Marshmallows are a favorite campfire snack and the proverbial cherry on top of a great cup of hot chocolate. These white and puffy snacks induce memories of good times and happy holidays.
Like many other classic desserts, store-bought marshmallows are usually not vegan. The spongey, mushy, and fluffy texture of a marshmallow in part comes from gelatin, an animal product.
But even vegans can say gimme s’more when it comes to s’mores because there are many vegan adaptations to this classic and nostalgia-inducing treat.
Want to make melt-in-your-mouth, fluffy, and perfectly roastable vegan marshmallows? Use these top easy vegan marshmallow recipes for drool-worthy inspiration.
1. Vegan Marshmallows by The Hidden Veggies
Do you dream of the sweet tenderness of a soft marshmallow but worry about allergens and animal products making their way into your recipe? Then these are perfect for you!
This recipe incorporates aquafaba and agar-agar powder for a just-right mouth feel that will send you back to your childhood, thanks to the gushy insides and perfectly firm outside.
After cooking for six minutes, let them cool for around two hours to dry out. Once they’re done, turn these white marshmallows golden brown by roasting them on a campfire.
Have these ingredients handy when making this deliciously sweet vegan marshmallow recipe by The Hidden Veggies:
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Vanilla
- Water
- Agar-Agar Powder
- Granulated Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
These dreamy treats call for an 8×8 baking tray to get the most consistent texture. Baking trays with different dimensions may yield results that are thinner and more of a marshmallow fluff instead.
2. Homemade Vegan Peeps by The Hidden Veggies
Marshmallows are a popular springtime confection, especially when they come in the shape of those iconic, sugar-coated ducks and bunnies known as Peeps.
To make your own animal-shaped mouthfuls of joy, you’ll need a standard set of ingredients:
- Aquafaba
- Cream of tartar
- Vanilla
- Water
- Agar-agar powder
- Granulated sugar
- Vegan-friendly colored sugar
- Vegan chocolate chips
Many brands of colored sugar and sprinkles contain animal byproducts in the form of confectioner’s glaze, which gains its shine from shellac, a resin secreted by female lac bugs.
You can make your own colored sugars at home by mixing a few drops of food dye with standard granulated sugar, assuring that your marshmallows are indeed vegan.
Once you’ve cooked everything together and mixed it into a fluffy meringue, pipe your Peeps quickly, as the marshmallow will start to set as soon as it’s off the heat.
3. Vegan Marshmallow Recipe by Make It Dairy-Free
Make It Dairy-Free vegan marshmallows are sure to be an outdoorsy-family favorite, given that they roast perfectly over a fire for a feel-good camping snack.
This recipe takes 10 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes to cook, and 12-hours to sit. After you’ve taste-tested the final product, Make It Dairy-Free recommends storing it in an air-tight container for no more than two weeks.
Keep these ingredients in your pantry for when you want to prepare this fluffy and sweet treat by Make It Dairy-Free:
- Powdered Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Agar-Agar Powder
- Water
- Corn Syrup
- Vegan Cane Sugar
- Vanilla
- Salt
This vegan marshmallow recipe recommends using an 8×8 pan for the ideal marshmallow texture.
4. Vegan, Gluten-Free Chocolate Covered Marshmallows by One Green Planet
For a fun twist on the classic, dip your homemade vegan marshmallows in a coating of chocolate.
Absolutely indulgent and infinitely irresistible, these are sure to become a weekly treat for packing in the kids’ lunch boxes or sneaking after dinner to quell your sweet tooth.
This recipe contains a few unique spices for a new take on the classic:
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Saffron
- Cinnamon
- Orange juice
- Agar-agar powder
- Vegan dark chocolate
- Coconut milk
- Non-dairy milk
- Vegan butter
Once your marshmallow batter is cooked, set, and cooled, cut them into rectangles. Dip each in your vegan chocolate ganache, and try to be patient until the coating solidifies into a crispy shell.
5. Vegan Marshmallows by Happy Food Healthy Life
Check out Happy Food Healthy Life’s take on this easy vegan marshmallow recipe.
This recipe is unique in its use of pea protein powder, which provides a potent punch of iron and amino acids, but can be high in sodium. This recipe also does not use aquafaba, so it is perfect for anyone who has dietary restrictions with chickpeas.
