Heyyyy all my PEEPS!!! (Easter puns are so good though. Can’t stop, won’t stop) Today’s post is so crazy to me, partly because I’m so stoked that it actually worked, but mostly because the sight of a GIANT peep is just so funny to me! That’s right folks, we’re making a giant peeps marshmallow. And yes, this is COMPLETELY marshmallow, so exactly like a normal peep, but supersized. There’s nothing more that screams “Easter is coming soon,” than when peeps start appearing again in every store. You’d be surprised that the only difficult part about making this is waiting around patiently for a few hours while the marshmallow dries, but other than that, homemade marshmallow-making is a pretty simple process! Plus, homemade marshmallows are like no other, like fluffy clouds of delicious air. Now, I expect to see these in all of your Easter baskets this year, peep-le. 😉
Peeps cake pan (here)
3 package of unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Yellow food coloring
Chocolate frosting or chocolate chips
New paintbrush
Candy thermometer
2 containers of yellow sugar sprinkles
1. Spray the inside of the pan with non-stick spray. Lightly dust the inside with powdered sugar, making sure to cover the whole inside of the pan. This will help you get the marshmallow out of the pan later.
2. In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle the 3 packages of gelatin over 1/2 cup of cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes.
3. While the gelatin dissolves, in a small saucepan, mix together the sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Once it is thoroughly mixed, turn it onto medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Put the mixture up to medium heat and use a candy thermometer to see when the mixture reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat.
4. Slowly pour the sugar mixture into the gelatin and mix on low speed until you have poured all of the sugar in. Switch your mixer to high and mix for 15 minutes or until it becomes very thick and soft peaks form. (This step is very important in making sure your marshmallow dries correctly, so make sure the mixture isn’t too runny before pouring it in the mold)
5. Add in the vanilla and your desired amount of yellow food coloring. Pour the marshmallow into one side of the pan and smooth out the top. Tap the pan gently on the table to get out any air bubbles.
6. Make another batch of marshmallow for the other half of the peep. Allow the marshmallow to dry for 2 hours before sticking the two halves together. I placed the mold on it’s side for the drying process. Once the halves are together, allow to dry for 4 hours before removing the peep from the pan.
7. Gently remove the mold, you may have to use a knife to cut off any stuck edges. When the marshmallow is free of the mold, place it upright on a cake stand. If the outside is still wet, you can skip a step and cover the peep in yellow sugar. If it is no longer sticky, paint the outside with water and then dust yellow sugar over it.
8. I used chocolate chips for eyes, but it was difficult to get them to stay, so pipe out eyes with chocolate frosting. Anddd you’ve got yourself a giant peep. Cover the whole thing if you want to preserve it for a few days.
Are you a peeps fan, or do you hate peeps season? The big peeps debate continues!!! I’m personally not a huge fan of peeps, which is why I love this project because we made homemade marshmallows. And trust me, peeps fan or not, homemade marshmallows are the BOMB! Total marshmallow game-changer for sure.
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