The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · February 2015
Ages3–8 yrs
Prep55 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class
Dye mini marshmallows with water and gel food color, dry them overnight on wax paper, then dust off the stickiness. You get a rainbow of play pieces for counting, sorting, patterning and building.
⚠️ Safety first
- Play material, not a snack: once dyed and dusted with baking soda or flour, these marshmallows are for play only. Don't let kids eat them.
- Mini marshmallows are a choking hazard for young children. Supervise closely at all times, especially with toddlers and preschoolers.
- Toothpicks have sharp points. An adult should supervise any building with them.
- Gel food color can stain hands, clothes and surfaces. Cover the table and consider aprons.
- Brush and shake off dusting powder gently to keep the powder from getting into the air or eyes.
Before the kids arrive
- Color the marshmallows at least a day ahead: they need to dry overnight before dusting and play.
- Line cookie sheets with wax paper before you start dyeing, so each color can go straight onto the sheet.
Steps
Separate the mini marshmallows into 7 bowls, one for each rainbow color.
In a separate cup, mix 2 tbsp of water with 1 squirt of gel food color until even.
Pour the color mixture into one bowl of marshmallows and stir until the color is evenly spread.
Right away, lay the wet marshmallows out on a wax-paper-lined cookie sheet, spread apart as much as possible.
Repeat with the next color, one bowl at a time.
Let the marshmallows dry, ideally overnight.
Gently peel them off the wax paper and drop them into a bowl of powdered sugar, baking soda or white flour. Coat them gently to remove the stickiness.
Brush off the extra powder with a pastry brush, or shake them in a foil pan.
Use them to count, sort, pattern and build. Toothpicks and jumbo marshmallows are great for building.
Tips
- Yeah, DON'T let the wet colored marshmallows sit in a bowl for a long time. As soon as you make one color, transfer it to the cookie sheet.from the author
- Spreading them out on the wax paper takes a while, but if you do it now, removing them from the cookie sheet will be much easier.from the author
- If they are a little bit stuck to each other, it is ok. Don't fret.from the author
- Painting those tiny ones was daunting, so we opted to dye them with food color.from the author
- To store them, pour them into an airtight zippered bag with some more baking soda, seal it and shake. They should stay dry that way.from the author
- Made in rainbow colors, this makes a great St. Patrick's Day activity.from the author
Make it your own
- Make rainbow colors for a St. Patrick's Day activity.
- Use the colored marshmallows for counting, sorting or patterning.
- Build rainbow marshmallow structures with toothpicks.
- Paint jumbo marshmallows instead of dyeing the minis.
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