Peeps FAQ

Table of contents

1) What are Peeps? 2) Who makes Peeps? Where are they made? 3) Do Peeps come in other shapes besides chicks? 4) What is the significance of the company name "Just Born"? 5) What is the Born Sucker Machine? 6) Who originally developed and marketed Peeps? 7) What is the etymology of the word "peep" (peeps)? 8) What is the origin and history of marshmallow candy? 9) How is "marshmallow" correctly spelled and pronounced? 10) Are there "Adult" peeps? 11) What colors do Peeps come in? 12) Do the different colors have different flavors? 13) Are all colors usually available? 14) Why are Peeps all of a sudden so popular? 15) What (when) exactly is "Peep Season"? Is this when you can legally hunt Peeps or something? 16) Is there anyplace you can buy Peeps off-season? 17) What's this about Peeps needing to "age" or "ripen"? 18) How are Peeps made, are they set in molds? 19) Are there any recipes for Peeps? 20) How do you store Peeps so they will keep through the off-season? 21) What ingredients are in Peeps? 22) What are Peeps eyes made of? 23) Are Peeps low in calories? 24) Are Peeps low-fat? 25) Are Peeps Kosher for Passover? 26) How are Peeps packaged and sold? 27) Are there giant Peeps? 28) What happens when you put a peep in a microwave oven? 29) When were Peeps first advertised on TV? 30) Are there any tie-in merchandize items? 31) There's this cute stuffed bird called "Puffkins The Peep", is it anything like the stuffed Peep above, or does it have anything to do with Peeps? 32) What's this about a Peeps Fan Club? 33) Is there anything like a Guinness World Record for eating Peeps?

What are Peeps?

Peeps are a marshmallow confection, intended as a kids' Easter candy. The manufacturer states that Peeps are the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.

Who makes Peeps? Where are they made?

Genuine Peeps are made by Just Born Quality Confections, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, US.

Do Peeps come in other shapes besides chicks?

The chicks were the originals. Bunnies came after. There are now several other holiday candies made with a similar recipe and process, such as Spooky Cats for Halloween, and Snowmen for the winter holidays.

Beginning in the 1999 Peep Season, Peeps Eggs are available. These are slightly larger than Peeps or Bunnies, and are white with multicolored specks.

As of Valentine's Day 2000, Just Born is making Peep-like pink marshmallow hearts.

What is the significance of the company name "Just Born"?

The company was named after its founder, Sam Born.

What is the Born Sucker Machine?

In 1916, the ingenious candy maker, Sam Born, was awarded the keys to San Francisco for inventing the Born Sucker Machine, which mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops. Born is also responsible for many other mechanical candy-making contraptions.

Who originally developed and marketed Peeps?

Peeps were originally developed and sold by Rodda Candy in the 1920's. Rodda was acquired by Just Born in 1953.

What is the etymology of the word "peep" (peeps)?

Webster's defines "peep" (noun) as:

Date: 15th century

1 : a feeble shrill sound : CHEEP

2 : a slight utterance especially of complaint or protest

3 : any of several small sandpipers

"Peep" is also used in the context of a newly-hatched chick, such as "... the mother hen and her peeps."

"Peep" is used to refer to several various shorebirds in the western United States.

In contemporary slang, "Peeps", (from people), is used to refer to friends, buddies, etc.

What is the origin and history of marshmallow candy?

Marshmallow candy dates back to ancient Egypt where it was a honey-based candy flavored and thickened with the sap of the root of the Marsh-Mallow plant (althea officinalis). Marsh-Mallow grows in salt marshes and on banks near large bodies of water. It is common in the eastern United States.

Until the mid 1800's, marshmallow candy was made using the sap of the Marsh-Mallow plant. Gelatin replaces the sap in the modern recipes.

How is "marshmallow" correctly spelled and pronounced?

According to Webster's "Marshmallow" is the only acceptable spelling. "Marshmellow"{sic} appears to be a frequent misspelling.

Webster's lists the "..mellow" pronunciation as preferred, with the "..mallow" pronunciation as acceptable.

One reader notes it's like trying to convince some people there is no "P" in "hamster". "You can rub it in their face and they still won't admit they're wrong."

Are there "Adult" peeps?

Yes. Although not sold under the peeps name or by Just Born, at one time another company was producing peep-like candies in the shapes of certain human body parts. These cannot be sold in the US under the Peeps name.

What colors do Peeps come in?

Yellow was the original. Last season (1999), Peeps were available in yellow, white, pink, violet, and blue. Blue was added for the 1998 season. Violet first appeared in the 1997 season.

Do the different colors have different flavors?

Officially, no. There are some who claim they can detect the color of the Peep simply by taste, but this is unproven.

Although you might expect Bunnies to have a somewhat gamey flavor, they taste identical to Peeps.

Peeps Eggs, however, come in orange, strawberry, and vanilla creme flavor.

Peeps Hearts are made with either a strawberry or vanilla flavor.

Are all colors usually available?

In the recent seasons, the white Peeps appeared to be in short supply, with all others in adequate supply, from my own experience, and from reports on the net.

This could vary from city to city, and from store to store. One store employee remarked that their buyers consider things such as demand and shelf space when deciding how much of the line to carry.

