You've Been Eating Your Peeps All Wrong
Peeps are the ultimate sugary salute to Easter. There's no way to get enough, but if your strategy for eating as many as you can is just popping them in your mouth, we're here to tell you that you're doing it all wrong.
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Do you love Peeps? You’re not alone. And this year more than ever, their oddball charm may be just what's in order to bring some cheer to your house. If you're grabbing them on a planned grocery run or ordering them for delivery, now's the time: Easter is a little more than a week away, and last-minute shopping trips to buy just one fun thing really aren't what they used to be, are they?
Yes, it’s true that at their core they’re “just” marshmallows. But with their pastel hues and sugary coating, to fans they’re more than that. (Peeps trivia time: The Pennsylvania company behind them says they make enough in one year to circle the Earth twice. Yellow is the most popular color.)
These marshmallow chicks and bunnies spring up around Easter, brightening our lives with colorful whimsy. But what if you want to go beyond just biting a Peeps bunny or a Peeps chick? Take a peep at these Peeps recipes.
Homemade Marshmallow Peeps
Homemade Marshmallow Peeps by 52 Kitchen Adventures
First things first: If you find yourself unable to buy Peeps or without Peeps in your Easter basket and you want a solid do-it-yourself project, look no further than homemade marshmallow Peeps. The ingredients list is surprisingly short! Cold water, gelatin, and sugar, plus colored sugar and cocoa powder for decorating your homemade Peeps. Yes, if you have a silicone bunny mold, this is the time to use it. No bunny mold? No problem. You can use cookie cutters.
Peeps S'mores
Peeps S'mores by Sally's Baking Addiction
Sally’s Baking Addiction gives the campfire classic the indoor Peeps treatment. Regular marshmallows are swapped out for Easter Peeps sandwiched between graham crackers and combined with delicious melty chocolate. When it’s all assembled, you’ll see the bright color of the Peeps peeking out from the inside of the graham cracker sandwich.
Easter Peeps Pretzel Rods
Easter Peeps Pretzel Rods by Thrifty Diy Diva
These simple, ingenious noshes combine the salty and sweet with white chocolate-coated pretzel rods teaming up with Peeps and little pastel candies for an easy Easter goody. Do you have kids who want to get their hands on some of these? You can let them pitch in! It’s an activity and a treat rolled into one.
PEEPS® Easter Garden Cake
PEEPS® Easter Garden Cake by Betty Crocker
Peeps in the garden! What could be more spring-like than seeing them pop up as Peter Rabbits amongst a bed of Mr. McGregor’s carrots? Chocolate cake, frosting, and cookie crumbs create a properly earthy tableau, and green and orange decorator icing easily become vegetables and verdant grass. Cake mix and purchased frosting make this diy project delightfully easy to pull off.
S'mores Peeps Pops
S'mores Peeps Pops by The Bitter Side of Sweet
This s’mores incarnation dips the Peeps in chocolate and showers the coating with graham cracker crumbs for a treat The Bitter Side of Sweet says will call to mind spring with just a glance. Popsicle sticks add even more whimsy to this clever Easter bite. If you use decorative sticks, it’s another opportunity to add a pop of color.
Sunflower Peeps Cake
Sunflower Peeps Cake by Erica's Sweet Tooth
Springtime is flower time and this centerpiece cake brings spring into the kitchen. Bright yellow Peeps chicks line the edge of the frosted cake, with chocolate chips in the center re-creating the “seeds” to round out the sunflower look. The recipe tells you how to bake a yellow cake and make chocolate frosting from scratch, but you could easily go for a cake mix and a container of frosting and make a beeline to the decorations.
Marshmallow Peep Milkshakes
Marshmallow Peep Milkshakes by Wear and Where and Well
Perch a Peep on the rim of a milkshake that’s made with melted Peeps for a dose of color and fun. A little food coloring matches the ice cream color to the Peeps color and helps tie it all together. Take advantage of your supply of Easter candy and add some mini candy Easter eggs as a garnish.
PEEPS Peanut Butter S’mores Dip
PEEPS Peanut Butter S’mores Dip by Happy Go Lucky
Chocolate chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, graham crackers, and Peeps get piled together to create a spring celebration of sweetness with a colorful top that’s unmistakably Peeps. It does spend a little time in the oven, but nothing that will slow you down. Cook time: just 6 to 8 minutes.
Layered Peeps Rice Krispie Treats
Layered Peeps Rice Krispie Treats by Yellow Bliss Road
Rice Krispies Treats get the Peeps treatment in this beautifully colorful and deliciously crispy recipe. A Peeps four-color pack is the magic touch to create the rainbow loaf, which you then slice to serve — with additional Peeps on the side, if you like.
Peeps Sugar Cookies
Peeps Sugar Cookies by Sweet and Savory Meals
These Peeps cookies take a classic sugar cookie and plop a Peep on top with some sugar sprinkles for a pretty Easter flourish. Match the sugar color to the Peep color for a polished look that pops.
Bountiful Bunny Peep Easter Cake
Bountiful Bunny Peep Easter Cake by The Rebel Chick
This Peeptastic Peeps bunny cake from The Rebel Chick features a ring of Peeps surrounding it and a crown of Peeps atop, for a look reminiscent of a festive Easter bonnet. Just a dab of frosting is all it takes to attach the bunnies to the edge of the cake. Edible Easter grass provides another cute and clever decorative touch.
Hippity Hoppity Cupcakes
Hippity Hoppity Cupcakes by Queen of Reviews
Tinted frosting tops chocolate cupcakes (cake mix is your friend here). And for the pièce de résistance (Peeps de résistance?): a chocolate-dipped marshmallow Peep poking up from the field of frosting.
Dressed Up Peeps
Dressed Up Peeps by Midwestern Moms
Perhaps you’re thinking Peeps look a little too casual as is? Maybe they could use a suit (or a tux!) Have we got the recipe for you. This recipe takes Peeps and candy melts — use whichever color you like, according to the color of your Peeps — to create the most elegant Peeps you’ve ever seen. Midwestern Moms says you can even use melted chocolate for a Peeps tuxedo. Never again will anyone say that your Peeps are underdressed. (Wait. Was someone saying that?)
Hungry For More Peeps?
If you're just starting your Peeps adventures, we have loads more recipes to explore your Peeps predilection.