Use sand molds to create these fun Marshmallow Sea Animals! They are great for any party and are so adorably fun to make.
After everyone went nuts over my Starfish S'mores recipe made with homemade marshmallows, I started to get questions about using store-bought marshmallows instead of homemade to make animals.
So, I started experimenting and found a fun way to melt store-bought marshmallows and turn them into cute treats like this giant marshmallow goldfish. I even added some flavoring to make the marshmallows taste more homemade.
I used large sand molds (beach toys) to create the giant goldfish. I also made an octopus. They turned out so cute and I realized this technique could be used with any silicone mold or plastic mold.
Marshmallow Animals (made with store-bought marshmallows and sand molds)
Ingredients:
8-16 ounces marshmallows - The goldfish and octopus molds each took about 12 ounces of marshmallows, but I would recommend melting 16 ounces for each, as some of the marshmallows stuck to the sides of the bowl and the pastry bag (which I used to pipe the marshmallow into the octopus mold.)
optional, food coloring - I used liquid food coloring to color the marshmallows.
optional, Lorann Candy Oils - I thought it was fun to add a bit of orange candy oil to my orange marshmallow goldfish and grape candy oil to my purple marshmallow octopus.
optional, large marshmallows - I piped melted marshmallows onto the goldfish to create its eyes but simply cut large marshmallows to create the eyes for the octopus. Either worked fine.
Hershey's Kisses or large chocolate chips, M&M's, etc. - Use these to create the pupils in the eyes.
butter or non-stick cooking spray
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)
Supplies
large microwave-safe bowl
rubber spatula
sand molds - I found my goldfish and octopus molds at the Dollar Tree in 2011 when I created this recipe.
optional: large pastry bag or heavy-duty zip-top bag
pastry brush
Instructions
Prep the molds.
- Use molds that have never been used at the beach. Clean them in hot soapy water and dry them well.
- Butter a piece of plastic wrap and line the mold with the butter side up. NOT PICTURED
- Combine cornstarch and powdered sugar.
- Sprinkle into molds.
- Shake mold allowing the powdered mixture to get into all nooks and crannies of the mold.
- Tap out excess, reserving for later use. Be sure to do this before you melt the marshmallows!
- You have to move very quickly once they are melted.
Melt the marshmallows.
- Butter the inside of a large microwave-safe bowl and a large rubber spatula.
- Pour marshmallows into the bowl.
- Heat in microwave on high power for 20 seconds.
- Stir using a buttered spatula.
- Heat for 20 more seconds.
- Stir.
- Heat for 20 seconds.
- Stir.
- If marshmallows aren't melted, continue to heat for 10-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
If you prefer, you could use the homemade marshmallow recipe to create the goldfish or other shapes using sand molds.
Add coloring and candy oil.
- If desired, stir in drops of food coloring and drops of flavored oil. To make the orange, I used 6 drops of yellow and 2 drops of red food coloring, and 5 drops of orange oil.
- Spoon (or pipe - see the next set of photos), the marshmallow into your mold.
- Sprinkle some of the cornstarch/powdered sugar mixture over the marshmallow.
- Press down on the surface of the marshmallow. This will smooth out the surface and allow you to push the marshmallow into the lips and fins. If you don't sprinkle on the powder, your hands will stick and the marshmallow will pull up and out of the mold.
- Allow the marshmallow to harden in the mold for at least an hour.
Pipe marshmallows into a mold using a pastry bag.
I colored this marshmallow purple by adding 8 drops of red and 6 drops of blue food coloring and flavored it with 5 drops of grape oil.
If you have a mold like the octopus that has long thin legs or other appendages, I suggest you fill a large pastry bag or zip-top bag with the melted marshmallow and pipe the marshmallow into the mold.
Then dust with the cornstarch/powdered sugar mixture and use your hands to press the marshmallow into the mold.
Unmold and decorate.
- Sprinkle some of the cornstarch mixture onto your work surface.
- Turn the mold upside down, and begin to peel the marshmallow away from the edge of the mold at one end (the tail fin.) The marshmallow will stick in a few places, so just carefully pull it away from the mold, unsticking as needed.
- Set marshmallow on the cornstarch/powdered sugar-dusted work surface.
- Brush any excess powder off of the fish using a pastry brush.
