Peeps facts for kids
 |
|
Just Born Peeps in an Easter basket
|
|
| Product type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Owner | Just Born |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1953 |
| Previous owners | Rodda Candy Company |
Peeps are sweet marshmallow candies. They are made by the company Just Born and have been sold in the United States and Canada since 1953. Peeps come in fun shapes like chicks, bunnies, and other animals.
While Peeps are very popular around Easter, they are also sold for other holidays. You can find them for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. Since 2014, smaller Peeps Minis have been available all year long. Peeps are made from sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, food dyes, and salt.
Contents
Discovering Peeps: A Sweet Treat!
The Sweet History of Peeps
How Peeps Began: The Rodda Company
The story of Peeps began with the R.E. Rodda Candy Company. This company was founded in 1908 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. By the 1930s and 1940s, Rodda made many candies, including chocolates and jelly beans.
It is believed that Rodda started making marshmallow treats around 1948. These early marshmallow candies were known as "Rodda marshmallow peeps" or "Rodda Easter peeps." They were sold in Pennsylvania before the company Just Born took over.
Just Born Takes Over and Innovates
Today, Peeps are made by Just Born. This candy company was started in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Sam Born. In 1953, Just Born bought the Rodda Candy Company. With this purchase, they also got the marshmallow chick candy line.
Sam's son, Bob Born, changed how Peeps were made in 1954. Before, each chick was carefully shaped by hand. Bob Born created machines to make Peeps much faster. This change allowed Just Born to produce many more Peeps. The company soon became the biggest marshmallow candy maker in the world!
Over time, Just Born added more fun shapes to their Peeps lineup. They started with seasonal shapes in the 1960s. Later, the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny became a popular shape available all year. The first Peeps were yellow chicks, which is how they got their name. But soon, the company introduced many other colors and shapes. New flavors like vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate also became available.
In 2003, a special "Peeps Fun Bus" traveled across the country. It helped promote the brand with games and giveaways. Just Born also expanded its products to include Peeps-themed items. These items include lip balm, nail polish, and plush toys. You can even find Peeps Halloween costumes! In 2009, the first Peeps & Co. store opened. In 2014, Peeps Minis were introduced, offering a smaller treat year-round.
In 2023, Bob Born passed away at 98 years old. He was known as the "Father of Peeps" for his important work in automating their production.
Fun with Peeps: Contests and Creations
Peeps are not just for eating; they are also used in many fun contests! One popular event is the "Peeps Eating" contest. Here, people compete to eat the most Peeps in a short time.
Many creative contests involve making dioramas with Peeps. A diorama is a small scene or model. People use Peeps to create tiny worlds or famous scenes. Newspapers and art museums often hold these contests. The Racine Art Museum hosts an Annual International Peeps Art Exhibition every April.
Other fun Peeps activities include:
- Peeps jousting: This involves putting two marshmallow chicks in a microwave with toothpicks. The heat makes them expand, and the one that grows bigger "wins" the joust!
- "Peepza": This is a creative dessert pizza made with Peeps as a topping.
The Mystery of Peeps: Are They Indestructible?
Peeps are sometimes jokingly called "indestructible." Scientists at Emory University once did fun experiments on Peeps. They wanted to see how hard it was to dissolve or burn them. They found that the little eyes on the Peeps seemed to be very tough! Some websites even claim Peeps are hard to dissolve in many liquids.
This playful idea of Peeps being tough was even shown on the TV show Malcolm in the Middle. In one episode, a character tries to eat 100 "Quacks" (the show's version of Peeps). He believes they will dissolve, but he gets very sick instead!
When Peeps are left out in the air, they can become "stale." This means they dry out and get a little crunchy. Interestingly, about 25% to 30% of Peeps fans actually prefer to eat them this way!
Delicious Ways to Enjoy Peeps
People love to get creative with Peeps in the kitchen! There are many recipes and ideas for using these marshmallow treats. Some popular ideas include:
- Peeps smores
- Peeps pancakes
- Chocolate-covered Peeps
- Peeps marshmallow chocolate chip cookies
- Peeps brownies
- Peeps popcorn
- Peeps frosting
- Peeps Krispie Treats
- Peeps syrup
Peeps also make a great marshmallow topping for hot chocolate. A fun recipe called "Peepshi" involves putting a Peep on a Rice Krispie Treat. Then, it's wrapped in a Fruit by the Foot to look like a sushi roll.
In 2017, some people even tried using Peeps as a pizza topping, which caused a lot of talk online! In 2021, Just Born teamed up with Pepsico to release a special "Peeps marshmallow cola" soft drink.
Peeps on the Big Screen!
The popular Peeps candies might be coming to a screen near you! In 2014, the rights to make a movie or TV show about Peeps were acquired. Then, in 2021, it was announced that a film was being developed. The movie's story is about a group of Peeps characters. They go on a big adventure across the country to attend Peepsfest, a yearly celebration in Pennsylvania.
See also
In Spanish: Píos para niños
- List of confectionery brands
- Flumps, a UK brand of rope shaped marshmallow candy.
- Circus Peanut, an old fashioned peanut shaped marshmallow candy.
