Recipe: Marshmallow Adipose

If you're a casual Doctor Who fan, you'd be forgiven for not remembering the Adipose.  After all, they only appear in one episode, "Partners in Crime".  In it, David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Catherine Tate's Donna Noble are reunited when they're both separately investigating the mysterious Adipose Industries, creators of a new diet pill sweeping Britain with the slogan "The Fat Just Walks Away".

Of course, because this is Doctor Who, the slogan turns out to be literal, as the company's owner, Miss Foster, is secretly using these diet pills to breed baby Adipose aliens.  The babies are formed out of the fat of their hosts, and when ready, they simply pop out and walk away.  Still, seems like a pretty sweet deal, I mean, technically, the diet pills work, right?  But when Miss Foster gets impatient, everyone who has taken the pills is in danger of exploding in to a swarm of Adipose babies.

Despite the deadly side effects, the Adipose became one of the most popular creatures from Doctor Who.  Just look at them, they are adorable, and it's not their fault that their foster mom decided to violate the Shadow Proclamation by breeding on a Level Five planet.

They already practically look like walking marshmallows, so when I was creating my own candy molds early this month, I knew I had to make some adipose-shaped ones to accompany hot chocolate season.  

Adipose Molded Marshmallows

1/3 cup water
1 cup sugar
pinch salt
1/4 cup water
1 packet gelatin
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
chocolate chips

Lightly coat your molds with canola oil, or any other neutral oil.  Prepare a piping bag to be filled (I set mine in a tall glass with the edges folded over the sides of the glass, so I can easily pour in the marshmallow when it's ready)

Combine 1/3 cup water, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Use a candy thermometer to keep track of the temperature.  When the mixture reaches softball stage (235 - 240F), remove from heat.

While the sugar mixture is heating, put 1/4 cup water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.  Sprinkle the packet of gelatin over the water and allow the gelatin to soften for at least 1 minute.

When the sugar mixture has reached softball stage, set the mixer at a low speed and slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl.  When all of the mixture has been added, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for about 8-10 minutes, until it's white, fluffy and holds soft peaks.  

Immediately transfer to your piping bag.  Snip off the tip of the bag and pipe the marshmallow into each mold.  I like to use a piping bag because I can direct the marshmallow into the smaller crevices of the mold more easily.  When all of the molds have been filled, set them on a cookie sheet and slam the sheet down on the counter a few times (to remove air bubbles).

Allow the marshmallows to cool for at least an hour.  Combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl.  Remove each marshmallow from its mold and coat in the powdered sugar/cornstarch mixture.

Melted a little chocolate in the microwave in 10-second increments.  Use a toothpick to add the eyes.  Your hot chocolate never looked so cute!