These marshmallow top hats are a classic kids' party treat in Scotland. They are small marshmallow cakes made with chocolate and topped with colourful Smarties. They're super easy to make and certain to be a crowd-pleaser!
If you went to any kids' party in Scotland during the 90s, chances are you remember these marshmallow top hats. They were super popular back in the day and I think it's about time to bring them back!
Marshmallow top hats, also known as top hat marshmallow cakes or top hat buns, consist of milk chocolate, marshmallows and Smarties. They're soft and chewy with a good bit of crunch in every bite.
They're super easy to make and perfect for kids to help with. They make the cutest addition to any party, afternoon tea or lunchbox.
Let me show you how to make these tasty top hats with marshmallows.
Ingredients you'll need
There's really not much to this super easy recipe because there are only 3 ingredients, but here's what you'll need:
- Milk chocolate: Milk chocolate is what top hat marshmallow cakes are traditionally made with but you can use any kind that you like. I personally used Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate but you can even use white chocolate or dark chocolate if you like.
- Marshmallows: You'll need around 1 bag of marshmallows for this recipe. You can use white or pink marshmallows or a mix of both.
- Smarties: You just can't have party top hats without Smarties! These candy-coated chocolates are stuck onto the marshmallows using melted chocolate.
Equipment
- Heatproof bowl: You'll need to make sure your bowl is heatproof for melting the chocolate because it may crack or melt otherwise.
- Wooden or metal spoon: For mixing the chocolate.
- Petit four cases: These are basically just tiny cake cases. They're just the right size for marshmallows to fit in snugly. You can find them in the baking aisle in most supermarkets.
How to make marshmallow top hats
Step 1: Place 15 Petit Four cases onto a baking tray, ready to add the chocolate. This will make it easier to transfer them to the fridge when the chocolate is wet.
Step 2: Break 200g of milk chocolate and place it into a heatproof bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds or so until smooth.
Alternatively, you can place the bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water over low heat to create a double boiler.
Step 3: Put a little bit of melted chocolate into each Petit Four case using a teaspoon or piping bag. Around 1 teaspoon of chocolate for each one is perfect.
Step 4: Place a marshmallow on top of the melted chocolate in each case. Make sure to put the widest side at the bottom.
Step 5: Spoon or pipe a small blob of chocolate onto the top of each marshmallow. Take a Smartie and put it on top of the marshmallow, using the melted chocolate as a "glue".
Step 6: Place them in the fridge or let them sit at room temperature until the chocolate has hardened fully. Then all that's left to do is enjoy! You're ready to take your chocolate marshmallow top hats to a kids' party or any other special gathering!
Top tips
- Melt the chocolate slowly to prevent burning. If you're using the microwave, make sure take it out and give it a stir every 20 seconds or so. You can also use a double boiler which will melt it nice and slowly.
- If you want to minimise mess, you can use a piping bag to pipe the chocolate into the cases and stick the Smarties on top. If you're making these with kids though, it's kind of the law that you HAVE to make a mess with marshmallow top hats- it's all part of the fun!
- Although milk chocolate is the traditional way, it can be swapped for equal amounts of white chocolate to make white chocolate top hats. You can use any kind of chocolate that you like. I like to use Dairy Milk chocolate when I make them.
FAQ
How long do marshmallow top hats keep, I hear you ask? Luckily, these will last for up to 2 weeks so they can be prepared well in advance. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Yes, these can be frozen for up to 2 months. To do so, just pop them into airtight containers or ziplock bags. When you're ready to defrost them, place them on a plate and let them sit out at room temperature for an hour or so. Once defrosted, top hat buns should not be refrozen.
Smarties can be replaced with any other colourful sweets such as Skittles, Dolly Mixtures or Jelly Tots. You can even just skip them completely and have just a blob of chocolate on top.
Marshmallow top hats have approximately 98 calories per serving (1 top hat). The rest of the nutritional information can be found in the recipe card just below. Please note that these figures are estimated and will vary depending on which brands and how much chocolate you use for each one.
More kids' party recipes:
I hope you like these chocolate marshmallow top hats! If you find this post helpful, please give it a share using the share buttons on this page. Enjoy!
Chocolate Marshmallow Top Hats
Ingredients
- 200 g Milk chocolate (7oz)
- 15 Marshmallows
- 15 Smarties
Instructions
- Place 15 Petit Four cases onto a baking tray or plate.
- Break the chocolate into pieces and melt it in a heatproof bowl.
- Place some chocolate into each Petit Four case. Around 1 teaspoon of chocolate in each case is perfect.
- Add a marshmallow on top of the chocolate in each case.
- Pipe or spoon a small blob of chocolate onto each marshmallow and use it to stick on the Smarties.
- Place in the fridge for around 1 hour or until the chocolate has fully hardened.
Video
Notes
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
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