Homemade Peeps

Peeps! I love them. I wouldn't eat them any time outside of Easter time, but they bring back fond memories of decorating Easter eggs and plastic Easter egg hunts with my cousins. I have yet to see them in Chile, but figured, hey, I could make that. Marshmallows actually aren't that difficult to make. It's like making Jello, but you finish off by whipping it up with a mixer.

So, what you need: packages of non-flavored gelatin (I guess you could use flavored gelatin if you want to stray from the traditional type of peep), food coloring, lots of sugar, water, a pinch of salt, vegetable oil, and silicone molds. Optional: chocolate sprinkles for the eyes.

As you can see in the picture, the addition of chocolate sprinkles as eyes give it a finished touch.


Colored sugar:
I'm sure you can buy colored sugar here in Chile, and I'm sure it's marked up to like 2000%. My solution (and because it was Good Friday and so many things were closed): a couple drops of food coloring, a jar, plain sugar, and a good amount of shaking. Just put a couple of drops of food coloring in a jar half filled with sugar, put on the lid, and shake for a minute or so, until evenly distributed. I made about a cupful of each concoction. I used 5 drops of yellow, 3 drops of red (for the pink), and 5 drops of blue. You can obviously use more if you want a more intense color, but then you might need to dry it out on a baking sheet for a while.

For the marshmallow, I used this recipe. I cut it down to a third, which is more than enough to fill 3 of those silicone chocolate/ice molds sold in grocery stores. I got a bunch on sale at Tottus for CH$250.

Before you start: oil the silicone molds. BELIEVE ME you need to oil these molds. I didn't on one of the molds, and the stuff just STUCK. Use vegetable oil or Pam or whatever you might have. If you're using veggie oil, make sure to get ALL of the crevices in the mold. But don't soak the mold in oil.

Also, marshmallow sets as it cools, so I suggest doing small batches like I did. More than 3 molds and you'll probably have the marshmallow half set before you get to the next one. You have to work fast, while the marshmallow fluff is still warm. If you have bigger molds, you work fast, or you have someone helping fill the molds, then you can make bigger batches.

Ingredients

• 7.5grams (1 small package) of unflavored gelatin
• 2T 2t cup cold water

• 2/3 + 3T cups granulated sugar
• 2T water
• pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1-2 cups colored sugar

Directions:

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 2T 2t cup cold water. Soak for about 10 minutes.
2. Combine sugar and 2T cup water in a small saucepan. While whisking, bring the mixture to a rapid boil and boil hard for 1 minute.
3. Pour the boiling syrup into soaked gelatin and turn on the mixer, using the whisk attachment, to high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes.
4. After 12 minutes, add in the vanilla extract beat to incorporate.
5. Spoon or pipe the marshmallow into the pre-greased molds.
6. Let molds sit for at least 20 minutes.
7. Gently and slowly, press the back of the silicone mold to get the figure out. If it sticks, wet your hand and help it out a bit.
8. Douse the figure in colored sugar on all sides. Make sure it is well coated.
9. Repeat with each figure.

They're great right away, but it's also good to prepare a day or 2 ahead so that they dry out a bit.

Enjoy!