28 Facts About Peeps (& Why They Don't Have Wings)

According to the Peeps website, "The wonderful combination of sweet colored sugar and fluffy marshmallow creates an unforgettable taste experience." Ain't that the truth? For some of us, that might mean running to the nearest garbage can and then sticking our heads under the faucet to wash that unforgettable taste experience out of our mouths. But whether you love 'em or hate 'em, by all indications, Peeps marshmallow candies are here to stay. After all, they have been around since 1953, and keep popping up each year like clockwork. And after more than half a century, this divisive Easter candy has got to have its fair share of fun facts and interesting history. 

Do you have any idea how long it took to make the first Peeps chicks? Spoiler alert: It was a really long time. And do you have any idea what's really in these neon pink, blue, and yellow treats? Or why vegans can't eat them? Perhaps most importantly, do you know about the odd side effect that comes with eating too many Peeps Oreos? You're going to love this one...

Let's dive into the untold truth of Peeps. 

The Peeps website lists the candy's ingredients as: sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and less than 0.5 percent of the following ingredients: potassium sorbate, natural flavors, carnauba wax, and — depending on which color Peeps — red #3, yellow #5, or blue #1. So you're really looking mostly at sugar, sugar, and gelatin, with a few incidentals — but are any of these incidentals cause for concern? You be the judge.

Potassium sorbate is an FDA-approved preservative, and it keeps those squishy marshmallows squishy longer. Honestly, Peeps without this preservative probably wouldn't be great.

Food dyes, though also approved for use by the FDA, have long been controversial, and studies have shown some links between them and hyperactivity in children, cancer, and allergic reactions. Overall though, food dye has not been proven to be dangerous to most people. According to the Just Born website, the company uses only certified colors, which "are highly regulated for purity..." if that gives you any peace of mind. 

How about these mysterious "natural flavors"? Dawn Undurraga, R.D., an expert at the Environmental Working Group told Women's Health that this doesn't necessarily refer to "real" flavors. "Whether they are natural or artificial flavors doesn't matter; we consider them the same," she said. "It's often a secret mixture of chemicals that manipulate the taste of food. There are problems with lack of disclosure from companies about what's really in them..." Did you really think Peeps wouldn't contain some chemicals?

Next up, carnauba wax...

Peeps contain gelatin — that shouldn't be news to anyone who has ever eaten a marshmallow. Thanks to the kind of gelatin Just Born uses though, vegans and vegetarians will want to steer clear of the Easter treat.

According to the company's website, "Gelatin is a protein rich gelling agent obtained by partial hydrolysis of collagen. It is derived from the skin, connective tissue, and bones of animals. ... We use pork derived gelatin in our Peeps marshmallow to achieve a light, soft texture."

But with the advent of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly gelatins now available, why hasn't Just Born at least put out an alternative Peeps product for their plant-based fans? That's one of the frequently asked questions the company receives, but they explain, "We have done a great deal of research, analysis and testing using alternative sources of gelatin and have not been able to identify a consistent alternative that provides the same great eating experience that our current gelatin provides." Maybe next year?

Have you ever laid in bed at night wondering how many Peeps it would take to span the Golden Gate Bridge? You're in luck. The good folks at USA Today determined just how many marshmallow chicks and bunnies it would take to measure up against some of the world's most famous landmarks, and the numbers will blow your mind. 

Wrap your head around this one: Houston's NRG Park (aka the Astrodome) can seat up to 70,000 fans in its 1 million square feet. But to fill that stadium with Peeps? It would take an astonishing 1.7 trillion (trillion!) chicks.

The Hoover Dam built out of marshmallow? Probably wouldn't be too effective, but it would take 1.3 billion Peeps to do it. 

Stack Peeps bunnies up on top of each other ears to tail, and it would take 1,464 to measure up to the Statue of Liberty, 8,300 to reach the top of Chicago's Willis Tower (aka the Sears Tower), and 2,664 to line up with the Washington Monument.

And that piece of Golden Gate Bridge trivia you've been waiting for... It would take more than 43,000 bunnies lined up side to side to complete the span.

Nobody has lukewarm feelings about Peeps. You either salivate at the very thought of the sugar-coated marshmallows, or you're filled with instant rage. And those who fall into the latter camp let the world know it. 

It's like clockwork — the moment the seasons change, you'll see a certain meme start making the rounds: "How to eat Peeps? Throw them in the trash can." And there are plenty of Peeps-hating hashtags to choose from for your caption — #peepsmassacre, #deathtopeeps, #ihatepeeps — all dedicated to showcasing the many ways you can decapitate, mutilate, or otherwise maim those oh-so-adorable chicks and bunnies. From a simple death by kitchen knife, to a more elaborate death by dinosaur (complete with fake blood), Peeps-haters seem to get into it with more zeal than others do with your usual maligned snacks. When was the last time you saw someone get so worked up over circus peanuts or candy corn?

