Skinny Dessert... Pretty, Fluffy, Sweetness

Well, it's time to say good-bye to this year's Holiday bake-a-thon and start enjoying all the sweet, delicious goodness we've made over the past week! But, don't worry, I have one last recipe to share... And, I saved the best for last: Homemade Vanilla Bean Marshmallows Covered in Milk Chocolate.

Actually, to be honest, I've never really been a fan of marshmallows. S'mores, marshmallow cream, anything Rocky Road... I just don't love it.

And then came the day I tried homemade marshmallows. Until you've had the real thing, you just don't know how good they are... And, you'll never eat a store-bought marshmallow again!

They're so easy to make too... Why has my hot chocolate been missing this for so long?

I used the Vanilla Bean Marshmallows recipe from Martha Stewart, it's foolproof. Then, for a little extra, I added Milk Chocolate and Toppings to make these treats perfectly festive for Christmas.

And, each little sweet is less than 100 calories... That's my kind of dessert!

Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

Nonstick cooking spray

3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cold water

2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, plus 1 vanilla bean, scraped

Confectioners' sugar, sifted, for coating

Lightly spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and, with the mixer on high, slowly pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes.

Add vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds; mix until well combined. Spray a rubber spatula or your hands with cooking spray. Spread gelatin mixture evenly into pan using prepared spatula or your hands. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place, spray side down, on top of marshmallows. Let stand for 2 hours.

Carefully remove marshmallows from pan. Remove all plastic wrap and discard. Cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sprayed sharp knife. Place confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Working in batches, add marshmallows to bowl and toss to coat.

Now, for the yummy toppings: Milk chocolate, pistachios, crushed graham crackers and flaked coconut.

Place a heat-proof bowl over a small pot of boiling water. Add one bag of Milk Chocolate chips and heat until melted. Dip each marshmallow into the melted chocolate and set aside on parchment paper to dry. Add toppings of choice while the chocolate is still soft on the marshmallows.

These are so pretty when placed together on a plate... Enjoy!