Easter is just around the corner. Bunnies, chicks, easter eggs, flowers, and pastel colors can be seen everywhere. The store shelves are stocked with all the delicious Easter candy. Chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs, jellybeans, and the oh so famous marshmallow Peeps.
Peeps have been around since 1953 and have been a popular Easter candy ever since. The yellow chicks were the original candy shape, hence the name Peeps. Due to their notoriety, the company that made Peeps, added new shapes and flavors. These cute marshmallow treats even expanded to other holidays like Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc.
The classic Peeps (chicks and bunnies) are a staple and are the most recognizable candy in stores for Easter. Peeps are also the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy. Because of their nostalgia and admiration, Peeps are commonly used in various Easter displays and recipes. I personally love Peeps for Easter, biting into one brings me back to my childhood. My kids love Peeps too.
This Easter season, to express our love for the delicious treat, we decided to push the envelope by creating a Peep topiary. It was super fun to make and turned out amazing.
If you want to create a marshmallow masterpiece like this for Easter, all you need are the following items:
- Styrofoam Cone – FloraCraft CraftFōM Cone 2.8 Inch x 7.9 Inch White –https://amzn.to/4gyxmQV.
- Bunny Peeps – Colors of your choice. I used pink, yellow and blue – https://amzn.to/3E9Mjf0. Approximately 20 bunny peeps are needed to cover a tower of this size.
- Toothpicks – I recommend using toothpicks that have two-pointed ends.
- Easter Grass, greenery, fabric, etc. for the tower’s nesting area.
- Cake Stand, Plate or Platter.
- Garnishes – I used fresh flowers.
How to Construct:
*Step 1: Starting at the bottom, poke two toothpicks into the cone. Place them parallel with one on top and one on the bottom as shown in the picture below. One toothpick is for the bunny’s body and the other is for the ears. Two toothpicks are recommended to ensure the bunny is secured properly to the cone.
Make your way around the cone with the bunnies. The key is to keep the peeps tight together to minimize the space in between. Also, work to avoid having the toothpick poke through the bunny. The idea is to make the topiary look as though there isn’t base underneath. Do not worry about any spaces you see, this will be addressed in a further step.
Work in a circular pattern around the cone in an upward direction to cover the cone completely with the adorable Peeps. For the second row and third row, I recommend using the body to ear pattern as shown below.
Once the base is covered, place a Peep at the top of the cone. I used a bunny Peep, but you may use whatever you like. Maybe you use a chick Peep, a bow, a flower, an egg. You are the designer here.
*Step 2: Now that your adorable Peep topiary is constructed, it is time for the fun part! Adorn your marshmallow tower with more spring beauty! I used fresh flowers to fill in the gaps where the cone beneath could be seen. You may use candy, chocolates, easter grass, greenery, bows, little eggs, or other accessories as you see fit. Have fun with this step. This is where the topiary really comes alive.
*Step 3: Lastly, place your Peep tower on a cake stand, platter or dish of your choice. Place easter grass, greenery, fabric, flowers, candy, etc. beneath the cone to make a little nest. I placed my topiary on a bed of spring greenery and flowers. There is no wrong way to do this. Use your imagination and creativity to come up with something brilliant. You could place the cone in an Easter basket, among candy, on a bed of flowers, or surrounded by eggs or other Easter accessories. This lovely tower could also be used as a centerpiece for your Easter table. Take delight in this part.
*Step 4: Stand back and admire your work! You created something so amazing! Do not forget, this vision of marshmallow loveliness must be photographed prior to anyone devouring this sweet treat.
Happy Easter!
Enjoy!
