Peeps are a beloved Easter treat, but what if you could make one that's the star of the show? This giant, homemade marshmallow Peep is sure to amaze your guests and is surprisingly achievable!
Skip the Store, Make Your Own:
Forget store-bought candies, this recipe uses homemade marshmallows for a fresh and delicious twist. The key? A special 3-D Peeps pan (available online or at craft stores).
Simple Steps, Big Impact:
The process is easier than you might think. I'll guide you through greasing and prepping the pan, making two batches of fluffy homemade marshmallows, and assembling your giant Peep masterpiece.
Tips and Tricks:
The post includes helpful hints like using yellow sugar for a vibrant color and creating eyes with chocolate chips. Plus, we answer the age-old question: Does a giant Peep go stale? (Spoiler alert: It depends on your preference for a soft or crunchy texture!)
Ready to impress your friends and family? Make this Giant Homemade Marshmallow Peep the centerpiece of your Easter celebration!
Giant Homemade Marshmallow Peep
You'll Need:
3-D Peeps Cake pan
butter (to grease pan)
⅓ cup yellow sugar (stir yellow food coloring into white granulated sugar)
2 batches of my homemade marshmallow recipe (see recipe on my Starfish S'mores post too)*
yellow food coloring
wooden dowel
2 large dark chocolate chips
*Each batch of homemade marshmallows will require these ingredients:
1 cup water
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
You will have extra marshmallow by making 2 whole batches. If you have a professional kitchen-aid with a 6 quart bowl, you can make 1 ½ recipes instead and should have enough to fill both sides of the pan. Otherwise, I suggest just making the two batches.
Instructions:
Grease the inside of each half of the 3-D Peeps pan really well with butter. Sprinkle yellow sugar all over the inside of the pan, making sure to get in all the grooves.
Make one batch of the homemade marshmallows, adding yellow coloring as the marshmallows are being whipped. Pour the yellow marshmallow into one half of the 3-D Peeps pan. Butter one hand really well and press down on the marshmallow making sure it's really well compacted in the pan.
You will have more than you need. Use any extra yellow sugar to coat the excess marshmallow.
Make another batch of yellow marshmallows and fill the other side of the 3-D Peeps Pan.
If the first pan of marshmallows is still sticky, just press the two sides of the pan together. If not, wet your fingers with water and rub the water all over the first marshmallow that you made. This will make the marshmallow sticky again. Then press the two sides together.
I set my pan inside a large bowl and snuggled a towel under the top of the pan to keep it level.
Allow the marshmallow to dry for at least 4 hours.
Set the Peeps pan upright and carefully peel the two sides off the marshmallow.
Trim off the excess marshmallow along the seam and sprinkle some yellow sugar over the seam and any bare spots.
Stick a wood dowel into the peep where the eyes should be, to create a small well. Stick the pointed end of a large chocolate chip into the well. It will just stick.
This marshmallow should stay fresh for a week sitting on Easter Grass in a basket. If you put it in an airtight container it will stay fresh for several weeks. Of course, I like stale Peeps, so letting it sit and get crusty isn't a bad thing. You can probably keep this for at least a month if you don't mind a more crunchy exterior.
More Sweet Easter Treats
from Hungry Happenings
Sugar Spoon Chicks - tiny sugar eggs on spoons
My Marshmallow Recipe can be found on this post:
If this Easter Recipe interests you, then you should go and check out all these other delicious ideas.
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
The Partiologist says
Wow, Beth - I can't believe how it is identical to a little marshmallow peep - just perfect! I love my peeps a little stale and dipped in chocolate. Can't wait to win! 🙂
Machel says
I love Peeps! One of my favorite things to do with them is to use them in smores. And sometimes I get all fancy and use white chocolate instead of regular milk chocolate.
Tiffany (e-mail entry) says
My favorite thing to do with peeps is to put a toothpick into two peeps where the 'hands' would be, if peeps had hands. Then put them in the microwave for 15 seconds so that they can 'sword fight.' The first one that gets knocked over by the other one's toothpick gets eaten.
I couldn't get my comment to go thru so here's my entry, please & thank you!
