Homemade Peeps: Tutorial and Recipe

Way back last Fall when I made Homemade Candy Corn, I knew that I would want to try Homemade Peeps. I was surprised at how easy the Candy Corn was, and once again, the Peeps surprised me.

The little puffs of delicate marshmallow, Peeps, can be found around Easter time. But now…we can have them anytime during the year. And with this relatively easy recipe, I’m thinking a special S’More Buffet is in the making.

One of biggest tricks to this recipe is having all your supplies and ingredients ready ahead of time. Once the marshmallow mixture is ready, you will need to move quickly with it.

Homemade Peeps Supplies:

1. Colored sugar – to make the sugar super fine, place in food processor and pulse a few seconds
2. Water, Sugar, Gelatin, Decorator bag, Giant round tip, #10 tip and a thermometer

You will also need wax paper and a small plate. Tear pieces of wax paper into squares.

Homemade Peeps Recipe:

• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1/3 cups cold water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water

1. Pour 1/3 cup cold water into large mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin over and let set while the sugar is cooking {at least 5 minutes}
2. Add sugar and 1/4 cup water to a heavy saucepan, bring to boil stirring. Add the thermometer. This is where all of the candy makers out there are having a fit, because I did not use a candy thermometer. I do not own one, but it’s probably a good idea to use one. The meat thermometer I used, worked fine though. Boil until thermometer reaches 238 degrees. Remove from heat and pour over gelatin.
3. Beat on medium high speed for about 8-10 minutes. This picture is after 5 minutes of beating.
4. Continue beating until soft peaks form, this is after about 8 minutes.

This is how you want it to look. Stiff, bright white and glossy. Fit a decorator bag with a giant round tip {or the largest round tip you have}, and fill with marshmallow mixture.

Place a piece of wax paper on a small plate. I found this to be easiest, then you can move the plate around. Pipe on a oval shape for the body, then a small dollop for the head, pushing back toward the tail and pulling upward.

Then coat the Peep with sugar, dump excess back in the bowl to re-use. For the eyes, dip the end of a toothpick in black food coloring and carefully add small dots.

The inside is smooth and light. And tastes LOTS better {in my opinion} then store bought Peeps.

For the Bunny Peeps, use Tip #12, and the same method using a piece of wax paper. Pipe on a body, then a head and ears. Coat with sugar. And add the eyes with a toothpick and black food coloring.

Remember the Easter Dessert Stand I shared a couple weeks ago? I think the Peeps look super cute on it…I’m off to fill it up!

Recipe from Martha

What is your favorite color of Peep?