A look at the modern production line in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where over 5.5 million Peeps are made daily, thanks to Bob Born's mechanization in the 1950s.
Well, by now you’ve had your fill of traditional Easter Day sweets—especially those addicting Peeps. If so, and you’re curious, here’s an update: Peeps, the pastel-colored marshmallow chicks that define springtime sugar rushes, have been hopping around since 1953.
They were originally made by the Rodda Candy Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where each chick was hand-squeezed from a pastry tube—an effort that took nearly 27 hours per batch.
That all changed when Just Born, a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania–based candy company, acquired Rodda and streamlined the process, cutting production time to just six minutes.
The original Peeps were yellow, but as the candy craze grew, so did the color palette: pink, lavender, blue, and green chicks and bunnies followed.
In time, Peeps expanded beyond Easter into Halloween pumpkins, Christmas trees, Valentine’s hearts, and even Fourth of July stars. What started as a simple seasonal treat has become a pop culture icon, inspiring everything from dioramas and recipe hacks to heated debates: are Peeps best fresh, frozen—or slightly stale?
Love them or leave them, Peeps have become as much a part of Easter as jellybeans, chocolate bunnies, and a sugar crash before noon (Pacific time)..
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