Sugar coated Sunday

In honor of Easter today I stayed home from church to make Peeps. Yes you read it right, homemade Peeps from scratch! I have documented it all here in case any of you want to give it a whirl :)

You will need:

• Pam or some other cooking spray
• confectioners'/powdered sugar
• 2 envelopes gelatin (1/4 oz each; 5 1/2 teaspoons)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• fine sprinkles or colored sugar for coating

1. Coat a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, (I used a 9 x 13 Pyrex baking dish) and dust with confectioners' sugar, tapping out excess.
2. Sprinkle gelatin over 2/3 cup cold water in a meduim bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to soften.
3. Meanwhile, heat granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Cook until syrup reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer.
4. Carefully stir sugar syrup into softened gelatin, and keep stirring for a few minutes to cool. Beat with hand mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 8 to 10 minutes. Mix in vanilla. Spread mixture into baking sheet using an offset spatula; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Let stand for 1 hour to set.
5. Cut out marshmallows using Easter cookie cutters (wipe cutters clean between each cut), and roll cut sides in sanding sugar to coat. Yums!







hi!

dissolving sugar

ready!

cooled sugar mixture and gelatin

getting thicker!

did I really just make marshmallows?

sugar coated pan and Peep juice

beautiful!

only "sprinkles" I had on hand....

an hour later-no idea I had a bunny cookie cutter!

Doves are Easter-y right..?

Ta-Da!

These came out way softer than store bought Peepers, but I think they are better! Chels, if these weren't super perishable, I would mail you some.