10 Fun Facts About Marshmallow Peeps
Easter is almost here and that means Peeps®—those little marshmallow chicks (or bunnies) coated in brightly colored sugar—will be adorning Easter baskets everywhere, as they have been doing for over 60 years. Here are some fun facts about Peeps, one of the most popular Easter treats in the United States.
10 Fun Facts About Marshmallow Peeps
1. Peeps were once made by hand, and it took roughly 27 hours to create (because the marshmallow had to cool). Now, with modern equipment, it takes about six minutes.
2. The first Peeps had wings! The candy’s manufacturer wanted to update their look, however, so the wings were “clipped.”
3. The first color was yellow—and yellow is still the most popular color. Yellow was followed by orange, pink, lavender, green, and blue.
4. According to the Just Born Candy Company, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the maker of Peeps, enough are produced each year that if they were all lined up, the line would circle the earth twice.
5. They also come in all sorts of shapes, including bunnies, Valentine’s hearts, and Halloween pumpkins. Even though other shapes are available, the traditional chick is by far the most popular.
6. The machine that makes Peeps, the Depositor, has remained unchanged for more than 50 years—and the recipe hasn’t changed, either. They are still made just as they always were, with a mixture of liquid and granulated sugars, corn syrup, gelatin, and vanilla.
7. They are the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy—and they’ve sat at the top of that list for more than twenty years. Every spring, more than 1.5 billion marshmallow Peeps are eaten.
8. Each chick has just 28 calories and is fat-free.
9. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where Peeps were born, the tradition is so large that for New Year’s Eve, the locals drop a giant Peep instead of a ball!
10. Surveys show that nearly two-thirds of people who eat Peeps bite the heads off first — but that’s not the only way to eat one. Other ways to eat them include letting them get stale first, microwaving them, freezing them, or putting them on pizza!
Fun Fact: the Just Born Candy Company, maker of Peeps, also invented “Jimmies” (some call them sprinkles), named after the employee who made them!
Not Everyone is a Fan of Peeps
Not everyone likes Peeps, however. “Haters” say they’re too sweet and have an unpleasant texture. There are Facebook groups dedicated to hating them, and the hashtag #PeepsMassacre can be found on Instagram, tagging photos of Peeps meeting their demise. It’s a hotly debated topic. What about you? Love ’em or loathe ’em? Tell us in the comments below!
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental and green living topics. Her article on woolly worm caterpillar folklore appears in the 2020 Farmers' Almanac.
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
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Amber Kanuckelhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/amber-kanuckel
Daughter loves them. And loves all the new flavors!!! A must have in the Easter baskets
We roast them in campfires, but don’t eat them.
By far my favorite Easter candy, followed by the chocolate marshmallow eggs.
I’m so glad peep’s are not just 4 Easter.
I love them! I eat them from the bottom up and sometimes frozen. I also collect the bunnies and chicks. They are the best!
Love them since a child. When more holidays included Peeps…excited! Friends collect all the new favors & send them to me! Got the Peep creamer, Peep stuffed toy 4-packs(rabbits & chicks) and this year Peep lipgloss!!
I’ve always loved Peeps and, yes, I’m one of the ones that will open them up and let them sit for a few days to harden up a bit.
Me too! Actually have started freezing them too!
Haven’t seen caramel filled ones!!!
I love peeps, I have given them to my children growing up then my grandchildren and now my great grandbabies. I eat them still.
Love,love, love them. Have since the very first one 61 years ago. Also great roasted for smores!!
I am 73 and love Peeps as much now as I did as a child. Yummy
I love love peeps and I faithfully buy them every holiday. I don’t like chocolate and I indulge in peeps lol
I also buy them for my grandson and my 2 children(adults now) . Yellow is my favourite!!!
Love peeps. Since I was a little girl.
I love peeps.No need to hate them haters lol. Just don’t eat them. I don’t like the taste of black jellybeans I pick them out cause someone else will like them. No need to be mean to things u hate.
Love them ! I buy them when ever they come out
Love them stock up every year the day after Easter
I won’t be able to give my daughter any “peeps” this year as I don’t have a way to order them She’s the greatest fan of “peeps” (She’s 50 yrs old) ‼️
They are delicious in hot chocolate!
What do you do with the one eyed peeps?
I love peeps, I started making my own (peeps silicone mold) for my great grandchildren
Have always loved Peeps love the original yellow but also love the innovation for the other holidays Gingerbread Peeps a new favorite as well as the Christmas Peppermint ones!
I love peeps. Purple is my favorite but like all other colors…except pink. Not sure why pink tastes different to me.
I do not like the color pink so that makes me be more critical if things that are pink or have pink on them. The color just kind of bugs me.
70 years old and have always loved them, stale is the best!!
Love peeps and for many years I ate a whole box each Easter season. Cause no one else in my family likes them! I love the crunch of the sugar, the flavor, and especially the yellow – my favorite color!
I guess IM a odd ball. I like them, but do not want too many of them.
I am a 56 year old Peep lover. My new favorite this year was the caramel filled Peep.
Oh. I didn’t know they had these.
Peeps on smores are the best!
Love them and they are good on an open fire also.
i love peeps. every color and kind…keep making peeps.