Marshmallows substitutes
Marshmallows substitutes — 6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Also called large marshmallows, regular marshmallows, Jet-Puffed marshmallows
Use Mini marshmallows
10 minis for every marshmallow
Mini marshmallows are the same product in a smaller size: use 10 minis for each regular marshmallow, or swap them weight for weight, a 10-ounce bag for a 10-ounce bag. For anything melted, a 7-ounce jar of marshmallow creme replaces a 10-ounce bag, with a softer, stickier result. For a version with no gelatin, vegan marshmallows swap in one for one.
- Verdict —
- Works
- Best for —
- rice krispie treats
- Pantry —
- Likely in your cupboard
Updated 8 Oct 2026 · no sponsored swaps
But first: what are the marshmallows doing?
Pick your caseAre the marshmallows melted, toasted or left whole?
Use minis weight for weight. A 7-ounce jar of marshmallow creme replaces a 10-ounce bag and gives softer treats. With no marshmallow product at all, bind 6 cups of cereal with 1 cup each of corn syrup, sugar and peanut butter.
Notes on mini marshmallows, marshmallow creme or corn syrup + sugar + peanut butter
10 minis per marshmallow
Scatter minis in a single layer. Without any marshmallows, spread a 3-egg-white meringue over the hot dish and bake at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes, or spread creme and broil for under a minute while watching it.
Notes on mini marshmallows, meringue or marshmallow creme
10 minis per marshmallow
The marshmallow has to hold its shape, so it has to be a marshmallow: minis for mixing in and floating, vegan or homemade ones for toasting.
Notes on mini marshmallows, vegan marshmallows or homemade marshmallows
10 minis per marshmallow
Use vegan marshmallows one for one. Marshmallow creme has no gelatin but is made with egg whites, so it is vegetarian and not vegan.
Notes on vegan marshmallows or marshmallow creme
Same amount
A marshmallow is a sugar syrup whipped into a foam and held in shape by gelatin. That gives it three uses. Melted, the gelatin and sugar make a sticky binder that sets again as it cools, which is what holds a cereal treat together. Under dry heat the outside browns and the inside puffs and turns molten, as on a casserole or a campfire stick. Left whole, it is a soft, springy piece of sweetness in rocky road or hot chocolate. Each use has a different best substitute.
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of marshmallows | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mini marshmallowsrice krispie treats | 10 minis per marshmallowWorks | Works |
| 2 | Marshmallow cremerice krispie treats | 1 jar (7 oz) per 10 oz bagTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Vegan marshmallowss'mores and toasting | Same amountWorks | Works |
| 4 | Homemade marshmallowshot chocolate | Same amount by weightWorks | Works |
| 5 | Corn syrup + sugar + peanut butterrice krispie treats without marshmallows | 1 cup corn syrup + 1 cup sugar + 1 cup peanut butter per 6 cups cerealYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 6 | Meringuesweet potato casserole topping | 3 egg whites + 6 tbsp sugar per 9-inch pieYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| Not a swap | Honey or maple syrup alone | not a swapNot for this | Not for this |
Mini marshmallows
the same
The same marshmallow cut small. They melt faster and more evenly than large ones.
- Best for
- rice krispie treats, fudge and rocky road, sweet potato casserole topping, hot chocolate
- Texture
- the same once melted
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
- Contains
- gelatin
For a recipe that calls for a bag, swap by weight: 10 ounces of minis for 10 ounces of regular marshmallows, which is about 40. Minis melt faster than large ones, so keep the heat low and stir. They are too small to toast on a stick.
Marshmallow creme
the same, slightly sweeter
A spreadable marshmallow, sold as Marshmallow Fluff or Jet-Puffed creme, made from corn syrup, sugar and egg whites with no gelatin.
- Best for
- rice krispie treats, fudge, frosting and dips, spread under the broiler for a s'mores topping
- Texture
- softer, stickier, does not set firm
- Prep
- Warm it gently with the butter just until it loosens; it is already soft and does not need to melt.
- Suits
- vegetarian, gluten-free
- Contains
- eggs
Creme has no gelatin, so it never sets back to a firm chew. Cereal treats made with it are softer and stickier and are easier to cut after an hour in the refrigerator. It spreads instead of holding a shape, browns in under a minute under a broiler, and cannot be toasted on a stick or stirred into cookies as pieces. It contains egg whites.
Vegan marshmallows
the same
Marshmallows set with plant gelling agents in place of gelatin, sold by Dandies and some store brands in regular and mini sizes.
- Best for
- s'mores and toasting, rice krispie treats, hot chocolate, vegetarian, vegan and gelatin-free cooking
- Texture
- slightly denser, slower to melt
- Prep
- Melt them over low heat with the butter or vegan butter and allow a few extra minutes; they soften more slowly.
- Pantry
- Special trip
- Suits
- vegan, vegetarian
They toast and brown the same way. Melted, they are a little thicker and less stretchy than gelatin marshmallows, so stir the cereal in as soon as they are smooth. Bags are often 10 ounces, but check the weight against the recipe.
Homemade marshmallows
fresher, more vanilla
Gelatin, sugar and corn syrup cooked to a syrup and whipped until thick and white, then set in a pan and cut. The real thing, made from pantry ingredients.
