The kids will love filling their baskets with these delicious Easter treats made from Momma Reiner’s classic marshmallow recipe.

Hop on into the kitchen and enjoy!

Homemade Marshmallow Peeps

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Colored sugar crystals
• Easter themed cookie cutters

Directions

1. Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle gelatin over a small bowl filled with 1/2 cup cold water; let stand to soften.

2. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together sugar, corn syrup, hot water, and salt. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Continue cooking, without stirring, until mixture reaches the soft-ball stage, about 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and gently stir in gelatin mixture; set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. With the mixer running, slowly add sugar/gelatin mixture. Add vanilla and continue beating for 10 minutes until the mixture looks like marshmallow.

4. Transfer marshmallow mixture to prepared baking dish and spread evenly.

5.  Generously sprinkle 1-3 different colors of sugar crystals across the baking dish horizontally covering any exposed marshmallow.

6. Spray a piece of parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray and cover marshmallow. Let stand overnight.

7. Remove parchment paper and invert marshmallow onto work surface.

8. Generously sprinkle 1-3 different colors of sugar crystals across the marshmallow horizontally covering any exposed marshmallow. Try to match colors on the other side though it’s OK to have mismatched sides.

9. Use cookie cutters to cut marshmallows into various Easter themed shapes.

10. Transfer marshmallows to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; set aside. Repeat process until all the marshmallow is cut into shapes.

11.  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Sugar Mommas Notes:

You may need to spray the cookie cutters with nonstick spray so the marshmallow releases easily. Wash cookie cutter between colors.

Sass it Up!

Use a skewer dipped in chocolate to make eyes or use chocolate candies such as Valrhona Perles Craquantes for a more dramatic effect.  Use marshmallow crème as “glue” to attach candies to your Peeps.