By Gail Marsh
It’s time to celebrate Easter! To me, Easter means church, family gatherings and, of course, Peeps!
These iconic marshmallow treats have been an Easter staple for my entire life. Have you ever wondered how Peeps came to be? Me, too!
A brief history
Peeps marshmallow candies have a rich history that dates back to the early 1950s. Here’s a quick timeline:
1950s: The Rodda Candy Company was known for its handcrafted marshmallow chicks. Creating just one chick took approximately 27 hours to make! Why? First, the marshmallow mixture had to cook, then cool. Then each Peep was meticulously shaped by hand using pastry tubes.
1953: A family-owned confectionery company based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, acquired the chick-making company. The acquiring company’s name: Just Born, derived from the last name of the founding immigrant, Sam Born.
1954: Bob Born, son of Just Born’s founder, engineered a machine that automated the production of the marshmallow chicks. This innovation reduced the production time to just six minutes per chick and revolutionized the candy’s manufacturing process.
Bob marketed the candy as Peeps. The clever word play on the candy company’s name, Just Born, was a hit. Folks loved it: Just Born Peeps! (Even though any respectable farmer knows that chicks hatch. They are not born.)
1960s: Originally, Peeps were available only in yellow chick form. However, the new decade saw the introduction of new shapes and colors, including pink and white varieties.
1990s: More diversification included adding purple and blue Peeps in new shapes.
Today: Peeps are produced in various shapes and flavors to correspond with different holidays. For Easter, they come in nine colors and 14 seasonal flavors, which include sour watermelon and cookies and cream.
Beyond Easter, Peeps have expanded to other holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, featuring themed shapes and flavors.
Peeps and Easter: A sweet tradition
Peeps have become synonymous with Easter celebrations in the United States. Their bright colors and playful shapes make them a favorite for filling Easter baskets and decorating holiday desserts. The association with chicks and bunnies aligns perfectly with Easter themes of resurrection and springtime.
The popularity of Peeps during Easter is evident in their production numbers. Just Born manufactures approximately 5.5 million Peeps daily. That’s a total of a whopping 2 billion+ annually, which averages to about six Peeps per American each year.
Peeps in popular culture
Peeps are no longer just a simple candy. They have become a cultural phenomenon. Peeps have inspired various recipes, including Peeps s’mores (substitute a Peep for the roasted marshmallow), pancakes, and even “Peepshi,” a creative take on sushi using Peeps and Rice Krispies treats. See how to make them here.
The brand has also ventured into collaborations, such as the limited-edition Peeps-flavored Icee, combining the classic marshmallow taste with a frozen treat. What’s more, Peeps-themed merchandise, including lip balm, plush toys, and apparel, has further cemented their place in pop culture today. [Peep pop culture?]
Now you know
Now that you know a little about Peeps, tell us: Do you like to eat them? Vote and tell us in the comments below.
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RVT1255
Not a fan of Peeps, but we have one daughter and one granddaughter that love them, so my wife sends a care package of them cross country every year. Recently we found poop shaped peeps. Poops? But she didn’t get any of those to send
Never was enthused with Peeps marshmallow candy. Can’t eat them anymore. I only live a couple hours away from the factory. Better for the kids who enjoy them now.
I always buy a couple boxes as soon as they hit the shelves for my wife. When I get them home I open the package and set them on a window ledge in the sun until Easter morning. She says they are much better after they harden up!
I love Peeps, but being diabetic, I don’t eat them any more. Pure sugar!
I wanted to answer “No, yuck” but I haven’t had one in several decades. Maybe the recipe has changed since then. Instead I answered that I haven’t had one in ages. I have no desire to try them now. I don’t like overly sugary foods.
Funny story. In vacation bible school one year we used Peeps to represent quail that wandering Israelites ate during the exodus. I grabbed a couple of packages to take home. I put one on the shelf at the top of the windshield in my pickup truck. Four years later I discovered they were still there. Being an adventurous eater, I decided to give them a try. They tasted exactly the same. The texture was a little denser. Now that’s some good preservatives.
I only like Peeps when I put them in the microwave on defrost and watch them swell up with the ‘on’ cycle and get smaller on the ‘off’.
Thank you for reprinting Gail’s story, Emily. Thank you, Gail, for providing the history of Peeps. Marshmallow coated in sugar? What’s not to like? 😉 Yes, I love them, in all colors but not the watermelon-flavored ones. Ideally, I bring home two boxes of each color I can find, four if it is the chicks and not the bunnies. Thereby both DW and I can have some rather than me eating them all. Have a great day and safe travels!