Peeps facts for kids
Peeps are marshmallows sold in the United States and Canada. They are shaped like ducks, bunnies, and other animals. There are also different shapes used for many holidays.
Peeps are used to fill Easter baskets. In recent years, they have been advertised as "Peeps - Always in Season". They are now used to celebrate Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day.
They are made from sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, various food dyes (never blue dye), and a pinch of salt.
History
Peeps are produced by Just Born, a candy manufacturer founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Ukrainian immigrant Sam Born (1891–1959). In 1953, Just Born bought the Rodda Candy Company and its marshmallow chick line, and replaced the painstaking process of hand-forming the chicks with mass production. When founder Sam Born displayed a sign for his freshly made candy, he titled it "Just Born", playing off of his last name and the fact that he made his candy fresh daily.
Twenty years later, the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny was released as a popular year-round shape of the candy. The company introduced other colors and, eventually, the myriad shapes in which they are now produced. Peeps were manufactured in different colors, such as lavender starting in 1995 and blue in 1998. Prior to that, they were only being produced in the traditional colors: yellow, pink and white. New flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate were introduced between the years of 1999 and 2002.
Contests and competitions
An annual "Peeps Eating" contest is held each year at National Harbor in front of the Peeps & Company store. The 2017 winner, Matt Stonie of California, ate 255 Peeps in five minutes. The first such event was arranged by Shawn Sparks in 1994, and had only six participants. Dave Smith started an annual Peep Off in Sacramento after contacting a participant in the first Peep Off. Another contest in Maryland asks that participants create a diorama of a culturally important scene from the modern era, featuring a number of Peeps. The winner gets two free inflatable life jackets.
Several newspapers hold annual contests in which readers submit photos of dioramas featuring Peeps.
The Racine Art Museum holds the Annual International Peeps Art Exhibition each April. Anyone can enter the contest, centered on the theme "peep-powered work of art".
Alleged indestructibility
Peeps are sometimes jokingly described as "indestructible". In 1999 scientists at Emory University jokingly performed experiments on batches of Peeps to see how easily they could be dissolved, burned or otherwise disintegrated. In addition to discussing whether Peeps migrate or evolve, they claimed that the eyes of the confectionery "wouldn't dissolve in anything".
This debate featured in an episode of the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle ("Traffic Jam"), in which Francis, insisting the "Quacks" (as they were called) would dissolve in his stomach rather than expand, takes up the dare to eat 100 of them and does so, but gets very sick in the process.
As marshmallow ages exposed to air — it dehydrates, becoming "stale" and slightly crunchy. According to Just Born, 25%–30% of their customers prefer eating Peeps stale.
Recipes using Peeps
Several recipes and creative ideas to alter Peeps have been invented. Fox News Magazine published an article in 2013 including several recipes from various creators, including Peeps smores, Peeps pancakes, home-made chocolate covered Peeps, Peeps marshmallow chocolate chip cookies, Peeps brownies, Peeps popcorn, Peeps frosting, Peeps Krispie Treats, and Peeps syrup.
Peeps can also be used as a marshmallow topper for hot chocolate.
A recipe for "Peepshi" involves placing a Peep onto a Rice Krispie Treat and wrapping it in a Fruit by the Foot, to create a single "Peepshi roll" in the style of a sushi roll.
In April 2017, several internet and Twitter postings, and TV news stories claimed 'outrage' that Peeps were being used as a pizza topping.
In March 2021, Just Born and Pepsico (maker of Pepsi products) announced a "limited edition" of "Peeps marshmallow cola" soft drinks.
See also
In Spanish: Píos para niños
