Traditional marshmallows are loaded with unnatural ingredients and made with gelatin. The owners of Dandies Marshmallows recognized that these family-favorite treats – and a key component of bakery sweets favorites – desperately needed an ingredient-list makeover.

Dandies Marshmallows are made with no artificial flavors or colors, no corn syrup, no gelatin, and no gluten. Dandies’ plant-based marshmallows are Non-GMO Project Verified and kosher.

“Dandies Marshmallows have been used in hundreds of foodservice products over the years—from items in bakeries and restaurants to consumer products like chocolates,” explains the owners Ryan Howard and Dan Ziegler of Chicago Vegan Foods, based in Addison, Ill.

A family-owned company inspired by a passion for veganism, Chicago Vegan Foods was started in 2001 by longtime friends Howard and Ziegler. The company makes delicious, cruelty-free food products with a taste and texture similar to their animal-based counterparts.

In addition to Dandies, Chicago Vegan Foods’ lineup also includes the following foodservice products: Temptation Vegan Ice Cream, Temptation Vegan Soft Serve, and Teese Vegan Cheese.

Dandies came to life in 2008 when the company’s founder, Ryan Howard, wanted his son to try a marshmallow for the first time. His son, having been vegan since birth, had never enjoyed the classic campfire treat because gelatin is one of the main components in traditional marshmallows. Ryan, being a trained food process engineer by trade, put his mind to work and made some marshmallows in the test kitchen for his son to enjoy. The spark that lit the campfire was born.

Within a year, the company was putting the pieces together in a new processing plant, working tirelessly toward a product launch at Natural Products Expo West. By the show’s end, according to the company founders, Dandies had been placed in many Whole Foods Markets.

Dandies Marshmallows are indistinguishable from conventional marshmallows. They light and fluffy “marshies” are perfect for roasting over a campfire, putting in hot chocolate, cookies, crispy treats and more.