You need the following ingredients to make these campfire treats by Happy Food Healthy Life:
- Tapioca Flour or Corn Starch
- Powdered Sugar
- Pea Protein Powder
- Baking Powder
- Xanthan Gum
- Cold Water
- Sugar
- Agar Powder
This recipe takes only five minutes to prep, 20 minutes to cook, and one hour to sit. Cut these into squares or use cookie cutters for fun shapes. Just be sure to dust them thoroughly in powdered sugar to prevent sticking!
Add them to a steaming cup of vegan hot chocolate, or roast ’em on the fire.
6. Vegan Marshmallows by Healthy Little Vittles
Easy to prepare, thanks to requiring only six ingredients, these vegan marshmallows are a sticky-sweet addition to your plant-based recipe repertoire.
What sets this recipe apart from other vegan marshmallow recipes is the recommendation to add pink pitaya powder to your marshmallow batter to dye your vegan marshmallows a luscious shade of pink.
Have these ingredients handy when prepping this recipe:
- Aquafaba
- Tapioca Syrup
- Agar-Agar Powder
- Salt
- Vanilla
- Tapioca or Arrowroot flour
This recipe takes 15 minutes to prepare and three to eight hours to sit for that perfectly gooey yet fluffy texture.
Healthy Little Vittles recommends gobbling these down as soon as they’re ready. If there are any leftovers, store them in an air-tight container for up to two days.
7. Vegan Marshmallow Recipe by Taste of Home
Though Taste of Home is not predominately a vegan blog, it has a noteworthy and scrumptious vegan marshmallow recipe with a fresh twist.
Look no further if you’ve been searching for the perfect addition to your holiday hot chocolate. Give these sweet and fluffy snacks a festive flavor with just a few drops of peppermint extract.
Have these ingredients nearby when preparing this vegan marshmallow recipe by Taste of Home:
- Vegan butter
- Powdered Sugar
- Agar Powder
- Cold Water
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Salt
- Peppermint Extract (Optional)
With just 15 to 20 minutes of spare time, you’ll have a whole batch of plant-based goodness!
Taste of Home recommends an 8×8 pan and letting the prepped marshmallow batter sit overnight for the ideal pillowy texture.
8. Vegan Marshmallows by Simple Vegan Blog
Your family will love this easy marshmallow recipe for a melt-in-your-mouth cruelty-free dessert.
Versatile and voluminous, these easy vegan marshmallows hit the mark for any application you can dream up, from topping pies to smashing between graham crackers for an irresistible summertime treat.
Stock your pantry full of these ingredients to make this easy vegan marshmallow recipe:
- Powdered Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Vanilla
- Agar Powder
- Granulated Sugar
Once set, you can bake your batch of marshmallows to speed up the process. Or, let these vegan marshmallows sit overnight to achieve the perfect texture.
These meltable marshmallows take only 15 minutes to prep and around two hours to set. Consider using them as a topping to a baked sweet potato, then place them under the broiler for just a few seconds for a quick dinner side.
9. The Best Homemade Vegan Marshmallows by Home Cooked Roots
If you’ve never experimented with specialty vegan ingredients like Versawhip and Vegan Gelatin, this is your opportunity to give it a shot! Grab these vegan ingredients online or from select specialty vegan grocery stores.
These homemade vegan marshmallows are chewy yet soft and have that unique and revered marshmallow texture. Don’t be surprised if everyone in your house is begging for another batch as soon as the first one disappears!
Have the following recipes on hand when preparing this easy homemade vegan marshmallow recipe:
- Versawhip 600K
- Vegan Gelatin
- Cold Water
- Cane Sugar
- Agave Nectar
- Tapioca Flour
Whip up a batch of this vegan marshmallow recipe in around 25 minutes and let sit for a minimum of three hours. The longer they sit, the denser they will get.
Home Cooked Roots recommends storing these homemade vegan marshmallows at room temperature for up to five days.
10. Homemade Vegan Marshmallows by Seitan is my Motor
While featuring a longer ingredient list than many of our other top recipe picks, it’s still a great choice if you want to achieve that nostalgic marshmallow texture without using any animal products.
