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240sweet Gets Creative With Artisan Marshmallows

three types of marshmallows

Innovation Is So Sweet



Chef Alexa Lemley and Samantha Aulick of 240sweet in Columbus, Indiana started making marshmallows in 2008 as a way of advertising their catering business. Eventually, there was as much demand for the marshmallows as there was for the catering, so they bought a high-powered mixer, hired friends and family to help around the kitchen and found themselves breaking new ground in the world of confections.

Their marshmallows have some pretty famous fans, including Oprah Winfrey, who listed buying 240sweet's marshmallows as a New Year's Resolution for 2012.

But in the beginning, they had a hard time getting foodies to buy into what they were doing. Aulick explains that she would routinely get turned down when she applied to sell at farmers markets because it was assumed they were simply taking mass-produced marshmallows and rolling them in toppings.

"When we first started making marshmallows, it was really an abstract concept to people," says Aulick. "We were all used to seeing the Jet-Puffed ones."

Challenge Your Palate



They have over 150 different flavors in their repertoire, including some off-the-wall varieties:

  • They originally made the Beef flavor for their dogs. It is now popular with teenage boys, says Aulick. "At the farmers markets they will buy it like a Fear Factor thing."
  • Turkey With Sage Dressing is a special flavor around Thanksgiving.
  • They make fruity flavors, including Pomegranate and Pineapple.
  • Aulick recommends hallowing out the Key Lime marshmallows and filling them with shots of tequila.
  • For the Sweet Potato and Ginger marshmallow, Lemley candies the ginger and roasts the organic sweet potatoes herself.
  • If you're enjoying a spicy cup of hot chocolate, Lemley recommends pairing it with the Elephant Ear marshmallow.


One of the flavors offered to their Marshmallow Of The Month Club for January was the Caramel Chocolate Chip. It's made with Maldon sea salt and Lemley's handmade caramel with heavy whipping cream. Lemley recommends slightly toasting the marshmallow as a way of tasting more of the flavor elements.

Toasting is the way to go for the Lemonade flavor as well. It's covered with powdered sugar and corn starch, so the marshmallow brûlées. "I like that crunch combined with the melty inside," says Aulick, who says this is her absolute favorite flavor.

Tastes Like Home



Both raised in southern Indiana, they pride themselves on using local and organic ingredients, like Michigan beet sugar and Indiana corn starch. Their dedication to using real food grown close to home does increase the price of their products, but Aulick says it's worth it:

It's $6.00 for three marshmallows. But it's $6.00 for local food. It's $6.00 for a fair wage. It's $6.00 in the community. We use all made in America packaging -- it's $6.00 for that. Those things do cost more, but you get what you pay for.


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