Frequent Questions
What makes your marshmallows special?
We make our marshmallows from scratch, using all-natural ingredients and high quality flavorings and toppings. These aren't just plain marshmallows that are coated or covered, they are flavored throughout and make for a unique and delicious treat. While they are delicious to eat right out of the package, they are even more wonderful when you toast them - either in the backyard, on the camping trip, or right in your own kitchen. And they melt great on top of your coffee or hot cocoa!
Aren't all marshmallows all-natural?
Uh, no. Take a look at the ingredients in a pack of traditional store-bought marshmallows, and see if you notice anything unappealing. Well, first there is the corn syrup. While techinically not unnatural, corn syrup has been under heavy scrutiny as an ingredient and we've chosen to avoid it. But what else is in there?
Artificial blue color #1 - Why does a white marshmallow have blue coloring? Well, sometimes those marshmallows can be on the shelf for a very long time, and the blue dye helps to keep them white. We prefer to sell our marshmallows as fresh as possible, and within a timeframe that they keep their all-natural colors.
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate - This is labeled as a "whipping agent", but tetrasodium pyrophosphate is a food additive of many uses. According to Wikipdedia, tetrasodium pyrophosphate is used in "chicken nuggets, marshmallows, pudding, crab meat, imitation crab, canned tuna, and soy-based meat alternatives and cat foods and cat treats where it is used as a palatability enhancer." It's also used in toothpaste for tartar control.
Mmmmm, definitely not natural.
I want to buy marshmallows for an upcoming event - when should I order?
Our marshmallows are made and sold as fresh as possible. However, unopened bags will keep just fine for up to 6 months if you take proper care of them. Keep them out of the sunlight and away from the heat, and they should stay nice and soft and tasty. Once you open the bag, store them in an airtight place. They'll stay fresh for up to two weeks, and you can even freeze them if you want to keep the opened bag even longer.
So we suggest placing your order about 3 weeks prior to your event, depending on the time of year. This insures that we have your desired flavors in stock, the 3-6 shipping days are covered, and any surprises or problems that crop up can be dealt with. If you are ordering close to holidays, or you just like to make sure you're covered, you may want to add a week to that just in case.
How many marshmallows should I buy for my party?
Each pound of Plush Puffs contains between 60-70 marshmallows depending on the flavor (Peppi-Mint has the most, Chocolate Chipetta has the fewest). We typically recommend a pound each of 3-4 flavors for a party, just so you can have a nice range of flavor options. Make sure to have some air-tight baggies available after the party for guests to take home any extras that you might want to share.
Are they kosher or vegan?
Plush Puffs are not kosher or vegan. Although our gelatin is actually labeled as kosher, it is typically derived from pork (don't ask us) and we don't want anyone to be confused or misled into eating something against their values. If you are looking for a kosher or vegan marshmallows, there are companies who produce these specifically and you should be able to find some. We'd love to make them, but those gelatins simply turn out marshmallows with different textures that melt and toast much different than our own.