Peeps are back, just in time for Easter
After nine long months, Peeps are back.
Pennsylvania-based Just Born halted production at the end of March, then resumed on a limited basis in early May due to the pandemic. As a result, the company did not offer seasonal Peeps for Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day, so that it could focus on its busiest time of year, Easter.
Now that the long Peeps drought is over, the sugary, marshmallow confections are again hitting the shelves.
(Maybe this is a sign that life is inching toward normalcy.)
So here’s the lowdown on what Peeps you’ll find this year, along with some fun recipes for things you can make with your extra Peeps (if you have any left over).
party cake and sour watermelon
As with every year, some retailers will offer Peeps exclusives, This year, Walmart will offer individually wrapped marshmallow chicks for Easter egg hunts as well blue raspberry-flavored marshmallow chicks dipped. Target will have Peeps Delights raspberry-flavored marshmallow checks dipped in cream-flavored fudge; chocolate caramel swirl filled marshmallow chicks dipped in chocolate; and giant pink or white marshmallow bunny pops.
Did you know?
Yellow is the bestselling color of Peeps
Each Peeps chick has 28 calories and bunnies have 27.5 calories. Both are fat-free
Yellow and white chicks and bunnies came out first, then pink, lavender, blue, green and orange
A lot of folks will tell you they like to eat their Peeps stale. They like the firmer texture they get. (Others, of course, love the soft, chewy texture of a fresh Peep). If you want to let yours get stale, most folks agree the best method is to take a sharp knife and make a slit in the cellophane. Then let the Peeps hang out for about a week and they should be good and stale.
A pair of Peeps recipes
Peeps Rice Krispie treats: You’ll need 7 cups of Rice Krispies cereal; 9 4-count packages of Peeps (three different colors); and 4 ½ tbsp. of butter.
Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 ⅓ cup of Rice Krispies, 12 Peeps of one color, and 1 ½ tablespoons butter. Microwave until the Peeps expand, and butter is melted (about 40 seconds). Spray a large spoon or spatula with cooking spray and combine until fully mixed.
Spread the mixture into baking dish, then press to flatten. Repeat two more times, using the other colors, and layering.
Refrigerate until solid, 15 minutes, then slice and serve.
Peeps S’mores: Preheat your oven to 350. Take 12 graham crackers and place then on a large baking sheet. Top each with a piece of chocolate and a Peep. Bake for about 4 minutes or until the tops of the Peeps are brown. Take the tray out of the oven and top with graham crackers and press down.
This takes the (cheese)cake
If that’s not enough for you, here’s a recipe for a Peeps cheesecake you can make, courtesy of Peeps and Duncan Hines: What you’ll need: Cooking spray
1 pkg (15.25 oz) Duncan Hines classic yellow cake mix, divided
2 eggs
½ cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil blue food coloring 2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles Cheesecake
3 pkgs (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup reserved cake mix 3 eggs
2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
1 container (16 oz)
Duncan Hines classic vanilla creamy homestyle frosting pink food coloring additional rainbow sprinkles
20 Peeps pink marshmallow chicks
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 10-inch springform pan with baking spray.
Cake batter: Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Measure ½-cup cake mix out and reserve for making cheesecake. Add eggs, water and oil to large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.
Stir blue food coloring and rainbow sprinkles into batter. Pour into pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
Cheesecake: Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until blended, about 1 minute. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs and reserved ½-cup cake mix, just until blended. Stir in sprinkles.
Pour cheesecake over baked cake in pan. Bake 50 minutes. Turn oven off, do not open oven door. Let cheesecake sit in hot oven 15 to 20 minutes, until just set in the center.
Remove cake batter cheesecake from oven and cool at room temperature 1 hour. Remove ring from springform pan and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
Use pink food coloring to dye frosting. Frost top and sides of cheesecake with frosting. Decorate with sprinkles and Peeps chicks. Use a hot knife to slice cake batter cheesecake and clean the knife between each cut.