- To make the eye: cut a large marshmallow in half widthwise. My marshmallow wasn't quite big enough to cover the entire eye area, so I microwaved it on defrost for 5 seconds, then placed it on the marshmallow fish. I sprinkled it with cornstarch/powdered sugar and used my finger the spread it out into a nice round shape, let it dry, and dusted off the excess powder, then topped it with a Hershey's Kiss.
You could use frosting, cookies, candy, or food coloring to add decorations to your marshmallow animals.
For the octopus, I added marshmallow and Hershey Kiss eyes and drew on a smile using a red food coloring marker.
Serving
Set your marshmallow sea creatures on a serving platter and use them as the centerpiece of your pool or beach party.
You can cut them or just have the guests tear off pieces to enjoy. You can even use small sand molds to make individual party favors for your guests.
Related Recipes
If you enjoy making these cute marshmallow sea animals and are hosting a beach-themed party, you might also enjoy making these other Summer Fun Recipes.
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Beth Adams says
Saw this on the Summer Camp Link Party. Love it ! Kudos to your genius.
Beth@http://wiccanmakesometoo.blogspot.com/
Anonymous says
My daughter and I have gone vegetarian and so can't eat Peeps at Easter anymore (gelatin is made from animal byproducts). I found a "peeps" mold, but wasn't sure how to melt the vegetarian marshmallows I bought. This afternoon, thanks to you, I'll be making us some animal-free peeps!
beth says
I've not ever had marshmallows that aren't made with gelatin. I'll have to look for some at my health food store. Maybe I can figure out how to make them from scratch. Have fun making your Peeps!
Recipes We Love says
I am loving this and your starfish from the other day. I think I will have to try these while on vacation with my kiddos!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Miss Cuisine, thanks for the post. I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but wasn't able. I do appreciate you featuring my recipe!
Beth @ Hungry Happenings
Miss cuisine says
It's fun, I like it ! I put a link to your article on my french blog.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for the link. I do appreciate it! I really love this project and hope your readers like it too.
Beth @ Hungry Happenings
Kimberly Chapman says
Featured you again on the Capital Confectioners' blog here:
http://capitalconfectioners.com/2011/08/30/quick-bites-she-sells-sea-sugar-by-the-seashore/
Amanda says
Oh mo gosh! Cutest edible fish ever!
I run Fun Family Crafts, a site similar in nature to Craftgawker and Spotlight, but different in that it's a library of craft tutorials geared only at kids. I would love it if you'd stop by and submit this to be featured! (I link to you, I don't post your tutorial on the site) Feel free to submit as many kid friendly craft tutorials as you like! http://funfamilycrafts.com/
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Cari, So happy you made marshmallow sea creatures for your party. Your cakes turned out amazingly cute. There are so many different sand molds and your turtle and crab made perfect cake toppers.
Beth @ Hungry Happenings
Cari says
Thank you so much for this! I used your instructions to make decorations for two first birthday cakes! They came out so cute! I was stumped on how to decorate them when I saw this. Here's the link to my post with pics - http://caringmommy.blogspot.com/2011/07/one-sea-creatures-birthday-party.html
Stephanie says
Very clever & cute!!!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Nicole, I just finished making another recipe using marshmallows and will post it soon. I love marshmallows too! I hope your staying cool also. It was 99 degrees here today. I'm so grateful for air conditioning:)
Nicole Feliciano says
Thank you so much for sharing these fishy treats on Momtrends Friday Food. What are you going to do next with marshmallow! I adore all the clever and tasty creations that are posted. Have a terrific weekend and stay cool.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks everyone. I went back to Dollar Tree to pick up something and all of the sand molds were 50% off. Can't beat that! You can use any candy mold, soap, or candle mold to make these. Small versions would be great for Bentos. I am so in awe of bento artists. To be a kid who gets to eat a creative bento everyday for lunch - wow! If you haven't been to Tiffany's website, Cute Food For Kids, you must check it out.
Diana - FreeStyleMama says
Mini versions would be perfect for Bentos!
Anonymous says
I love your S'morefish ! They look so Moreish!
Tiffany Yang says
Oh my goodness....these are way too cute!
Kim @ KimsKandyKreations says
I was at Dollar Tree yesterday and saw some super cute sand molds and wishing I could do something with them. I am so excited to see this idea. I will have to go back and buy them now and get busy. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm SUPER excited to try them.
Vanessa says
What a fantasic idea!
Trish - Sweetology101 says
thanks for the fast and fancy approach, I like that very much!