r/glasgow • u/Elvirawynter • 1d ago
Marshmallow top hats
So if you grew up in Scotland, these bad boys were always seen at kids parties or at school bake fairs.
I need to ask, as I remember having this discussion with some folks recently, was it smarties or jelly tots on top when you were wee?
I'm wondering if the preferred topping differs depending on where you grew up. I said I'd make them for a toddlers Halloween party next week and I'm unsure whether to stick with what I grew up with or do a mishmash. 🎃
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u/justinaneedle 1d ago
It was Smarties 100%. Though, in case it’s a regional thing: I’m from Ayrshire.
And now I really want one of these. 😂
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u/rosearkana 18h ago
Central belt and yeah it was smarties 100% of the time.
These, cocktail sticks with sausage, pickled onion and a block of cheese, and the cheapest crisps imaginable in one big bowl, a child's paradise.
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u/WillingApplication10 1d ago
Smarties. I do remember a few times just tiny blob of chocolate on top but I always felt that was stingy.
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u/Munki57 23h ago
You never get fed up with them and end up demolishing 300 of them
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u/Elvirawynter 21h ago
I'm genuinely tempted to do a tester batch just so I can scran some for myself 😂😂
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u/_13thfloor_ 20h ago
Those (with smarties) and an orange covered in tin foil with cheese and pineapple skewers stuck into it like a hedgehog were peak children’s birthday party when I was wee. So good.
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u/CrocodileJock 23h ago
Had completely forgotten about these! Everyone seems to be saying Smarties on top, but I remember Jelly Tots!
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u/Elvirawynter 21h ago
Where did you grow up? As mine was either or.
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u/CrocodileJock 21h ago
Oh, I left Glasgow in 1969... but was back at my Granny's in the West End every halfterm holiday.
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u/fexverte 23h ago
Haven’t thought about these in YEARS. We had them with both but I always preferred Smarties
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u/CopperPetra85 13h ago
Definitely smarties. Childhood was split between South Lanarkshire and Inverness, was smarties at parties in both places. I'm actually making these on Friday night for my 4 year old's birthday party on Saturday. 4 pack of smarties are on the Tesco order ready and waiting.
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u/amitythree 23h ago
Smarties 100%. Chocolate on chocolate. I've got nothing against Jelly Tots, but we as a nation need to bin the insistence of a JT atop an empire while we're at it
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u/eilidhpaley91 23h ago
My Gran used to make them every year for my primary school Christmas party, she always used Smarties.
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u/PatriciaMorticia 23h ago
It was always Smarties on them, I grew up in East Kilbride, my cousins in Castlemilk always had the stingy little dot of chocolate on the top at their parties. Never seen them with jelly tots.
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u/hungry-mongoose 23h ago
I grew up with these too, in Newcastle! Was always a smartie on top. I feel like a jelly sweet would be too much chewiness. The contrast between the chewy marshmallow and the crunchy smartie is what makes it.
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u/kt1982mt 22h ago
Smarties for me! I’m in my 40s now, and remember marshmallow top hats being a staple party food. I’ve always made them for my kids’ birthday parties as well, and they always disappear quickly!!
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u/motivatedsporran 22h ago
Ahhh, fantastic!
Was always Smarties at the parties around here. Loved them!
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u/KingAltair2255 22h ago
Smarties.
I still make a batch of them now and again, they're like absolute crack.
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u/ramsay_baggins 20h ago
I'm from Belfast but my mum was born in Glasgow and she always used smarties!
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u/PurpleAutisticPiplup 15h ago
Originally from Edinburgh (have lived here 20+ years though) and we always had smarties on top hats.
My mum also made jelly orange boats - anyone else remember those? A big orange cut in half, the fruit scooped out and replaced with orange jelly. They had toothpicks with little paper flags stuck into the top. Not massively easy to eat, but very fun!
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u/Dear_Peace_2117 1d ago
Nearly 40 born and raised here in Glasgow and can honestly say I’ve never seen those in my life.
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u/Elvirawynter 1d ago
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! 😱
To be fair, my husband is from Paisley and never heard of them either.4
u/ElectricalGuitar1924 1d ago
Even Dundee had top hats! Assuming that I didn't take all of their joy when I left, they still do.
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u/Dear_Peace_2117 1d ago
Yeah, can’t even think of anything that might have resembled them either. It might be a regional thing, although people in this chat have seen them as well. I dunno lol.
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u/WolverineOk4248 18h ago
Ditto. Glasgow. Never seen them before. Anyone know what the marshmallow is sitting on? They look quite big - are they the more recent American style marshmallows?
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u/Elvirawynter 1d ago
I'm from South Lanarkshire, my mum just corrected me and said she made them with both smarties and jellytots. 😅
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u/Almond-Praline4195 23h ago
I think smarties, although I have a vague memory of m&ms as well (controversial)
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u/Severe_Look_4566 21h ago
My friend makes these but with chocolate buttons and Maltesers on the top instead of smarties
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u/multicrafty 21h ago
As someone new to Scotland - what’s the base made of? These look fun!
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u/Elvirawynter 20h ago
Beat me too it, but literally melted chocolate in the paper case, marshmallow, a wee bit of chocolate and then your sweet of choice on top.
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u/Chang3_us3rname 18h ago
Yup, these bring back childhood memories! I’m 32 from Ayrshire and we used to get these as wains at parties etc. Surprised others ain’t had them 😅
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u/Tiny-Potato4789 14h ago
In my experience it was smarties.
My friend's parents are devout Free Church of Scotland and I remember being quite surpised by her telling me her mum made these for an elderly lady's funeral wake.
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u/Silver_Plenty 1d ago
Smarties all the way. But I dip the whole marshmallow in chocolate so it’s chocolate covered marshmallows.