Why are Peeps all of a sudden so popular?

Many people find them delicious! That starts a chain reaction of people telling other people how delicious Peeps are. In recent years, Peep fanciers have been more open, and have discovered each other, with the help of the Internet and other media. Peeps have become kind of a fad-food or cult-food in certain circles. A few Peep-a-holics have admitted that they were ashamed to admit to others that they enjoyed Peeps and consumed so many.

What (when) exactly is "Peep Season"? Is this when you can legally hunt Peeps or something?

Peep fanciers sometimes refer to the period in late winter and early spring, when Peeps are commonly available in stores, as Peep Season.

Peep Season begins on February 15, the date most stores change their "Seasonal" aisles from Valentines to Easter, and ends a week or so after Easter, when the yearly supply is gone.

Is there anyplace you can buy Peeps off-season?

Most stores do no regularly stock Peeps except during Peep Season. Although uncomfirmed, Candy Barrel may carry Peeps year round. Remember that Spooky Cats come out in Autumn, followed by Snowmen and the like, and they are made with the same formula, so those can ease the withdrawal.

What's this about Peeps needing to "age" or "ripen"?

Many Peepophiles prefer a certain degree of staleness to their Peeps, ranging from a slight stiffness, to downright hard and crunchy. This is somewhat of an acquired taste. This is normally accomplished either by letting them age naturally, or else leaving them exposed to air.

How are Peeps made, are they set in molds?

No, they are not molded. Peeps are kind of extruded through a special nozzle which moves back and forth, giving the Peeps their characteristic shape. Bunnies are extruded in slices. The sugar coating is then applied. At one time the eyes were hand-painted. Now they are applied by machine.

Before Just Born acquired Rodda, Peeps were made by hand, squeezed manually from tubes. Just Born automated the process.

Are there any recipes for Peeps?

Yes, both those that are serious and those in jest. Peep cupcakes and Choc-o-Peep milkshakes are serious. As for Peeps Flambe' ... :)

How do you store Peeps so they will keep through the off-season?

I've found that sealing unopened boxes of Peeps in ziplock bags and storing them at room temperature will keep them fresh, without getting too ripe, from one Peep season to the next. Some prefer to refrigerate or even freeze them.

What ingredients are in Peeps?

Mostly sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin, same as most other marshmallow candies. They do have trace amounts of flavoring, coloring, wax, unpronounceable preservatives and such.

What are Peeps eyes made of?

Carnauba wax. Some websites are erroneously reporting that they are made of tar. Eyes were once hand-painted. They are now applied by machine.

Are Peeps low in calories?

Nope! They are approximately 32 calories per peep.

Peeps Eggs are about 43 calories per egg.

Are Peeps low-fat?

Actually yes. Only trace amounts of any fats in Peeps.

Are Peeps Kosher for Passover?

Nope, see above ingredients.

However, the Teenie Beanie and Peeps Jelly Beans logos contain the (U) (Orthodox Union) Kosher designation.

How are Peeps packaged and sold?

Peeps are most commonly sold in packages of either 5 or 15 Peeps. The 15-Peep packages have 3 trays of 5 Peeps each. This year (1999) packages of 2 trays (10 Peeps) have been seen.

Peeps Eggs are sold in packages of 9.

Are there giant Peeps?

Giant peep bunnies do exist.

What happens when you put a peep in a microwave oven?

Somebody yells at you for making a mess out of the microwave.

When were Peeps first advertised on TV?

Peep Season of 1999.

Are there any tie-in merchandize items?

Yes. In 1999 Just Born released a limited number of stuffed plush Peeps. These were used in a premium promotion for a number of videos produced for children. Thanks to a friend who has connections at the factory, I was able to get one of these.

Photos of this appear on the URL listed in the header above, and the Just Born web site.

Update: As of January, 2000, Just Born was offering these while supplies last for a modest fee and two Peeps proofs of purchase. Several colors are now available.

There's this cute stuffed bird called "Puffkins The Peep", is it anything like the stuffed Peep above, or does it have anything to do with Peeps?

"Puffkins" is the name of a line of cute stuffed collectables, somewhat similar to Beanie Babies, manufactured by Swibco.

One of the Puffkins is indeed named "Puffkins the Peep", but is has no connection to Marshmallow Peeps other than a similar name. A photo of Puffkins the Peep appears at the URL listed in the header. I've been told that Puffkins the Peep is no longer manufactured, but is still sold and traded by collectors.

What's this about a Peeps Fan Club?

Just Born is indeed sponsoring a Peeps Fan Club. There are two levels of membership, Basic for $9.95 per year, and Premium for $13.95 per year. Basic includes a T-shirt, a membership card, newsletter, etc. Premium includes a cap. Both memberships include a package of Peeps; the size and color is unspecified. Information about the Peeps Fan Club is on their web page.

Is there anything like a Guinness World Record for eating Peeps?

Guinness no longer sanctions any record of gluttony.

Just Born would probably not sanction such a thing either.

However, an annual event in Sacramento, the Peep Off has just such a contest.Peep Off site

Dennis Gross ate 102 of them in 2003. That's 102 in a 30 minute period. He definitely kept them down, but did not keep them down indefinitely.