For many people, spring means the snow melting and flowers blooming. For some, we know what spring really means: PEEPS^®. Sure, this delicious marshmallow treat pops up year-round now, but we all remember the chicks and bunnies that always appeared on the shelves in the grocery stores during the spring.

Before we get started, you have to learn the facts! Here’s some PEEPS history.

PEEPS are produced by Just Born, a candy manufacturer in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Original PEEPS were formed by hand, but in 1954, machines were used to mass-produce them. The original PEEPS were yellow chicks, hence their name. During the 1960s, other seasonal marshmallow treats were created including holiday trees, snowmen and Halloween pumpkins and cats. Today, PEEPS come in a variety of forms for various holidays and even in different flavors (vanilla, cocoa and gingerbread cookie).

Now some fun facts.

In the early 1950s, it took 27 hours to make one – yes, one – PEEPS chick. Today, only six minutes.

How many PEEPS bunnies does it take to circle the moon - 172 million!

We were serious when we said that PEEPS are a sign of spring. The number of PEEPS chicks and bunnies eaten at Easter could more than circle Earth. (That’s nearly 30,000 miles at the Equator…or a whole lot of marshmallow!)

While many of us enjoy eating PEEPS straight out of their packages (or even letting them get stale first), the treats can also be used in a variety of recipes. In fact, Brian Beecher and Crystal Carlsberg used PEEPS in their award-winning dessert grilled cheese sandwich, the “Cake and Mivens,” which won the 2008 Grilled Cheese Invitational in Los Angeles. 

If you’re not ready to add some PEEPS to your grilled cheese, we have a simple recipe for you!

Orange Chantilly Cream-filled Oranges

What You Need

PEEPS Orange Marshmallow Chicks

10 large navel oranges

4 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/3 cup orange juice

2 1/4 teaspoons orange extract

1 mint sprig (optional)

Get Cooking

Cut a thin slice of the rind off the bottom of each orange so it sits flat.

Cut off the top 1/3 of each orange and with a grapefruit spoon, scoop out pulp. Then place the oranges “top down” onto paper towels to drain. Remove the membrane from orange pulp and set the pulp aside for later use.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Next, add confectioners’ sugar and extract, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in orange juice and fold in saved orange pulp.

Spoon filling into orange shells. Cover and refrigerate until serving. When it’s time to serve, top each treat with a PEEPS Orange Marshmallow Chick and a sprig of mint.

You can also use PEEPS as decorations for cakes and cupcakes, and you can even top off your hot chocolate, too. 

No matter how you eat it, you know there will always be a special one for you!

More information on PEEPS can be found at www.marshmallowPEEPS.com.