Peeps lovers, when it comes to expressing your allegiance to this polarizing candy, you might want to watch your back — those haters seem a little stabby, don't they?

What do you get when you throw some Peeps onto an unsuspecting pizza? Peepza, otherwise known as the pizza absolutely nobody asked for ever. 

It seems like every Easter someone on the internet "discovers" Peepza, but to properly lay the blame... er, give credit where credit is due, we have to go back to 2010, when Serious Eats columnist Adam Kuban debuted his springtime mashup (via Eater). The Peepza is exactly what it looks like: A plain cheese pizza, cooked almost completely, then topped with Peeps and cooked for another minute to get the marshmallows nice and melty. If we're to believe Kuban, "it actually doesn't taste as bad as you might think." "You know that whole salty-sweet dynamic that we all tend to love so much? Peepza has it in spades," he promised.

What's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander, though. In 2017, SBNation's Charlotte Wilder decided to hop on the Peepza bandwagon, and her review was decidedly less enthusiastic than Kuban's. "I took a bite of the Peepza, and let me tell you, this is the grossest s**t I've ever eaten. And I tried chocolate chip cookies made with cricket flour this week (don't ask)," she said. "It tasted exactly like you think it would: A Peep on top of pizza, which is disgusting."

Like everything else in the world, Peeps were impacted by the havoc brought on by the pandemic. In late March 2020, Just Born temporarily halted production at their facilities in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, for safely and federal regulations (via ABC News). While the company had already shipped out their Easter Peeps to retailers, they warned that back stock on all of their products (including Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales, and Goldenberg's Peanut Chews) was limited. Shortages were to be expected.

This meant that Peeps would not be gracing the shelves for summer shenanigans, Halloween haunts, and Christmas congregations (via CNN). (But then again, none of those outings and family gatherings happened anyway). The company stated that Peep production would start back up in time for Halloween 2021. To make up for the lack of marshmallow-y goodness, Just Born decided to go the extra mile and introduced two new flavors in time for the 2021 Easter holiday: Hot Tamale chicks and a Froot Loops favored Peep-pop.

What's better than chewy room temperature marshmallows? Warm, gooey marshmallows, of course. Just because you're chowing down on Peeps doesn't mean you can't fulfill your melty marshmallow dreams. 

If you've never microwaved Peeps, now is the time. Even if you don't want a melty marshmallow, you should consider microwaving a few Peeps, simply to witness their transformation. Consider it an important science experiment. In 30 seconds, you'll see those Peeps expand about four sizes right in front of your eyes. And then just like that, they're reduced to a puddle. So what gives?

According to Decoding Delicious, a marshmallow is made of "minuscule air bubbles surrounded by thin walls of gelatin and sugar syrup." When you microwave a marshmallow, the water molecules in the syrup turn to steam, and that steam fills the air bubbles causing a spectacular expansion. But here's where you need to be careful... If you're planning on digging into those super-heated Peeps, the center is likely to be molten. That's because the dehydrated sugar syrup that remains once the steam is gone gets very hot, and may even caramelize. Proceed with caution if you're eating your science experiment, but don't wait too long if you want ooey-gooey Peeps. The longer it sits, the more taffy-like it becomes.

Peeps aren't just for eating anymore. In fact, Peeps can actually be considered as an artistic medium. While there are a handful of Peeps-themed art shows, the most popular exhibition is held at the Racine Art Museum. This annual international art show competition sends out a call to artists to submit their original Peeps-inspired artwork. The rules are simple: Your entry can utilize any type of Peeps, it must fit within specified dimensions, must refrain from inappropriate topics, and can't promote a for-profit business.

Artists can pretty much submit anything, so you're only limited by your imagination. At the RAM 12th Annual International PEEPS Art Exhibition in 2021, past participants submitted a little bit of everything. Some of these contributions (in Peep form), included tributes to the Notorious "PBG" (a tribute to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg) and famous painter Frida Kahlo, miniature toPEEPary garden, "press-a-Peep" factory, Peep mandalas, and even a Peep Erickson.

If you're a die-hard Peeps fan, then this should really give you a sugar rush. Have you ever looked at a Peep and thought, "I wonder what it would feel like to snuggle a Peep?" Well, wonder no longer. There are multiple retail outlets that sell Peeps plushies, and just like the sweet treats themselves, there's a huggable Peep for everyone. The folks at Build-a-Bear also have a customizable Peeps option. There are also super-sized Peeps stuffies (that sell out during the Easter season) at big box retailers like Walmart.

If the brightly colored treats inspire you to be bold — and if you love to wear makeup or nail polish — then check out the folks at HipDot for Peeps-inspired makeup sponges. ColourPop has also done a collaboration with the marshmallow treat, which feature seven different shimmery shadows and lip tints to make you shine. Target paired up with Peeps to offer a scented Peeps nail polish, and Sally Hansen has also teamed up with the brand to create a limited edition series with seven colors to choose from.

