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
jennie says
love this idea. hope i win some peeps from peeps. i can see giant peeps on my Easter table. one cake, one brownie, one marshmallow.
Cathye Clark (e-mail entry) says
I've loved peeps all my life also. They are the best.
Cathye Clark
Liberty Smith says
i don't really like marshmallows in general XD but peeps are sooooo cute!!!! i always get them for easter! 😀
Kelli Bogdan says
I've never had a peep. My boys do love Peeps though. Thanks for the chance to win.
Gianna says
My whole family loves them.
Cathy says
OH MY - I got hooked on Peeps through my MIL yes!!! She was an all out fan and would even hide some so we could have them year round!
We would eat them and swoon
Thanks for the memories Patti
Cheers
Cathy
Anonymous says
We are retiring in May and moving to Tehachapi, Ca. where my 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren so
far, all gather during different times of the year and this would just knock their socks off. I'm known as cookie
Nonie, no explanation needed. Thank you for a chance to win this. Trish Butler
~Valere~ says
I like to blow them up in the microwave and graham cracker them. Good stuff!
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says
I love to look at Peeps, buy Peeps, create with Peeps, then let my friends and family eat the Peeps! I do not eat Peeps 😉 WOW ... that is one big marshmallow that you made ... adorable 🙂 Pinned!
Anonymous says
omg - I LOVE PEEPS!!! (I aways steal them from my kids' baskets!!.....)
jodi
Anonymous says
My family loves peeps, Easter would not be the same with out them, I always gave them to my boys for Easter and now my grandchildren get them, I would love to win the big peeps pan, i have 5 granddaugther's and it would be great to be able to make the giant peeps with them. I also collect cookie cutters and the peeps cookie cutters would be great in my collection. Thank's to you and Wilton for giving all this great stuff away. Terry
Sally Greiner says
I love that Peeps are available at different times of the year now. I love them fresh out of the package- my hubby likes them when they are left out to get a little firmer. I'd love to try any make the big chick for Easter! Thanks for the chance to win.
Laura says
I think Peeps are the cutest ever, my son bought me Christmas Peeps!
Debbie (e-mail entry) says
I love peeps, however I like them stale. LOL
I use them a lot to decorate and make centerpieces.
Thank you,
~Debbie
Deana (e-mail entry) says
Beth,
Please enter me in the Wilton giveaway. I have a daughter who likes "fresh" peeps and a son who likes "stale" peeps. I have always opened and air dried his peeps so that he could enjoy them for Easter.
Thanks,
Deanna
Catie says
Oh my gosh, I can't even tell you how much I would love to win this! My dad is a huge Peeps fanatic. When we were kids he would always sneak some of our Peeps from our Easter basket. He'd open the package and let them sit out for a good week before eating them. I'd love to use this pan to make his birthday cake!
jriebow says
I love them! I like them fresh. Reading yours and other comments it appears many like them "stale". I'm finding as I'm getting older, I can't eat very many....but they are mandatory this time of year. I haven't tried making marshmallows, but am getting very close to trying. You are inspiring me to 'take the plunge'.
suzan says
I love what you have done with peeps. I dont eat them but I have 2 boys ages 3 and 5 and I am seeing a lot of educational activities with peeps this season. Counting and sorting as well as addition and subtraction. Its fun to learn when you can eat your homework after!
Lori Stilger says
I'm ambivalent about Peeps, but I LOVE this pan! 😀 And I love YOUR Peep! It's so YOU... 😀 Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Kristin D says
I love Peeps! So happy they are available for most holidays now, but the bunnies will always be my fav!