That’s right I said stale. And I mean stale as in old, crusty and past their prime. That’s the way I prefer my Peeps and according to a small amount of personal, non-scientific research… so do many of you! For example, did you know that stale Peeps have their very own fan page on Facebook? Neither did I. But a quick Google search told me so and now we know.
I first discovered that my love for the less-than-fresh-but-still-almost-too-cute-to-eat confection was not all that rare when I began mentioning them last spring on Facebook in some annoyingly-regular status updates. I was surprised how many previously closeted stale Peep lovers came out on my profile page!
It is a magical moment — finding out there are others and learning that you are, indeed, not alone in your slightly deviant desire. Friends practically came out of the woodwork proclaiming their affinity for the sugary, squishy, marshmallow Easter treat. All admitting that they tasted MUCH better after having been opened and allowed to sit for awhile… permitting them to reach the peak of Peep perfection.
One friend copped to cutting the plastic wrapper across the top when they were fresh from the farm, then placing the compromised package of Peeps on top of the refrigerator for three whole weeks before enjoying them. Another explained that she stocked up on the Peeps after Easter, buying them on clearance and filling up an entire cupboard so as to partake of them—in various stages of staleness—all year long.
To those of you who like your Peeps fresh or perhaps (gasp) hate the cuddly, candied cuties altogether… you may be mildly perplexed as to why it is so many of us prefer our Peeps past their production prime. Well, I can’t speak for everyone when I say this but for me it is all about the texture. I like the crunchy, sugar shell that forms around the chewy marshmallow center. It’s as simple as that.
Like a fine wine that must age for years before being uncorked and encouraged to “breathe” a bit before reaching perfection — that same patience is what proper Peep prep looks like to us crusty-confection connoisseurs.
Woman In Thrisis 
It’s not quite true to say that I have *never* had a peep because I have. But they are no my sugar-shock inducer of choice. In fact, I wouldn’t eat them for any reason unless forced to at gun-point.
I was looking for a clip from Malcolm in the Middle where Francis makes a bet that he can eat 100 “quacks.” It’s so funny!
haha 🙂 I read about that online yesterday while doing research. I would like to see it.
What a Perfectly Positive Post about your Peeps Practices. Such a great “P” vocab. you have! And since I LOVE sugar in any way, shape or form I will eat them at any stage! You failed to have that as an option in your little survey. Tsk Tsk.
I have never heard of this. I could try it as I have some from Christmas that hasn’t been touched yet. I do think they should all come with chocolate on them though. A treat with no chocolate is really kind of pointless.
YES! Eat them and try them and report back at once whether or not you liked them 😉
Ew, so gross! I don’t care if they are stale, they are SO GROSS! I bet you know how I voted, but I HAVE tasted them so yah… Stale peep loving is a total cult though. Once you are in you are IN and everybody loves you. That’s how I feel about spinach smoothies, when I find someone who likes them as much as me it’s like we are best friends. Can’t get rid of me now, WE like smoothies! 😉 This is the first visit to your blog!
Well, even though we’re not on the same page culinarily speaking… It is definitely fun to “meet” other people who have the same strange tastes. I am so glad you stopped by and left a comment! Love to find new readers and new blogs to read. I’ll have to come over and check out yours 🙂
I loathe Peeps – ick, ick and yuck! You can have my share for the rest of eternity!
You’ll have to fight my mom and my daughter for them tho…they’re in the “eat them fresh, eat them stale, eat them, eat them, eat them!” camp.
Happy Easter – I hope it’s a day of peaceful calm for you all, surrounded by family.
I guess I should have put that as a category to “vote” on… the “Omnivorous Peep Eaters” b/c apparently my mother falls into that clot as well 😉
Happy Easter to you and your family as well! Enjoy your holiday.
Reblogged this on Donald Miller's.
I never heard of ’em before. I did respond to the poll. I suppose most people begin by biting the head off? 🙂
BTW, I thought I’d warn you about a virus that attacked my hard drive. Everything would have been okay–if only I hadn’t opened the attachment. But it was from someone (or so I thought) that I hadn’t heard from in over a year, so I was so pleased to hear from them that I opened it without thinking. (Big mistake)
Evidently what it does is to send out emails to everyone in the numbskull’s email who opened the attachment. So, there’s probably a few going around that I unleashed through my numbskullery.
. . .
Glad you learned about Peeps! 🙂 And thanks for the warning about the emails. I will be cautious
Peeps ? This is a new word in delicance’s in the UK. We just don’t have Peeps here. But we do have Lovely Chocolate Marshmallows covered in Coconut bits which come in a packet of eight & I always eat the whole lot in one go 🙂 mmmmmm deliscious! So, I am afraid I do not get the chance to find out if these are better stale after lying in the cuboard for six weeks ;-0 & not sure I could ever try to find out….. Your peeps pic looks like rows of coloured Harry Potter hats. Magic !