Marshmallow Top Hats
Marshmallow Top Hats are a nostalgic Scottish party treat. Made with just chocolate, marshmallows, and Smarties – they’re as fun to make as they are to eat. Perfect for birthday parties, bake sales or just a bit of throwback baking with the kids!
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The Taste of a Scottish Childhood
If you were a child growing up in Scotland, I can almost guarantee you felt all nostalgic when you saw these little Marshmallow Top Hats pop up on your screen. An absolute must-have at any Scottish children’s birthday party or school fairs, alongside Butterfly Cakes and Empire Biscuits.
For anyone who didn’t grow up with them, Marshmallow Top Hats are a simple no-bake treat made by placing a marshmallow in a little pool of melted chocolate, before finishing it with a colourful chocolate sweet on top. The chocolate base forms the brim of the metaphorical hat, while the marshmallow and Smartie creates the top of the hat.
They are so incredibly easy to make that it almost feels a bit silly for me to share a recipe for them. That being said, I always thought the same for my Chocolate Easter Nests, and that continues to be one of the most popular recipes on Baking with Granny. And if you’ve wanted to make some Marshmallow Top Hats for a while but haven’t been sure of the ingredient quantities, you can use this as a reference – because I’ve done all the working out for you 😉
It’s Not You – Smarties Do Look Different Now
The only thing that has really changed about these lovely little party treats over the years is the Smarties…
In 2006, Nestle switched to using natural colours in Smarties, which means they aren’t quite as bright as many of us remember them – in fact they are slightly lacklustre these days. With that in mind, I sometimes use chocolate M&Ms instead if I really want a super-bright Marshmallow Top Hat.
Similarly, if you are based in the States, Smarties are something different entirely! With that in mind, it’s chocolate M&Ms you’ll want to use to top your marshmallows with. Alternatively, you could even try using Reese’s Pieces.
Top Tips for Marshmallow Top Hats:
- Use a small spoon or piping bag: For adding the melted chocolate to the petit four cases, it helps keep things neat and even, and stops you getting chocolate absolutely everywhere!
- Choose normal-sized pink and white marshmallows: Avoid using mini marshmallows or oversized ones, like the big ones you get for making s’mores. Your average bag of pink and white marshmallows is the perfect size for the petit four cases.
- No cases? No problem: If you can’t get your hands on some petit four cases (mini cupcake cases), don’t stress. Instead, pop down a piece of greaseproof paper and simply pop a blob of chocolate down, before placing your marshmallow on top, finishing with a Smartie as normal. This is also a great way to save on extra rubbish, in the form of used cases.
- Smarties or M&Ms: Smarties are the traditional choice for Top Hat Marshmallows, but after Nestle changed to using natural colours in them in 2006, Smarties have never really been the same. Chocolate M&Ms are a great alternative, which still have colours that are nice & bright.
Smarties are also something entirely different in the US, so if you are based there, you’ll be wanting to use chocolate M&Ms too, or even Reese’s Pieces if you’d prefer.
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Marshmallow Top Hats
INGREDIENTS
- 200 g Marshmallows (usually one packet in the UK)
- 150 g Milk Chocolate
- Smarties (M&Ms)
EQUIPMENT
- Petit Four Cases (mini cupcake cases)
- Spoons or Piping Bag
- Bowl
INSTRUCTIONS
- Melt your chocolate over a bain-marie, or in short bursts in the microwave.
- Spoon (or pipe) about a teaspoon of the melted chocolate into the bottom of a petit four case.
- Place a marshmallow on top of the chocolate, gently pressing into place until you see a little chocolate coming up the sides of the petit four case.
- Dab a little bit of chocolate on top of the marshmallow before topping with a Smartie (or M&M). Repeat until you've used all of your marshmallows.
- Allow the chocolate to set before serving. You can pop them into the fridge to speed up the setting time.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
All my recipes are developed using a digital scale and the metric system (grams and millilitres). Cup measurements are available as a conversion but these, unfortunately, won’t always be as accurate. For best results, I always recommend baking with a digital scale.
NOTES
Storage:
Keep your Marshmallow Top Hats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If it’s particularly warm, you can pop them in the fridge to stop the chocolate from melting – just let them come back to room temperature before serving.Make Ahead:
Top Hat Marshmallows are perfect for making ahead of time. Just prep them the day before your party or bake sale, and keep them cool and covered until required.Substitutions:
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- Smarties: If you can’t get Smarties or prefer a brighter look, chocolate M&Ms are ideal, or any generic sugar-coated chocolate drops. For a dairy-free option, D&D Chocolate Drops are a great option.