Tiffany Kunz
Noreen says
How fun! No wonder everyone loved your giant peep - it's perfect! When I was a kid, we all loved peeps. But we didn't like them fresh and soft out of the package - we had to open the package and let the peeps harden some, so they were really chewy. I still prefer peeps that way. We even had some go beyond chewy to hard and crisp, and they're good that way, too.
Sweet Lucy says
Peeps are great! I've never been a huge fan, but only because I prefer homemade marshmallows. I love the branding of them though and all the colors etc. So much fun! And who doesn't like to say the word 'Peeps' ? My kids are fanatics about them (all seasons). If you are ever in Minneapolis area, you need to check out the Peeps store at Mall of America. It's pretty awesome.
mlaiuppa says
OH. MY. GAWD! I must have a peep cake mold!
I've been eating peeps since peeps were invented. My current modus is to slit the cellophane and then let them sit for a week or two until they are stiff and leathery. Then eat them. I am toying with going S'peeps with them but why spoil them with chocolate and graham cracker? My favorite peep color is yellow and my favorite bunny color is pink.
Last year I made a peep bouquet for my work.
I actually have made home made marshmallow before. I made my own molds in a oblong cake pan with flour and then used eggs to imprint it. Then poured the marshmallow in the flour mold. When set, I brushed them off, combined the two halves with chocolate and then dipped them in melted chocolate. Came out pretty good.
Now I must make a giant peep!
Melissa says
I usually love Peeps. However, when I tried to make microwave Peep s'mores, the Peep exploded and made quite the mess. Never trying that one again.
Toni says
I'm kind of slightly in LOVE with Peeps. What is it about there sugary cuteness! I once hosted an entire Peeps themed party for the kiddos (ok more for me 😉 ) So wish they had these items out then! This giant Peep is simply amazing Beth!
Anonymous says
I love me some peeps they are so cute and yummy I would love to win this one.
heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com
Chriss says
I'm not a huge fan of peeps, but I've not tried to make my own yet... I've heard that homemade marshmallows are much better. If I win this, I'll definitely be trying it!
Parker Smith says
Peeps hold a special place in my heart. Growing up, my family and I always loved them. Now that I am away at college, my parents make sure to send me them in each and every care package. One recent experience with peeps happened just the other day. A couple of my best friends were in NYC on a trip payed for by my college. I was not able to attend this trip due to having a lacrosse game I had to play at. I was super bummed- however, when my friends returned yesterday, they came with a surprise. They visited a giant candy store while in the city- and knowing my love for peeps- brought me back a small stuffed animal peep. It is sitting on my bed right now- and makes me smile every time I look at it. When I look at the plush i think of a few things. My family and how much I miss them- my friends and how awesome they are for getting me the stuffed marshmallow pal- and last but not least, my never-ending love for peeps.
Raychel says
I love peeps!! As a kid my brother and I would always ask my mom for the yellow chicks every time we saw them at the store. Then race home and we would eat the black eyes and then eat the rest of the body. The are soooo good 🙂
Vanessa says
That is awesome! I Looooove Peeps.
Tiffany@Fizzy Party! says
LOVE Peeps! My love affair with Peeps began when I was a little girl, coming into the living room and
seeing my Easter Basket filled with their sugar goodness. Every year my parents get me Peeps. I even
have stuffed Peeps that I take Peeparazzi pictures of .
Lindsay Lee says
I love love love peeps! Every year I make sure I have peeps for our Easter Celebration!!!
Fool in a Tree says
Super cute! My family has a running joke with Peeps. My cousin Missy, who is now over 40, always refused to eat her peeps and would play with them until they were hard as rocks! We always have peeps at Easter!
Sandra Botts says
I love peeps. When my daughter was little I would hide peeps on window sills, bookshelves & other places on Easter morning, when my daughter would wake up she would grab her basket & run around finding the peeps.
Melanie says
As cute as peeps are, they are much to sweet for my tastes.
I wish I was brave enough to try and make homemade marshmallows, they always look so yummy!
Donna Smith says
Peeps are and always will be my favorite Easter Candy, and I was so happy when they started making
them for other holidays. I have educated all the peeps at work on (as I call it Aging your peeps) and now
they all bring me peeps.
Hani Bacova says
That is on huge Peep.
I have to say I don't really peeps for eating but they are awesome for decorating for Easter.