There are also squeaky toys, plushies, and sweaters available at select pet retailers, too (via Fetch4Pets). So you can eat, sleep, wear, and basically represent all the sweetness that is a Peep.

Ok, maybe not high fashion, but fashionable somewhere. We've all seen what Crocs look like — those strange, lightweight, slip-on shoes that come in a whole slew of colors, styles, and sizes. Everyone from Mario Batali (who had his own signature line of Crocs) to former President George W. Bush (via Huffpost) have been caught sporting these bad boys. It's a fashion faux-pax that is here to stay. So why not make the most of it?

Enter Jibbitz. Now, if you don't know what Jibbitz are, they're basically flair for your Crocs. Jibbitz are just snap-on charms for your Crocs, with each shoe maxing out at 13 charms each. Well, it was only a matter of time before Peeps fans met up with Crocs and decided that there needed to be a marriage of the two. On March 3rd, 2020, Crocs announced via Instagram that (not only were Peeps available year-round) you could wear them, too. And these aren't just any little old charms, either. Peeps Jibbitz are pretty darn big, taking up a substantial amount of real estate on the top portion of your Croc. So if you really want to show off your love for Peeps (and Crocs), then your prayers have been answered.

Returning two years after a quick run as a promotional giveaway, Pepsi has reintroduced its Peeps flavor to beverage shelves across the U.S. Pepsi x Peeps merges the sugary cola sweetness of Pepsi with the marshmallow essence of Peeps to create a vanilla-ish cola combination, available in 7.5-ounce mini-cans and 20-ounce bottles. Customer reactions are as mixed as the candy-in-soda formula. Happy YouTube reviewers call out the balance of sweetness as surprising, noting the Peeps marshmallow essence as being present in the aroma as well as the flavor. Online critics mark the beverage down for the same reasons, hinting that this flavor may be better enjoyed by Peeps fans rather than regular Pepsi drinkers.

If the flavor sounds inspired, it certainly lit up the beverage industry. The original hype over this splash-up mash-up was followed by competitive cola colossus Coca-Cola offering their own marshmallow soda. The company recruited Grammy-winning musician Marshmello for their own marketing blitz. While the expanding line of Peeps flavors and merchandise may suggest the candy is on trend, Peeps-flavored Pepsi is a springtime flavor sensation that will only be available for a limited time.

Peeps fans who wonder what their favorite candy might look like in motion can look forward to an animated Peeps movie. According to a write-up in Deadline, the film will follow in the footsteps of other animated pop culture icons like Trolls and Smurfs. The plot centers on Peeps characters making their way to Philadelphia to celebrate Peepfest.

So, then ... what is Peepfest that these digital Peeps are in search of? It's a real celebration of Peeps observed in Pennsylvania by super-fans of the squishy candy. Past celebrations have included a giant 400-pound Peep standing almost five feet tall being dropped New Year's Eve-style in the city of Bethlehem, about 50 miles outside of Philadelphia. Peepfest has been attended by sell-out crowds eager to get their party on with other peeps who adore Peeps. An animated film as a cross-event tie-in is Just Born's way of bringing joy to Peep lovers in a whole new format.

Not every candy can say it's had a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, let alone an Easter candy. But Peeps can. In 2003, Peeps chicks were blown up to gigantic proportions and paraded through the streets of New York City as part of the annual holiday event. According to The Morning Call, the colossal float measured a whopping 26 feet long and 32 feet tall. The design included several chicks nestled in a cozy barn created in Pennsylvania Dutch folk style, a nod to Just Born's home state.

The Morning Call goes on to say that the massive float received a 30-second segment, and that even though Peeps are around for more than just Easter, the chick was the most recognizable member of the family to feature in the parade. Sadly, after this initial appearance, the float was never called up for another go, making the Peeps a one-hit wonder in the world of Macy's parade memories.

Observant Peep-le will notice that Peeps chicks, although marshmallow birds by nature, are wingless. Is this an unfortunate design flaw? An unfortunate product of evolution? A hint that there might be a Peeps restaurant somewhere that removes the wings before packaging and cooks them up buffalo-style?

The answer is none of the above. Anyone alive when the original Just Born Peeps hit the market may remember that those fluffy chicks did indeed have wings, in the form of tiny marshmallow curls. To make the Peep-popping process more efficient, the wings were removed, and Peep chicks were given their wingless form. Huffington Post reports that the change was also meant to give the chicks a makeover and update their appearance. Images of winged peeps in the HuffPo article also show Peep chicks lined up single file, while the chicks with their wings clipped sit side by side in their package. These changes ended up defining the Peeps that modern consumers know and (largely) love.