- Marshmallows: The classic pink and white marshmallows work best, but you can use whatever marshmallows are your favourite. Dandies Vegan Marshmallows are a great gelatin-free option for vegetarian and vegan Marshmallow Tops Hats.
- Chocolate: Milk chocolate is usually the obvious choice for Scottish Top Hat Marshmallows, but you can use dark chocolate or white chocolate if you prefer.
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Tag @bakingwithgranny or use the hashtag #bakingwithgranny!Frequently Asked Questions:
They’re named for their resemblance to a traditional top hat. The melted chocolate spreads out to form the brim of the hat, while the marshmallow creates the tall top of the hat.
To make Marshmallow Top Hats, melt milk chocolate and spoon it into petit four cases. Press a marshmallow into each one, then add a dab of chocolate on top to stick on a Smartie (or M&M). Then you just let them set before serving. Easy Scottish baking at its best, making them a great easy birthday party snack.
Yes! Marshmallow Top Hats are a classic Scottish party treat that many people remember from childhood birthday parties, school fairs and church fêtes. Like many Scottish bakes, they are also popular in Ireland.
Absolutely! Marshmallow Top Hats are one of the easiest no-bake treats to make with children. Little hands love getting involved and placing the marshmallows into the melted chocolate, adding the Smarties on top… If you’re making them with younger children, an adult should melt the chocolate for safety.
Yes! You can use any kind of chocolate you like. Milk is the traditional chocolate to use, but white or dark chocolate work just as well.
They do help with portioning and presentation. But if you don’t have any, you can simply spoon a blob of chocolate onto a sheet of greaseproof paper and place your marshmallow on top, finishing with a Smartie as normal. Allow the chocolate to set completely before peeling them away from the greaseproof paper and serving on a plate.
I wouldn’t recommend it. Regular marshmallows are the perfect size for creating the classic Top Hat shape. Mini marshmallows are much smaller, so they don’t give the same look and can easily disappear into the melted chocolate. Plus, they are about the same size as a Smartie or M&M, so topping them would be quite tricky!
Yes! Marshmallow Top Hats are a brilliant make-ahead party treat. Once the chocolate has set, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
No, they don’t need to be refrigerated. In fact, they’re usually best stored in an airtight container at room temperature, where the chocolate stays firm but isn’t too hard to bite into. If your kitchen is particularly warm, you can pop them in the fridge to help them set and keep their shape.
Free-from & Vegan:
Gluten-free Options:
Most marshmallows and chocolates are naturally gluten-free, but always double-check the ingredients list, especially on Smarties.
Nut-free Adjustments:
This recipe contains no nuts, but as always, be sure to double-check the allergen lists for your individual ingredients.
Dairy-free Swaps:
To make these dairy-free Marshmallow Top Hats, simply use a dairy-free chocolate (many dark chocolates or vegan milk-style chocolates work well), and top with a vegan sugar-coated chocolate drop, like D&Ds Chocolate Drops.
Egg-Free Adaptions:
This recipe contains no eggs, but as always, be sure to double-check the allergen lists for your individual ingredients.
Gelatin-free Swaps:
Marshmallows are usually made with pork or beef gelatin. To make these gelatin-free Marshmallow Top Hats (to suit a vegetarian or vegan diet), simply use a vegan marshmallow, such as Dandies Vegan Marshmallows.
Vegan Substitutions:
To make this a vegan Marshmallow Top Hats recipe, simply follow the dairy-free and gelatin-free tips above, using dark or vegan chocolate, and swapping to vegan sugar-coated chocolate drops and vegan marshmallows.
Allergy Disclaimer & Resources:
Any advice or suggestions to make recipes “free-from” or vegan are purely suggestions. Please double-check all packaged ingredients individually, taking extra caution when baking for those with allergies or intolerances.
For official guidance on food allergies, please see Food Standards Agency (food.gov.uk) | For more info on coeliac disease, please see Coeliac UK (coeliac.org.uk) | For more info on a vegan diet, please see The Vegan Society (vegansociety.com)
Will try this for a kids party here in Portugal :)