Have your pantry stocked with these ingredients before getting started preparing this amazing homemade vegan marshmallow recipe by Seitan is my Motor:
- Water
- Agar-Agar Powder
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Aquafaba
- Guar Gum of Xanthan Gum
- Lemon Juice
- Vanilla
- Powdered Sugar
- Corn Starch
These homemade vegan marshmallows take around 15 minutes to prepare and a minimum of two hours of cooling time. Then, let dry for 24 hours for sweet and gooey marshmallow goodness.
Serve these vegan marshmallows to your vegan friends on your next camping trip or deck out a holiday hot chocolate.
11. Vegan Marshmallows by Topped With Cinnamon
Look no further for an easy vegan marshmallow recipe because Topped With Cinnamon has the perfect adaptation.
Topped With Cinnamon has one of the best easy vegan marshmallow recipes and does not use agar-agar powder to get that cloud-like, fluffy texture.
In fact, this vegan marshmallow recipe recommends using a product called Vege-Gel, Xanthan Gum, and Aquafaba instead of agar-agar powder.
Use these ingredients to make these melt-in-your-mouth vegan marshmallows by Topped with Cinnamon:
- Aquafaba
- Xanthan Gum
- Vanilla
- Water
- Granulated Sugar
- Golden Syrup, Corn Syrup, or Liquid Glucose
- Vege-Gel
Prep a batch of these sweet snacks ahead of time. This recipe takes around 20 to 30 minutes from start to finish. However, these vegan marshmallows need to be set for 30 minutes to one hour and then dry for an additional 24 hours.
12. Vegetarian Marshmallows by World of Vegan
One thing that sets this recipe apart from other vegan marshmallow recipes is that World of Vegan recommends using both vanilla bean and vanilla extract for a sweet and heavenly vanilla flavor.
While absolutely scrumptious on their own, try your hand at whipping up a batch of homemade rice crispy treats to take these decadent desserts to the next level.
Just have these ingredients handy to whip up a batch in no time:
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Xanthan Gum
- Granulated Sugar
- Agar Powder
- Water
- Vanilla Bean
- Vanilla Extract
- Tapioca or Potato Starch
The only unfortunate part about preparing this recipe is the time you’ll have to wait before sinking your teeth in. You need 30 minutes to prep, 30 minutes to cook, and a minimum of four hours to fully set and dry.
13. Easy Vegan Marshmallow Fluff Recipe by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
When it comes to easy vegan marshmallow recipes, it doesn’t get much easier than this four-ingredient recipe by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
This recipe is slightly different from other marshmallow recipes because this version is extra fluffy. Just a few minutes in your kitchen preps a spreadable marshmallow topping perfect for pies, piping cups of hot cocoa, and anything else that you could improve with a hearty dollop of marshmallow fluff!
Make this easy vegan marshmallow fluff with the following ingredients:
- Aquafaba
- Vanilla
- Cream of Tartar
- White Sugar
This recipe takes just 11 minutes to prep and requires no drying or setting since this recipe is meant to be fluffy rather than stiff.
14. Vegan Marshmallow Recipe by I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan
I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan has one of the best easy vegan marshmallow recipes around, and it only needs six ingredients to prepare. When you’re done making these, it will be hard to keep them for long. These bites of puffy vanilla fluff are tasty and addictive.
Add these ingredients to your grocery list to make this super simple yet highly delicious marshmallow recipe:
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Water
- Agar-Agar Powder
- White Sugar
- Vanilla
I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan recommends baking these on a square or rectangular baking sheet. Prep time for this recipe takes 15 minutes. Cook for 20 minutes and let sit for one whole day.
Once they’re completely dry, use them to make popcorn balls! Air pop some popcorn, melt down your ‘mallows, and drizzle them on top. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, form palm-sized orbs and let them harden.
15. Homemade Vegan Marshmallows by Oola
While not all recipes on this blog are vegan, Oola is worth checking out, if only for their delicious homemade vegan marshmallow recipe.
This vegan marshmallow recipe stands out from the rest because it uses the original ingredient that gives marshmallows their name, mallow root. Once upon a time, this healing miracle was a standard treatment for sore throats, thanks to its mucilaginous content.
Nowadays, gelatin is used instead of the traditional herbal ingredient. Find mallow root online or in some specialty grocery stores.
