quite cover as completely as they do on the Disney wands, but I’m not complaining. The results are incredibly yummy, and I’ll be asking the cast members what the secret is when the parks reopen. This is the kind of cutting-edge research that I enjoy doing most. 🙂
Place your wands on the wax paper-covered dish, and, when all of your wands are covered, place them in the refrigerator to set up. I left my wands in the fridge for about 50 minutes.
My wands aren’t as pretty as those found in the parks, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? I can’t stress enough how very good these are. They taste just like the ones that I’ve purchased in the parks, and I was incredibly excited to be able to replicate this favorite treat of mine at home.
The chocolate coating was thick (but not overly so), and the Mini M&Ms were the perfect addition. Be warned: if you have leftover melted chocolate, you might start rifling through your pantry for additional things to coat in chocolate. Not that that happened in my kitchen. Ahem.
To keep the marshmallows wands fresh, I gently placed them in a gallon size baggie and put them on a shelf in the fridge. And they were just as delicious the next morning. And the next afternoon. I feel I must warn you to be careful how many marshmallows wands you make. They’re addictive.
What Disney-inspired treats are you whipping up these days? Please let me know below. Have a great weekend, everyone!
