Peeps facts for kids
Just Born Peeps in an Easter basket
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| Product type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Owner | Just Born |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1953 |
| Previous owners | Rodda Candy Company |
Peeps are a type of marshmallow candy. They have been sold in the United States and Canada since 1953. Peeps are made by a company called Just Born Quality Confections, which is based in Pennsylvania.
These sweet treats often come in the shape of chicks, bunnies, and other animals. You can also find them in special shapes for different holidays. While Peeps were first popular around Easter, they are now sold all year long. You can find them for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. Since 2014, smaller versions called Peeps Minis have been available year-round.
Peeps are made from simple ingredients. These include sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, food dyes, and salt.
Contents
The Sweet History of Peeps
Peeps are made by the company Just Born. This candy company was started in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Its founder, Sam Born (1891–1959), was an immigrant from what is now Ukraine. He named his company "Just Born" because he made his candy fresh every day.
In 1953, Just Born bought another company called Rodda Candy Company. This company made marshmallow chicks by hand. Sam's son, Bob Born, found a way to make the chicks much faster in 1954. Instead of making them by hand, machines could now produce them in large amounts. This change helped Just Born become the biggest marshmallow candy maker in the world.
In the 1960s, Just Born started making Peeps in other shapes. These new shapes often matched different seasons or holidays. About 20 years later, the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny became a popular shape. It was sold all year.
The first Peeps were yellow chicks, which is how they got their name. Later, the company added more colors like pink and white. In 1995, lavender Peeps were introduced, and blue ones came out in 1998. New flavors like vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate were also added between 1999 and 2002.
In 2003, a special "Peeps Fun Bus" traveled around the country. It helped promote the Peeps brand. The bus had a giant Peep on top and offered games and giveaways.
Just Born has also created many other Peeps-themed items. In 2009, they introduced Peeps Lip Balm in different flavors. You can also find Peeps nail polish, wristbands, umbrellas, and plush toys. Other companies make Peeps-themed items too. For example, you can find Peeps pillows and even Halloween costumes.
The first Peeps & Co. store opened in 2009 in Maryland. More stores opened later in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. In 2014, Peeps Minis were launched. These smaller Peeps are meant to be enjoyed all year.
In 2023, Bob Born, who was known as the "Father of Peeps," passed away at age 98. He was famous for making Peeps production much faster.
Fun Peeps Contests and Competitions
Many fun contests and competitions involve Peeps. One popular event is a "Peeps Eating" contest. It happens every year in National Harbor, Maryland. In 2017, the winner, Matt Stonie, ate 255 Peeps in just five minutes!
Another creative contest asks people to build dioramas using Peeps. A diorama is a small scene or model. Participants create scenes from modern life using Peeps as characters.
Several newspapers also hold yearly contests. Readers send in photos of their Peeps dioramas. The St. Paul Pioneer Press was the first newspaper to do this. Other papers like The Chicago Tribune and the Seattle Times also have similar contests. These often happen around the Easter holiday. Even MIT (a famous university) has a yearly Peeps contest.
The Racine Art Museum hosts an Annual International Peeps Art Exhibition. Anyone can enter this contest. The goal is to create a "peep-powered work of art."
Other fun Peeps activities include "Peeps jousting." This involves putting two marshmallow chicks in a microwave. People watch to see which one gets bigger and deforms the other. "Peepza" is a dessert pizza made with Peeps. Some blogs even share "101 Fun Ways to Torture a Peep."
Are Peeps Indestructible?
Sometimes, people jokingly say that Peeps are "indestructible." In 1999, scientists at Emory University did some funny experiments. They tried to dissolve or burn Peeps using things like boiling water and liquid nitrogen. They even joked that the eyes of the Peeps "wouldn't dissolve in anything."
One website even claimed that Peeps don't dissolve in acetone, water, or weak acids. However, strong acids like concentrated sulfuric acid can affect them.
This funny idea about Peeps even appeared on the TV show Malcolm in the Middle. In one episode, a character named Francis bets he can eat 100 "Quacks" (their name for Peeps). He thinks they will dissolve, but he gets very sick.
When Peeps are left out in the air, they dry out. They become "stale" and a bit crunchy. Interestingly, Just Born says that about 25% to 30% of their customers actually prefer to eat Peeps when they are stale!
Peeps in the Spotlight
Peeps have even made news in the world of sports. Barry Church, a football player for the Dallas Cowboys, once had a root canal because he ate too many hard candies. Just Born heard about this and offered him a year's supply of Peeps. Marshmallows are much softer on teeth!
Delicious Recipes Using Peeps
Many creative recipes use Peeps. Fox News Magazine shared several ideas in 2013. These included Peeps smores, Peeps pancakes, and homemade chocolate-covered Peeps. You can also make Peeps marshmallow chocolate chip cookies, Peeps brownies, and Peeps popcorn. Some people even use Peeps to make frosting or syrup.
Peeps are also great as a marshmallow topping for hot chocolate.
A fun recipe called "Peepshi" involves placing a Peep on a Rice Krispie Treat. Then, you wrap it in a Fruit by the Foot. This creates a single "Peepshi roll" that looks like a sushi roll.
In 2017, there was a lot of talk online about Peeps being used as a pizza topping. Some people were surprised by this idea!
In 2021, Just Born teamed up with Pepsi. They announced a special "limited edition" Peeps marshmallow cola soft drink.
Peeps on the Big Screen
On April 22, 2014, a filmmaker named Adam Rifkin bought the rights to make movies and TV shows about Peeps. Later, in 2021, Wonder Street also got the rights. David Goldblum is writing and producing a film.
The movie's story is about a group of Peeps characters. They go on a journey across the country. Their goal is to attend Peepsfest, which is an annual celebration for the brand in Pennsylvania.
See also
In Spanish: Píos para niños
