Turns Out, People Have Very Mixed Feelings About Peeps

Just Born Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Marshmallow Peeps Candy
Getty Images | William Thomas Cain

There’s a whole cast of candy characters you can expect to find in Easter baskets: The loveable chocolate bunnies, tried-and-true jelly beans and classic Cadbury Creme Eggs wrapped in shiny foil. But, do Peeps deserve a spot among the favorite Easter-time elite treats?

Well, it depends on who you ask. As it turns out, people have mixed (and strong!) feelings about the sugar-coated marshmallows that are shaped like chicks and bunnies.

We conducted a survey, asking Simplemost readers how they feel about the classic Easter treat — you know, for Peep’s sake!

Of the 2,800 readers (our VIPeeps, if you will) we polled, here are the results:

  • 62 percent love Peeps
  • 38 percent hate Peeps

While Peeps have won over the majority, there’s some strong opposition to the Easter treats on the Internet. Take for instance Twitter user @BeckyTylerArt, who has been playing a game of hide-and-go-Peep prank around her office with what she describes as the “inedible bunnies.”

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, though, Peeps have become pretty darn popular: On average, 5.5 million are produced each day.

The sugary and spongy marshmallow treats first hatched on the candy market in 1953. Back then, the candy chicks were created by hand and with a pastry tube. Today, it takes just six minutes to create a Peep, compared to 27 hours it took when they were first invented.

Today, the sugar-sprinkled chicks and bunnies come in more than 40 flavors. Some of the latest include cotton candy, waffles and syrup and root beer float. Plus, there are Peeps and Company stores in National Harbor, Maryland, and Center Valley, Pennsylvania, where you can shop Peeps and other candies made by their parent company, Just Born. (Did you know Hot Tamales and Mike and Ikes are made by the same company that makes Peeps?)

Plus, Peeps have expanded beyond the Easter baskets. You can find the candy year-round, plus there’s a Peeps Coffee Creamer, and Dunkin’ Donuts debuted Peeps-inspired coffee and donuts.

Dunkin' Donuts

But, even if you don’t love the taste of Peeps, they can be used for crafting or as toppers for desserts.

For example, The Washington Post has held an annual Peeps Diorama Contest.  The Peeps website itself has plenty of suggestions for how to re-purpose your Peeps, including cookie nests and a Peeps Easter village.

Plus, there’s a new game that you can play with your kids: Peeps on the Porch. It’s like the Elf on the Shelf of Easter.

So, what are your thoughts on Peeps: Do you love them or hate them?

Food, Holiday & Seasonal, News
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About the Author
Brittany Anas
Hi, I'm Brittany Anas (pronounced like the spice, anise ... see, that wasn't too embarrassing to say, now was it?) My professional writing career started when I was in elementary school and my grandma paid me $1 for each story I wrote for her. I'm a former newspaper reporter, with more than a decade of experience Hula-hooping at planning meetings and covering just about every beat from higher-education to crime to science for the Boulder Daily Camera and The Denver Post. Now, I'm a freelance writer, specializing in travel, health, food and adventure.

I've contributed to publications including Men's Journal, Forbes, Women's Health, American Way, TripSavvy, Eat This, Not That!, Apartment Therapy, Denver Life Magazine, 5280, Livability, The Denver Post, Simplemost, USA Today Travel Tips, Make it Better, AAA publications, Reader's Digest, Discover Life and more.

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