Homemade Peeps are seriously not even comparable to store-bought ones with only four simple ingredients and a little bit of time.
Making homemade peeps is just making homemade marshmallows, so if you've ever done that, then you know how easy these are to do. The only difference here is instead of pouring the prepared marshmallows into a pan to set. You are just pipping the shape you want.
What is on the outside of the peeps?
It's just colored sugar, and it's really easy to make. You can buy already dyed sugars, but I promise it's easy and much cheaper to make your own. Plus, one of my favorite things about making my own is making whatever color our girls decide they want. They are often the creative ones behind different shapes, and I'll be honest; I'm not the best at pipping those darn little birds, lol.
To Make Colored Sugar
- 1 C Sugar
- Few Drops of Food Coloring of choice
Add the 1 cup of sugar and a little bit of whatever dye you want to use into a small food processor and pulse. You want to go long enough for your sugar to get colored but not long enough or fast enough that your sugar starts to become powder. So watch it. I like to put my sugar in a 200-degree oven on a baking sheet for about 5 minutes to make sure any moisture from the dye dries out before I dust my peeps.
Tips and Tricks for Making the Marshmallow
- Do NOT skimp on the beating time - You want to make sure you are getting as much of air into the marshmallow mixture as you can. This will help your finished product have a light and fluffy marshmallow texture, which we all love.
- Let it cool - I know it's hard to wait a few minutes once you have your marshmallows made to get them shaped before they cool. Trust me, though, waiting just a few minutes before you pipe them will help whatever shape you choose to hold better. If you pipe it right away, you can end up with puddles instead of the shapes you want.
Shaping the Marshmallows
- Use a piping bag with a medium opening - If you use something larger, it will be hard to get the beak, and using something small will make it harder for the base. I find a medium works best with different pressures applied, so I don't have to use multiple sizes.
- Find the balance - Once your shapes are holding what you want, pipe them out so your marshmallow doesn't cool in your piping bag. Sure, it will still taste good, but it's better to get them made if you want the shapes.
I will always end up with at least a few that look off whatever shape I was doing, but our girls don't mind. They taste delicious no matter how they look. Just see below for a good laugh!
To Make the traditional chick shape:
- Start by pipping the peeps base; I like to do them in a row of like five at a time with the bottoms ever just so slightly touching.
- Make the body - Start at the front and pipe backward, bringing the head slightly back up and forward again to make the beak. Release the tension as you come up, reducing the amount of marshmallow coming out of the piping bag.
- You can make the eyes with little drops of melted chocolate or use a toothpick dipped into more food coloring and dot carefully.
Like I said, though, you can do any shape you want. I don't think you have to do the little chicks. Plus, you can make them for any season. I mean, marshmallows aren't reserved for just Easter, are they?
So give these easy homemade peeps a try today, and let me know how you like them!
More Sweet Treats to Enjoy
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (Copycat Thin Mints)
- Chocolate Cutout Sugar Cookies
- Easy 5 Ingredient Meringue Cookies
- Classic Vanilla Macarons
- Gluten-free Caramel Candy
📖 Recipe
Homemade Peeps
Ingredients
Sugar Coating
- 3 C Sugar
- Food Dye of Choice
Peeps
- 3 TBS Unflavored Gelatin
- ⅓ C Cold Water
- 3 C Sugar
- 1 ½ C Water
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Instructions
- In a small bowl, place the gelatin and the cold water, then set it aside to bloom about 10 minutes.
- In a large saucepan, combine the remaining sugar and water over low heat, occasionally stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the gelatin and stir till dissolved.
- Increase the temperature to medium heat and allow the mixture to cook on a low boil about 10 -15 minutes. You do not want it to start caramelizing, so make sure you watch the mixture. Do NOT stir at this point.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and transfer it to a bowl or stand mixer and allow it to cool about 5 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and let it beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is white and thick.
- Spread some of the sugar onto a pan or parchment paper.
- Transfer the marshmallows to a piping bag and pipe the shapes you want into the sugar.
- Cover the tops of the marshmallows in additional sugar before they set.
- Let them dry, dust off excess sugar if you want, and enjoy!
Notes
- Do NOT skimp on the beating time – You want to make sure you are getting a lot of air into the marshmallow mixture as you can. This will help your finished product have a light and fluffy marshmallow texture, which we all love.
- Let it cool – I know it’s hard to wait a few minutes once you have your marshmallows made to get them shaped before they cool. Trust me, though, waiting just a few minutes before you pipe them will help whatever shape you choose hold better. If you pipe it right away, you can end up with puddles instead of the shapes that you want.
Nutrition
Originally Posted 04/7/2020
Shalvi says
This was such a great recipe!