Fun With Marshmallow PEEPS #PEEPSONALITY

When I was growing up, three things were inextricably bound to Easter:  church, hyacinths, and PEEPS.  I was very happy when I had the chance to review (at no cost to me) a selection of Easter PEEPS®.

When this package arrived, it was like finding an overflowing Easter basket.  It contained PEEPS of every size, shape, flavor, and color that I'd ever seen.

What we never did, when I was growing up, was do anything with PEEPS other than eat them.  So now I was challenged to do just that:  find a creative way to use PEEPS.  Without a clue about how to start, I asked a friend, who directed me to Pinterest.

I found a variety of PEEPS ideas on Pinterest and the Fun with PEEPS page.  (I love that sunflower cake!)  I borrowed a couple of these ideas but wanted to put my own spin on them.

I mixed one recipe of chocolate cake batter and divided it in half.  From one half I baked two 6-inch layers; from the other I made a dozen cupcakes.

When the cake layers were cooled, I filled the center and frosted the top with vanilla buttercream.  The top is decorated with multi-colored sprinkles shaped like chicks and flowers.  In the center is a nest of green-tinted coconut (see Note below) topped with a PEEPS Dark Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow chick.  I left the sides unfrosted because I thought the combination of buttercream and marshmallow might be too sweet.  (That was a good call, although the cake would have been prettier if completely frosted.)  Instead I used a dab of frosting as "glue" to attach the PEEPS Marshmallow Bunnies.

The cupcakes were even easier.  I frosted them with buttercream, then dipped them in green-tinted coconut.  For the last step I poked a toothpick into the bottom of a PEEPS Marshmallow Bunny and inserted it into the cupcake.

Making these is fun whether you're working alone, with a friend, or with children.  You could make it even simpler by using cake mix and canned frosting.  Instead of two 6-inch layers, I think you could make one 9-inch layer; the bunnies would likely be taller than the cake, but that would be cute, too.

What are you doing with PEEPS this spring?

Note:  To tint coconut, place it in a sandwich bag, add a drop of food coloring, close the bag, and shake until the coloring is distributed.  I used a handful of coconut and one drop of green coloring, but it wasn't enough for the cake and all of the cupcakes.