My mother loved, loved, loved Peeps. She could easily devour an entire package of them in just one sitting. While I did not share her love for them, I still purchase a package at Easter-time for the nostalgia of it and also because I know if my Mom was still around she would make sure William and Tyler received them in their Easter baskets.
When I found a recipe for a homemade version, I thought it would be a great activity to do with Tyler (who seems to enjoy them almost as much as Mom) and then post about making them in honor of mom on her birthday and my 100th post (I can’t believe I have already posted over 100 recipes). Plans changed with our trip to Nashville so better late than never, Tyler and I set out to make them this week. We had a blast!
We enjoyed coloring our own sugar for the coating, and Tyler really enjoyed watching the marshmallow mixture come together. He was amazed that all it took was 3 ingredients. It does take some time because you have to pipe each one and coat it with sugar before moving on to the next. It was still lots of fun and after making them I am sure I will be experimenting more with marshmallows in the future. I can see homemade marshmallows and homemade hot chocolate as Christmas gifts in the future.
Speaking of gifts…In celebration of my birthday coming up next week, I am giving away a set of Silicon baking liners. These were an excellent tool for making these Peeps but they also are very useful in other adventures in the kitchen. I honestly don’t know what I would do without mine. To enter please leave a comment telling me your favorite Easter treat or favorite birthday cake. I can’t wait to hear your comments!
The Rules: Up to 3 entries per person, will ship to U.S. residents only. Commenting (collecting entries) will close on Tuesday, April 12th at 10:00 am, EST. One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Wednesday, April 13th. Good luck!
The three ways to enter:
First, please leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Easter treat or Birthday cake/goody.
Second, you can enter by subscribing to the Dinah’s Dishes updates by email. After you have subscribed, add a comment that indicates you have done so. (If you already get email updates just let me know in a comment.)
Third, share this post by Facebook or Twitter and then add a comment indicating you shared it.
Marshmallow Peeps
Printer Friendly Recipe
Yield about 24 (depending on size)
Ingredients:
1 unflavored gelatin packet (2 1/2 teaspoons)
⅓ cup cold water, for gelatin
¼ cup cold water for making sugar syrup
1 cup granulated sugar for making sugar syrup
1 cup sugar and food coloring or colored sugar (if you want your marshmallows to be coated in colored sugar)
Directions:
Before you get started making the marshmallow mixture set up your sugaring station for coating the marshmallow. I used 1 cup of sugar colored pink but if you want an additional color use ½ cup per color in a shallow bowl. *You can used pre-made colored sugar or add a drop of gel food coloring with sugar in a resealable bag squishing it around until you get the desired color and the coloring has been absorbed by the sugar. Tyler thought this was lots of fun!
Pour 1/3 cup of cool water into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle gelatin over it. Let stand. Meanwhile combine 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium high heat, stirring regularly. Continue to cook until the mixture reaches a temperature of 238 degrees (soft ball stage for candy). I used a thermometer. It took aproximately 2 minutes once it came to a rapid boil. (I would advise using the thermometer for accuracy.)
Once the syrup has reached the correct temperature, stir it a couple of times to allow it to cool a bit. Then pour the sugar syrup into the gelatin mixture and beat on medium high until the mixture forms stiff peaks. You will know it is ready when the mixture holds its shape when the beater is removed. It took me about 12 minutes but you can begin checking every few minutes after at least 8 minutes to see if stiff peaks hold their shapes when the beater is removed.
Now put the marshmallow into a big gallon ziploc bag, cut off a small corner and pipe out shapes onto the sugar you set up earlier. Pipe out one shape at a time and coat it with sugar before starting on your next shape. Once you have your marshmallow shape, spoon sugar over the top making sure you get a good coating on the marshmallow. Now using a fork, gently slip the fork under the marshmallow lifting it and shaking off any excess sugar. Place the Peep onto a lined cookie sheet. (I lined mine with a silpat to insure it wouldn’t stick.) Martha Stewart has a tutorial on piping intricate shapes, but I just did my own thing. Continue piping and sugaring until you use all of your marshmallow mixture.
You can eat them right away but they are super soft. I let mine sit on the counter to firm up before storing them.
Adapted from Martha Stewart.
I am a peep lover as well – so this looks like a fun recipe. My other favorite Easter treat is crunchy chocolate eggs. (and my favorite birthday cake is Dairy Queen ice cream cake!)
Shared on facebook – I really enjoy your recipes and your blog.
My favorite Easter treat was also a birthday cake in the shape of a rabbit. It amazed me to watch my mother turn two round cake layers into a large bunny’s head complete with large ears and an hour-glass shaped necktie. The whole cake was iced in white and covered with coconut. Colored coconut outlined the pink ears and bright green tie. Jelly beans were his eyes. We repeated the project the next year. It was terrific fun!