- Best for
- hot chocolate, s'mores, eating plain, gifts
- Texture
- softer and more tender
- Prep
- Soften 3 envelopes of unflavored gelatin in ½ cup of cold water; boil 1 ½ cups of sugar, 1 cup of corn syrup and ½ cup of water to 240°F; whip the syrup into the gelatin for 12 to 15 minutes; spread in a pan dusted with powdered sugar and cornstarch and let it set for 4 hours.
- Suits
- gluten-free
- Contains
- gelatin
This needs a candy thermometer, a stand mixer and 4 hours of setting time, so it is not a last-minute fix. Homemade marshmallows are softer and melt faster than bagged ones. A batch fills a 9x13-inch pan.
Corn syrup + sugar + peanut butter
peanut butter and caramel
A cooked syrup binder for cereal bars with no marshmallow at all. This is the base of the bars sold as scotcheroos.
- Best for
- rice krispie treats without marshmallows, cereal and granola bars, popcorn balls
- Texture
- dense and chewy, not airy
- Prep
- Heat the corn syrup and sugar just until the sugar dissolves and the mixture starts to bubble, take it off the heat, stir in the peanut butter, then fold in the cereal.
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
- Suits
- vegetarian, vegan
- Contains
- peanuts
It holds the cereal together firmly, but the bars are denser and chewier and taste of peanut butter, not marshmallow. Do not boil the syrup for more than a few seconds or the bars set hard. It contains peanuts; another nut or seed butter works in the same amount.
Meringue
sweet, less vanilla
Egg whites whipped with sugar to stiff peaks. Spread over a dessert and baked, it gives the same puffed, browned, sweet white topping.
- Best for
- sweet potato casserole topping, s'mores pie and brownies, baked desserts topped with toasted marshmallow
- Texture
- airy, crisp on top, not chewy
- Prep
- Whip the whites with ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar, add the sugar a spoonful at a time until stiff and glossy, spread it over the hot dish, and bake at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes until browned.
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
- Suits
- vegetarian, gluten-free
- Contains
- eggs
The amount tops a 9-inch pie or a 2-quart casserole. Meringue is lighter and less sticky than melted marshmallow, crisp on the surface and soft underneath. It weeps if it sits overnight, so top the dish the day it is served. It only replaces a baked topping; it cannot bind cereal or be stirred into a batter.
Honey or maple syrup alone
honey or maple, much sweeter
Often suggested as a sticky binder for cereal treats. Sticky is not the same as set.
- Best for
- nothing that calls for marshmallows
- Texture
- wet and sticky, does not set
- Pantry
- Likely in your cupboard
Melted marshmallow firms up as it cools because of its gelatin and whipped structure. Honey and maple syrup stay liquid at room temperature, so the cereal soaks it up, turns soggy and never holds a bar shape. They work only when cooked with sugar and combined with a nut butter, as in the syrup binder above.
Don’t swap it here
2 cases- Toasting on a stick over a fire, with marshmallow creme or meringue.Use vegan or homemade marshmallows, or spread creme on a graham cracker and brown it under the broiler for under a minute.
- A no-bake filling that relies on melted marshmallows to set, such as a marshmallow mousse or icebox pie, made with creme or a syrup.Use mini or vegan marshmallows by weight, or a recipe written for creme.
Questions
6 questionsWhat can I substitute for marshmallows?
Mini marshmallows, at 10 minis per regular marshmallow or the same weight. For melted uses, a 7-ounce jar of marshmallow creme replaces a 10-ounce bag. For toasting and for gelatin-free cooking, use vegan marshmallows one for one.
What can I substitute for marshmallows in rice krispie treats?
A 7-ounce jar of marshmallow creme in place of the 10-ounce bag, warmed with the 3 tablespoons of butter. The treats are softer and stickier. With no marshmallow product, heat 1 cup of corn syrup and 1 cup of sugar until bubbling, stir in 1 cup of peanut butter, and fold in 6 cups of cereal for a chewier peanut butter bar.
What is a vegan substitute for marshmallows?
Vegan marshmallows such as Dandies, which use plant gelling agents in place of gelatin and swap one for one. They toast normally and melt a little more slowly. Marshmallow creme has no gelatin but contains egg whites, so it is not vegan.
Are marshmallows vegetarian?
Standard marshmallows are not. They are set with gelatin, which comes from animal collagen, usually pork. Vegan marshmallows and marshmallow creme are made without gelatin.
How many mini marshmallows equal one large marshmallow?
About 10. A 10-ounce bag of regular marshmallows holds about 40, and a 10-ounce bag of minis replaces it.
Can I use marshmallow fluff instead of marshmallows?
Yes, when the marshmallows are melted: cereal treats, fudge, frosting and dips. Use a 7-ounce jar per 10-ounce bag. It does not work where the marshmallow has to hold its shape, such as s'mores on a stick or pieces in rocky road.
Tips for substituting marshmallows
5 tips- The standard cereal treat is 3 tablespoons of butter, one 10-ounce bag of marshmallows and 6 cups of crisp rice cereal. Any substitute needs to bind that same 6 cups.
- Melt marshmallows over low heat and take the pan off as soon as they are smooth. Overheated marshmallow makes hard treats.
- Count 10 mini marshmallows for each regular one a recipe lists by number.
- Butter the spoon, the pan and your hands before working with melted marshmallow or creme.
- Chill cereal treats made with marshmallow creme for 1 hour before cutting; they stay softer than the bagged-marshmallow version.