For PEEPS Sake!

I’m totally obsessed with Peeps. My friends and family think I’m crazy but this past week I saw a recipe in on Butrcreamblondi’s blog about making peeps from scratch. Her Peeps are beautiful and glamorous with pink disco dust!

I suddenly felt this deep need to make peeps. I had to do it! I carved out a Friday afternoon for Peeps 101. Friday morning was spent gathering the ingredients I didn’t have at home…gelatin and a piping bag. I never had a piping bag and tips so this was a good excuse to get one.

So if you would like to get involved in Peep-O-Mania….here we go!

Start by dissolving 2 tbsp. of unflavored gelatin in 4 tbsp. of cold water and set aside.

Combine 1/2 cup of light corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan with a candy thermometer. You’re going to bring the syrup mixture up to a temperature of 235 degrees. Stir along the way and keep a eye on it for once it starts cooking, it goes fast!

In the meantime, start whipping 4 egg whites until they form soft peaks.

Looking back, I should have whipped them a little bit long for in the end, I couldn’t achieve the stiff peaks that I needed to form the Peeps like I wanted. When the syrup temperature reaches 235 degrees, quickly add the gelatin mixture and stir to dissolve. Slowly add the hot syrup to the egg whites, beating constantly through the process. Emphasize: slowly add the hot mixture or you’ll cook the eggs!

After the mixture is fully integrated – add the vanilla and whip until stiff. At this point, you can add food coloring if you want a color base for your Peeps.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and generously sprinkle with powder sugar. I’m glad Butrcreamblondi pointed this out because the freshly born Peeps are quite sticky! (thank you! thank you!)

 

 

Now keep in mind, this is my first attempt at piping – let alone making marshmallows! It was quite an experience and I had to let go on trying to get t e PERFECT Peep and go with the flow.

Butrcreamblondi gives great instructions on how to pipe the PERFECT Peep.

Some of them looked like worms and Hubby said some looked like walruses. (Thanks a lot…see if you get one!)

While the peeps were drying…I turned around to clean up and – eek!

I slowly cleaned up the kitchen and let the little guys rest…

I waited until the next morning to sugar them and give them little eyes.

I misted them with water and use decorator’s sugar on them. I used a toothpick and black food paste for the little eyes.

Along the way, I became very attached to these little guys and soon they all got names – like Petey, Harvey, Scotty and Jimmy. The pink Peeps are Millie, Sophie, Priscilla…

And now I can’t bring myself to eat them!

If you want to know where all those Peeps you see at the candy store are born, check out this article.

And if you want to read some fun and silly Peep stories (Peep underwear, Stripper Peeps), read this blog post I wrote on my other blog a few years ago…

I guess I am a bit obsessed with Peeps…

‘Tis the season!