A confession: we've always been a bit addicted to Marshmallow Peeps. Though they're terribly sweet and often stale, there's just something about them that makes us keep buying them every spring. (Perhaps it's the twisted joy of biting off their heads?)
This year, after a particularly stale box, we just couldn't shake the idea of making them ourselves. But two failed batches later, where the poor little chicks looked like an ice cube on an Arizona sidewalk, we were starting to think it wasn't possible. Then we found the perfect recipe.
This recipe from the April 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Living was the winner. It's a pretty simple procedure, though it requires working with hot sugar, and a bit of finesse with a piping bag.
While the recipe worked well for us, we do have a few notes:
• Be sure to use a large piping bag. We used a small one, and by the time we went back to refill it, the remaining marshmallow had already started to dry out.
• Martha advises using a damp finger to pat down any marshmallow spikes formed from piping. But doing so made the sugar clump unattractively. So we decided to revel in the homespun look, and leave the spikes alone.
• The recipe asks you to make royal icing, and pipe on their little eyes. Instead of going to that trouble, we mixed cocoa powder with a little water, then dabbed it on with a toothpick. Much simpler.
Homemade on the left, store-bought on the right
The difference in texture between homemade and store-bought is incredible. The ones we made just melt in your mouth - little pillowy clouds of sweetness.
Truth be told, we probably still won't be able to stay away from the convenient appeal of slightly chewy yellow chicks straight from the store. But there's also no way we'll last all the way until next Easter before making them again. Homemade marshmallow Santa Clauses, anyone?
We think the homemade ones are so cute, you almost don't want to bite their little heads off!
Well, almost. 
More Easter and Brunch
• Spring Treat: How To Make Golden Chocolate Easter Eggs
• Easter Table Decorations: Putting Egg Cups to Work
• Easter Brunch: Cold Asparagus Two Ways
• Recipe for Entertaining: Elegant Pancetta Cups
Originally posted March 21, 2008.
(Images: Nina Callaway for The Kitchn)
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While the commercial Peeps look more consistent, the homemade ones probably (actually, I know they will) taste a gajillion times better. I think I may have to make some right now!
raspberry eggplant
this is truly amazing. now if we can just figure out how to make them vegan, and haman hat-shaped...
So cool. I grew up in Bethlehem, PA right near where all the Peeps are hatched so I always had fresh ones as a kid.
I found this page full of even more curious Peeps stuff:
http://www.mahalo.com/Peeps
So happy to see these little guys! I'm such a HUGE fan of the DIY 'commercial' products. Nice work!
Branny, have you (or anyone else here) ever tried making marshmallows with vegan gelatin-substitutes like agar agar or caragean moss? I haven't personally, but I'm curious.
Branny, you might also seek out true marsh mallow. It's available as a powdered extract. A quick google search turns up several online shops offering it for sale. I'm not sure how you'd use it though.
hi - cute peeps! i think i'd need a lot of piping practise to achieve those.
branny - i'm in new zealand and i have been making vegan marshmallows commercially for a few months. this month we launched kits so that people can make their own vegan marshmallows! please see www.angelfood.co.nz for more info. (yes, we mail order to the US!)
best wishes
alice
I haven't tried to make the peep shapes but I have made homemade marshmallows from Martha's recipe before as part of Christmas care packages and they were amazing. The marshmallow will try to climb out of the bowl and my handheld mixer started smoking a bit from the effort but the results were well worth it.
i have always LOVED peeps and am really excited to try making them myself!
You don't like them stale? I always buy mine a few weeks early and let them sit to get stale. I've liked them better that way since I was little.
I'm with Sparkiy: they are way better stale.
Thanks again for another inspiring post. I made them! Yours however, are much cuter than mine. My SO kept telling me one of mine looked like a walrus. I imagine the Peeps company hadn't thought of a holiday to market those yet!
wow. they turned out beautifully. i think this might have to be my next step. i experimented with chocolate homemade marshmallows with my kids to do post for a S'mores gift kit, and they turned out great and firm and mmm, chocolaty. I'd like to try adding chocolate to martha's piping marshmallow recipe. yea! Thanks.
Branny and everyone else interested in VEGAN MARSHMALLOWS: check out this website: http://veganmarshmallows.blogspot.com . I've made them and, while weird to make, they are delicious!
i'm with the people that eat peeps stale! i poke a hole in the plastic and let them "age" for a few days. then they get nice and chewy, sort of reminiscent of a charleston chew.
that said, these sound lovely! :)
Ha, my BF has been "air curing" his Easter peeps for about three weeks, so "melt in the mouth" would not be a desirable trait for him!
As an aside, the thought of a vegan marshmallow in the shape of a chick is VERY funny to me. :)
They kinda look like something you might not want to step in on the sidewalk. Just a little. But they sound deeeelish. Gives me an idea for a great April Fool's joke on my 13-year-old son ... hmmmm.
I just made these.... I only got 8 or so bunnies before my marshmallow began to stiffen. I think it would be helpful to have two pastry bags, one with a smaller tip for the tail and ears.
I hate it when your marshmallow stiffens prematurely.
Wait. No. I like that.
thank you for posting this! looks awesome!
I am so glad to find this. My significant other's mother passed away last year and she always made homemade peeps for his and his older sister's Easter Baskets when they were children and then for her grandchildren's baskets later on. I was sad because she left us before she could teach me how to make the peeps - they're also my favorite Easter candy - and now I can make them as a suprise for everyone. Since it's close to Halloween, I'd love to start with pumpkins or ghosts....
I just did a post on vanilla bean marshmallow peeps - my recipe is different, but I love the idea of using cocoa for the eyes. Thanks! :-)
Hello,
I am not sure about your use of copyright on your pictures, but there is a facebook page using your pictures to promote their business. Specifically this post on homemade peeps, (and possibly others, too). https://www.facebook.com/amysbakingco <--good luck and I hope you are not further impacted by this.