Louise Carroll: Don't be giving me Peeps, Easter Bunny
If the Easter Bunny leaves me a basket with Peeps in it I will gladly give them to you. I don't like marshmallows in any shape because a marshmallow is a marshmallow no matter what you call it. That's just me. I don't like marshmallow-anything peep, chick, bunny or Smores or Rice Crispy treats. Have I made myself clear?
Peeps are marshmallow candy shaped like little chicks or bunnies made by Just Born, the family-owned company founded in 1923 by Sam Born who had a sign in the window of his store, “Candy so fresh it’s as if it was just born.”
Just Born was founded in New York but has been in Bethlehem, Pa., since 1932 and I'm sure they make Peeps that are so fresh ― you know the rest of it.
To some people, these marshmallow creations are essential Easter candy. Here is a stunning statistic: Every 8 seconds one baby is born in the United States — and 509 Peeps candies are hatched. On average about 5.5 million Peeps are produced every day. Oh, honestly. Why anyone would want one is beyond me so thinking about more than 5 million produced every day boggles my mind. Who is eating them? Obviously almost everyone.
I also read that four out of every five peeps are chicks favored and dipped in chocolate or covered in chocolate. I'm a big fan of chocolate, so if I was desperate for chocolate I could lick it off the marshmallow.
Just Born company also introduced the chocolate “Jimmies,” the little bits we sprinkle on ice cream. They’re named after Jimmie the employee who created them. Yea for Jimmie, a man after my own heart.
On the web, I learned the Peeps brand, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, has been the best-selling non-chocolate Easter candy for more than two decades. Please note. They never missed me. They got along smashingly well without me.
The Easter season accounted for about $4 billion in confectionery sales in 2021 and 2022 sales are expected to be 5 to 7% higher for the holiday, in part because of a longer lead-up to the Easter holiday and consumer enthusiasm for extending seasonal celebrations.
As a nation, we buy candy with enthusiasm. Yea! Chocolate Easter Eggs, bunnies and Easter symbols that we share with loved ones. At least that's what we say, but chocolate is all about our own emotional well-being. Consumers were polled and 72 percent said they feel their physical health and emotional well-being are connected.
Holidays give us the opportunity, or excuse, to buy more because of the variety and types of candy. Consider the variety that is included in Easter baskets.
I'm one of the 44% of Americans who says the best Easter treats are chocolate eggs and bunnies, while 20% prefer jelly beans and 18% candy-coated eggs and 15% marshmallow candies, so we put them in the Easter baskets.
Too bad we only buy Easter baskets for children; some entrepreneurs should come up with Easter baskets for adults and one for senior citizens, filled with chocolate, of course. This is sure to be a success because 91% of Americans buy Easter candy as gifts.
The statistic might be skewed a bit because if I am buying a lot of Easter chocolate I might say, "I'm buying all this for gifts." I might say that, but…
The Easter Bunny, the well-known secular symbol associated with the holiday, was introduced to America in the 18th century by German immigrants, who told stories of a white rabbit that would leave brightly colored eggs for good children on Easter Morning. By the 19th century, the Easter Bunny was bringing children baskets filled with treats on Easter morning.
I can't write about the chocolate Easter bunny without noting that 78% of people eat the ears first, but if you eat the tail first we are not judging you.
In case you want to do something different with the chocolate Easter bunny I saw this on the web: Buy the hollow Easter bunny, cut off the ears. For adults fill them with red wine or Jell-O shots; for children and/or adults fill with milk. Serve to family and friends.
I read that the ears can be reattached with whipped cream and sprinkles, icing or cream cheese, but I'm not sure why I would want to reattach them after I drank from them. I would just drink and eat. It's chocolate. It's all good.
Happy Easter. May all your Easter baskets be filled with the candy you like.
This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Carroll: Don't be giving me Peeps, Easter Bunny
