If you need an idea to use up leftover marshmallows, you can make modeling clay!
There are 2 slightly different recipes we so made them both. We'll call them Recipe A and Recipe B. You can use any marshmallows, but we chose to use some leftover PEEPS® with no additional food coloring.
Ingredients for Recipe A:
- 10 large marshmallows or 5 marshmallow animals
- 3 TBSP corn starch (you will probably need more)
- 1-1/2 tsp of oil (we used coconut because it is clear)
- Optional food coloring to boost colors
Instructions:
- Place marshmallows, corn starch and oil in a glass bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds until you see the marshmallows expand.
- Mix the ingredients together with a spoon or fork. When slightly cool, you can add extra food coloring if desired, and you can begin mixing with your hands.
- You may need to add more corn starch to get right consistency and keep it from being too sticky.
Ingredients for Recipe B:
- 16 large marshmallows or 8 marshmallow animals
- 1 tsp water
- 1 tsp oil (we used coconut because it is clear)
- 1/3-1/2 cup of cornstarch (you will need more!)
Instructions:
- Place the marshmallows and the water in a glass bowl and microwave for 45 seconds.
- Remove from microwave and pour the oil over them (believe me... this is critical!).
- Stir a little bit to loosen the mixture from the bowl.
- While the peeps are cooling, add the cornstarch to another bowl and then turn the melted peeps into the bowl with the cornstarch and add food coloring, if desired.
- You can start mixing with a spoon but soon, the kids will want to get in there with their hands. Go for it and let them knead until the cornstarch is blended into the peeps completely.
- If it's sticky, add more cornstarch.
Results:
We liked Recipe B a little better. It made a bit more and was easier to mix initially, but did take longer to blend. We definitely liked more cornstarch in the mix and needed more for each recipe, so my advice is to have some handy in a bowl so that it can be scooped out easily.
Both dried hard as rocks within the hour, so you have to work quickly.
Both can be reinvigorated by microwaving in small increments. We started at 20 seconds and then worked up to about 45 seconds total. We needed to add more cornstarch after reheating.
All in all, a fun craft and a way to use up those marshmallow!!
