Marshmallow creme is a type of sweet confection which is extremely popular in some regions of the United States; outside the US, it can sometimes be hard to find. It is made from the same ingredients which are used to make marshmallows, except that they are whipped to turn the confection into a creamy spread, rather than puffed into marshmallows. There are an assortment of uses for marshmallow creme, ranging from a topping for ice cream sundaes to an additive in fudge.

The original marshmallows were made with an extract from the mallow plant which acted like gelatin to hold the ingredients together. Modern marshmallows typically utilize gelatin or a vegetarian alternative, rather than the botanical ingredient this confection is named for.

In the United States, many stores sell marshmallow creme, typically in the same location as marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and other sundae toppings. It is also possible to make marshmallow creme at home, if you have difficulty finding it in a store, although it may lack the smoothness of commercially whipped products. As you might imagine, this product is made primarily from sugar, and as a result it is extremely sweet; some people find it too sweet for their tastes.

One of the most well known uses for marshmallow creme is in the fluffernutter, a sandwich made with marshmallow creme and peanut butter. Fluffernutters reference a popular brand of marshmallow creme, Marshmallow Fluff, and they are quite popular in some regions of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Marshmallow creme is also used in desserts; it can be layered in Jello molds, used to make rice crispies, and included in an assortment of other foods, as ample recipes testify.

If you do not have access to marshmallow cream, you can make your own by heating 16 large marshmallows in a double boiler with two teaspoons of corn syrup. Heat the mixture slowly, and stir it frequently as it melts down to encourage even, uniform melting. This version of marshmallow creme should be a perfectly adequate replacement for the commercial version, although it may not be as shelf-stable; you should make it as needed.

Many brands of marshmallow creme are gluten free and kosher, although you may want to doublecheck if you are serving Jewish or gluten intolerant guests. You may also want to be aware that marshmallow creme can behave strangely when it is mixed with some ingredients; for example, an emulsion of marshmallow creme and chocolate has to be handled carefully to ensure that it does not separate.