Use the ingredients below to make this fantastic marshmallow recipe by Oola.
- Mallow Root Powder
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Vanilla
- Cane Sugar
- Water
- Agar-Agar
- Powdered Sugar
Make around 17 portions of these homemade vegan marshmallows in 150 minutes total. Oola recommends making sure the marshmallows are completely cool before cutting. Otherwise, they may come out denser than how you hope.
16. Vegan Marshmallows without Corn Syrup by Glowing Blush
Corn allergies are a serious concern, especially when it comes to marshmallows. This sweetener features in many recipes, as it helps achieve the ubiquitous texture we know and love.
Fortunately, there are always alternatives, and these vegan marshmallows are free of gluten, nuts, and soy products for an allergen-friendly option.
Keep your kitchen stocked with these ingredients to whip up a batch of these sweet and tasty campfire snacks:
- Aquafaba
- Sugar
- Water
- Agar-Agar Powder
- Vanilla
- Sea Salt
- Tapioca Starch
A batch of these gooey snacks takes only 25 minutes to prepare, but give yourself eight hours for this recipe to thoroughly cook and set so that the marshmallows maintain the perfect fluffy and sticky texture.
Glowing Blush recommends storing any leftovers in an air-tight container. Though, once you try one, leftovers are unlikely.
17. Vegan Marshmallow Recipe by Clean Green and Simple
Clean Green and Simple features one of the best easy vegan marshmallow recipes that are sweet, rich with vanilla flavor, and soft yet chewy.
Prepping these marshmallows is almost as much fun as eating them, especially if you’re willing to get little ones involved. They’ll love dusting the pan with powdered sugar, then rolling their treats in the sweet stuff once they have set to a firm texture.
In addition to confectioner’s sugar, you’ll also need:
- Aquafaba
- Cream of Tartar
- Vanilla
- Water
- Agar-Agar Powder
- Granulated Sugar
This recipe takes 20 minutes to prepare and needs around 3 hours to chill. While most recipes recommend room-temperature setting conditions, these require a lower ambient temperature to achieve the ideal vegan marshmallow.
Clean Green and Simple recommends only cutting what you need and storing any extras in the fridge for five days.
Making Vegan Marshmallow Tips
Do not be daunted by making vegan marshmallows. They are easier to make than you may think when you have the guidance of fantastic vegan cooks.
Before you don your chef’s apron and favorite mixing spoon, you should be aware of two key ingredients in the quest for gelatine-free, easy vegan marshmallows: agar-agar powder and aquafaba.
Agar-Agar Powder
The key to the best vegan marshmallows is agar-agar powder, a vegan substitute for gelatin. Agar-agar comes from a seaweed that adds texture without influencing flavor. Keep in mind that these recipes suggest agar-agar powder specifically, not flakes!
Be very aware of how much agar-agar powder a recipe calls for! If you use too much, your marshmallowy dream will turn into a plasticky, unpleasantly chewy nightmare.
This ingredient is much firmer than traditional gelatine. It is not a 1-for-1 substitution, and using it in that ratio can spell disaster for your homemade treats.
Aquafaba
Another secret ingredient often cited in vegan-friendly marshmallows is aquafaba. Aquafaba or chickpea brine is the juice from a can of chickpeas.
This juice has similar frothing and foaming properties to egg whites, making it a primary choice when preparing vegan sweets like meringues and marshmallows.
Next time you make a vegan hummus or chana masala, save the water from the garbanzo bean can. Pour it into an ice cube tray to have pre-portioned aquafaba in dishes like these easy vegan marshmallow recipes.
Whether you want a steaming cup of hot chocolate decked with marshmallows, a pumpkin pie with a marshmallow topping, or an on-the go goodie for a hike on your favorite trail, we’ve got you covered with these straightforward vegan marshmallow recipes.
Easy Vegan Marshmallow Recipes, Final Thoughts
Making marshmallows can seem daunting. These delicious snacks use some ingredients you may have never heard of before and require patience. Luckily, there are resources that transform even the most daunting vegan desserts into a pleasure to prepare.
Use these easy vegan marshmallow recipes as inspiration to whip up a batch of something delicious and delight your dinner guests with vegan s’mores, rice crispy treats, and more.