The neat thing about homemade peeps is that you can pipe the shapes quite small and make bite-sized peeps. You can also add liquid food coloring and a drop of flavor directly to the marshmallow in the mixer.
I bought a bag of “tiny” brach’s jelly beans yesterday and had to give them away so I didn’t eat them all. Seriously.
Love your posts and recipes. Made your oatmeal carmelitas this week.
I’m also a huge fan of peeps. I just had a chocolate covered peep last year and it was near heaven. Thinking about making these and then using some oh so delicious dipping chocolate. (also, no need to enter me into the contest, I already have some silicon bake ware).
For my birthday I love chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting! anything with a lot of chocolate is always appreciated
One time, I made a cake with hidden peeps baked in 🙂
(not my fav, just a peep story)
I left the peeps sitting out overnight, and I like the texture much better. They are firmer on the outside and soft on the inside! Yum! I think I better go eat one.
I love the “Robin Eggs”…the malted milk ball centers and hard candy coating. I also love the “Marshmallow Eggs” — the kind that come in real egg cartons! Unfortunately, I can polish off a dozen (an entire carton) in a matter of minutes. I LOVE those but am always happy when they are gone….it gives me a reason to exercise self control again!
Birthdays are easy…my husband makes a huge chocolate cake and (in my book) anything that someone else makes for me always tastes better!!!
I just shared your post on Facebook and I already subscribe to your e-mails :-)!
My fondest memories are making Easter candies using preformed molds and colored chocolate with my nieces and nephews and sister Jane. We made all kinds of candy, suckers, Easter bunnies, crosses, Easter eggs coated in chocolate with a variety of fillings. Jane would sell them @ the Flea Market and I would take orders for work. We would buy the Kids Easter clothes and really enjoyed our time together. I wonder where in the world all those molds are.
My favorite easter treat is the jelly beans. But only Starburst jelly beans, I love the tart fruity flavors!
Also, I just shared your post on Facebook!
These look like so much fun! I love peeps but my favorite Easter candy is Sweet Tart’s “Chicks Ducks and Bunnies”…they are just way more fun than regular sweet tarts!
shared on Facebook
I like any kind of cake for my birthday. I do not discriminate against any cake. 🙂 The Peeps y’all make are so cute!
I shared on Facebook
I love these!! Can not wait to try this!!
Did my 3 things to enter!! Thanks for this great blog!
For years, my favorite treat at Easter has been jelly beans. Oh……how I love my jelly beans!!!!!! The only flavor I don’t like is the licorice, but love all others,, especially mixing the different Jelly Belly ones!!! Thanks, TAmmy gordonfan@embarqmail.com
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Thanks, Tammy
gordonfan@embarqmail.com
Peeps are my favorite…and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Shared on Facebook!!! Tammy gordonfan@embarqmail.com
My favorite are still Cadbury Eggs. Love them, only buy 3…every year. The first 2, I only eat the center, throw the chocolate shell out since I’m allergic 🙂 Then the 3rd one I indulge and eat the whole thing 🙂
Just shared on facebook!!!
I started a couple years ago making the bunny cake off the Kraft web site. The kids love it and enjoy making and decorating the bunny together. This year I got a recipe for some Resurrection cookies so we are looking forward to trying those.
I am already subscribed to your e-mail updates and love them!!!
I haven’t had my favorite Easter treat in at least 20 years, but I think of these every Easter! They were small Easter egg-shaped cakes from a bakery in my grandmother’s hometown of Ironton, Ohio. The cakes were small and delicate and so moist. They came in a variety of colors (I preferred the green and yellow, for whatever reason!), and I have no idea what kind of frosting/icing was on them, as I’ve never had anything like it since. It wasn’t a creamy frosting, nor was it fondant. It was something in between, but it wasn’t heavy. I seriously crave these every year, but alas, the bakery closed down while I was in my teens. Even when we weren’t in Ohio for Easter my Nanny would ship them overnight to us.
Love following your blog and trying your recipes. It makes me wish I knew you in real life!
I love Peeps! I’ll definitely have to try this recipe with the kids. My favorite Easter treat are Cadbury Cream Eggs. Yummy!
Dinah – I miss you, friend. ;o ) My favorite Easter treat are Cadbury Eggs. Also, my mom would often make a loaf of bread that looked like a giant braid and in between the various creases, colored eggs would fit. I’m not quite sure now how she made it or what it was called. The bread had a bit of a shine on the top – I think she coated the top with butter. Yum!
My favorite Easter treat is Reeces Peanut Butter Eggs – yummy! Another item I associate with Easter is deviled eggs – not a sweet treat but a treat for me because I only make them once a year.
My favorite cake is the Costco Chocolate Cake
Shared your story on Facebook and with friends @ work.