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
Photos: Nina Callaway for The Kitchn
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
view raspberry eggplant's profile
this is truly amazing. now if we can just figure out how to make them vegan, and haman hat-shaped...
view branny's profile
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
view chrisAT's profile
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.
view EmmaC's profile
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.
view Bruce Anderson's profile
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
view angelfood's profile
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.
view http://badhuman.wordpress.com's profile
i have always LOVED peeps and am really excited to try making them myself!
view cassiopia's profile
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.
view Sparkiy's profile