Give PEEPS to friends and family! Spread the PEEPful cheer & share your PEEP-tastic creations. Tag us in your PEEPS-inspired treats. π
National PEEPS Day honors the iconic marshmallow candy loved for its bright colors & playful shapes, and is celebrated on the 5th Day in April. Itβs a day for eating, crafting, baking, and welcoming spring with a little extra sweetness.
On average, about 5.5 million PEEPS are made daily, up to 2 billion a year!!
National PEEPS Day formally began in 2009, when the National Confectioners Association designated April 5 as the day to honor the sugary, marshmallow candy. That time of year made sense, since PEEPS are most popular around Easter, and this day usually falls right before the holiday. It likely started because of a mix of fan enthusiasm and brand promotion as PEEPS expanded into new flavors, products, and collabs.
PEEPS have always stood for more than candy. They capture creativity, originality, and the spirit of spring. National PEEPS Day gives people a reason to share traditions, from crafting projects to baking desserts. It celebrates the playful nature of PEEPS and the many ways they spark joy.
The PEEPS tale hatches out in 1909 with Samuel Bernstein, a Russian immigrant who came to the USA from France. Often as immigrants do, he changed his name to Sam Born. He eventually started his own candy business called Just Born in 1923 Brooklyn, New York. The cheeky name βJust Bornβ came from Sam displaying his fresh, daily-made candy in his shop window with a simple sign that read just born.
A candy maker by trade, Born was responsible for many innovations we take for granted today, including:
Born introduced βFrench Chocolatesβ to New York City. The company thrived during the Great Depression and in 1932 moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for more growth opportunities, becoming a major local employer in the steel town. New product successes followed, including MIKE AND IKE fruit chews in 1940 and the very popular & spicy, cinnamon-flavored HOT TAMALES in 1950.
While Just Born made various candies, the PEEPS we know & love today came about in 1953 after he bought the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. But what piqued Bornβs interest was that Rodda had also been making a handmade marshmallow chick. Older women were in the back making them by hand. This labor-intensive process took 27 hours for a single tray to cool.
Samβs son, Bob Born, revolutionized the production process in 1954 by inventing a machine called the βDepositor,β which automated the shaping of marshmallow chicks and drastically reduced production time from 27 hours to just six minutes per tray. This allowed for mass production, and PEEPS quickly became a popular Easter treat. Of course, this meant that their original little wings had to be clipped for a more streamlined shape.
Just Born also acquired the legendary candy brand PEANUT CHEWS from Philadelphiaβs Goldenberg family in 2003.
Even though Just Born never officially publicized it, April 5th was chosen because it usually falls right before Easter. This marks the height of PEEPS season (even though itβs sold year-round) when the candy appears in stores nationwide and many people are already looking for fun, colorful ways to celebrate spring.
Originally, PEEPS were only yellow chicks sold at Easter, which makes up 70% of their annual sales. Over the years, they grew into a full brand with bunnies, hearts, pumpkins, in many flavors and colors. Today, PEEPS are now available year-round for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentineβs Day.
Not sure how to LOVE the day? Weβve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.
Here are some activities you can do on National PEEPS Day!
Try every flavor of PEEPS you can find, from classic yellow chicks to wild new varieties (Rice Krispies, Dr Pepper, Watermelon Sour, etc). Challenge friends to a blind taste test to guess the flavors. Better yet, get your hands on a PEEPS-flavored Pepsi!
Try PEEPS fresh from the package, freeze them for a cool treat, leave them out to get chewy, microwave them to watch them puff up, toast them like marshmallows, dip them in chocolate, crumble them over desserts, blend them into milkshakes, stuff them into colorful sβmores, or even melt them into gooey fondue for dipping.
Make sβmores using PEEPS instead of regular marshmallows, bake PEEPS-topped cupcakes or cakes. Some top pizzas. Others melt them into bright and gooey Rice Krispies treats.
Microwave PEEPS and watch them puff up dramatically, or experiment by placing them in different liquids to see what happens in soda, vinegar, and water.
Use PEEPS to build dioramas, create colorful wreaths or garlands, and even paint with them by dipping them in edible colors to make marshmallow art.
Celebrating National PEEPS Day can be a delightful and creative experience. Remember to tailor these activities based on the age group and preferences of the children or students involved. Let the fun and laughter cheep cheep, peep peep in this special section!
Itβs also a great opportunity for teachers to build a simple thematic unit around PEEPSβblending science (STEM), art, reading, math, and creative writing all in one. Whether itβs a one-day focus or a week-long project, this day gives educators a fun way to connect classroom lessons with seasonal traditions, hands-on activities, and marshmallow-fueled creativity.
Here are some child-friendly and playful ways for children to celebrate the occasion and honor the spongy, sugary fluff of PEEPS:
Use social media posts with the hashtags #NationalPeepsDay, #PeepsDay, #Peeps, #Peepsonality, #FoodHolidays, #AprilHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you β€οΈ National PEEPS Day.
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