Santa Strawberry-Mellows

1. Cut the base of the strawberries off about 1 cm from the bottom to make the base and the hat.
2. Prepare a piping bag 
3. Place the gelatin and 1/2 cup of water in a mixing bowl to bloom. 
4. Heat the maple syrup, 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Let it boil for a couple of minutes at soft boil stage (or 240 degrees if you have a candy thermometer). Remove from the heat.
5. Turn your mixer or beaters on low and slowly add the stream of syrup mixture to the gelatin.
6. Once it has thickened, (about 5 minutes) working quickly so that it doesn’t set, test to ensure it’s not too thin by placing a dollop of the mixture onto a strawberry. If it doesn’t hold it’s shape and begins to flatten out, then the mixture needs more whipping. Mix in 2 minute intervals until the right texture is achieved.
7. Then add the mixture to the piping bag, and dollop marshmallow on each strawberry base, then stick on the Santa hat straight away.
8. Add a tiny little dot of marshmallow to the top of the had
9. Add 2 black sesame seeds to the marshmallow for eyes (optional)

Serves 12

Ready 45 mins