Fancy Homemade Peeps

Easter feels more special when you’ve got a few festive friends to join your hunt! Homemade Peeps are a crowd pleaser for adults and children alike!

These little marshmallow friends are so customizable by using any type of sanding sugar (we have 30 different colors!) You can also add some freeze-dried fruit and flavoring to make them a little more fancy. Not feeling the elevated vibes? Leave the extra flavors out of the peeps for a more traditional flavor.

We used a little dab of chocolate for the eyes, but you could use some sprinkles to give it a little more variety!

Also, by using a piping bag and a large round tip (like this 1A or this 806) you can control the shape and size a little bit easier. We are here to make life in the kitchen more fun!

Print Recipe

Fancy Homemade Peeps

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)
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Ingredients

3 teaspoons gelatin + ⅓ cup cold water to activate

1/4 cup cold water

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon flavoring (vanilla or almond)

1 teaspoon salt

¼ cup ground freeze-dried fruit (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, etc)

1 cup colored sugar (Sanding Sugar or Coarse Sugar)

Melted Chocolate and Piping bag

Instructions

1

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1/3 cup of cold water and gelatin. Let the water and gelatin stand while you make the sugar mixture for the marshmallow.

2

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and the additional 1/4 cup of water. Stir together. Using a candy thermometer, heat the sugar and water until it reaches the soft ball stage, which is about 238 degrees fahrenheit. Do not stir while the sugar and water are reaching 238 degrees. If crystals begin to form on the pan walls, use a pastry brush with a little water on it to dissolve the crystals back down.

3

When the sugar reaches 238 degrees remove from heat and slowly pour into a mixing bowl with the gelatin mixture, whisking constantly. Add the flavoring and freeze-dried fruit and stir together until the gelatin begins to lump.

4

When cooled slightly, begin to mix with an electric mixer using a whisk attachment and mix at a medium-high speed until the mixture becomes white and somewhat stiff. This process will take about 12-13 minutes. You want the bowl to only feel slightly warm by the end. Immediately transfer to a large piping bag fitted with an A2 decorating tip.

5

Let marshmallow mixture chill for 3-5 minutes in the fridge. The mixture should be firm enough to hold up to the piping but not too firm that you can’t get defined shapes!

6

Pour the sugar you will be using to coat the chicks into a shallow dish. Pipe the marshmallow chicks directly on top of the sugar. If the shape isn’t holding let the marshmallow mixture cool for a little longer. Use a spoon to cover the entire marshmallow chick with sugar.

7

Melt a small amount of compound chocolate (milk or dark). Transfer to a piping bag.

8

Pipe two eyes on each chick. Allow to set and serve!