Does this duo look familiar?
Those peep-shaped pieces of metal were my recipespiration for these Fruity Peeps. I saw them, and this too-cute concept just hit me. Odds are you don’t have peep-shaped cookie cutters, so here are some other ideas…
- You can roll egg shapes and coat them in fruity powder (see below).
- You can print out this peep template, and use it as a stencil to cut out your peeps.
- You can use any easter cookie cutters or molds you have to cut out make shapes.
- You can just shape them by hand, and use your easter-themed imagination.
No marshmallow, no sugar, no artificial colors, no baking even! They are easy and healthy and way to adorable. And in addition to being about a trillion times healthier than traditional peeps, they are also much more flavorful. Traditional Peeps come in a variety of colors, but one flavor: sugar. But Fruity Peeps are full of fruity flavor! Purple, yellow, pink = blueberry, pineapple, strawberry.
Even if you’re one of those people who don’t like the marshmallow kind, I think you just might love these Fruity Peeps!
Prep Time:
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PinIngredients
- 14–16 pitted medjool dates
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- FOR THE PURPLE POWDER
- 1/3 cup freeze dried bananas
- 1/3 cup freeze dried blueberries
- FOR THE YELLOW POWDER
- 2/3 cup freeze dried pineapple
- FOR THE PINK POWDER
- 1/3 cup freeze dried bananas
- 1/3 cup freeze dried strawberries
Instructions
- In a food processor, grind the oats.
- Add the dates and process until it forms a sticky ball.
- Press into molds/cookie cutters, shape by hand, or roll and cut out into whatever shapes you want.
- FOR THE FRUITY POWDERS: In a VERY dry blender, grind the freeze dried bananas and blueberries to form a fine powder.
- Transfer to a dry plate or bowl far away from any moisture.
- Clean out your blender with a dry paper towel. Repeat for the other colors.
- Coat your easter shapes in the fruity powders. Add eyes or other decorations if you want using chocolate chips or cacao nibs.
- Eat immediately or refrigerate for a firmer texture.
And now there’s only one question left. Head first or tail first?
These are so stinkin’ cute I can’t stand it. Peeps are one of those candies that grab my girls attention every time they see them and they are always so disappointed they’re not vegan. I’m definitely making these for them. Thanks Natalie, you so made their day!
Thanks Melissa! They grab my attention too because I have so many memories of them from sugar-filled easters passed. I hope they enjoy a little vegan Peepy treat 🙂
I love therm! And they are adorable. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks.
Hehe, they’re a cute little pair 😀
How cute! I used to love Peeps, not sure why… hahaha. These look 3213219 times tastier than the real thing!!
I used to love them too, it seems like most people either loved them or hated them haha. Yes, I think that is the precise number of times 😉
These are so cute!!! I love the fact you’re using natural ways of coloring them – I just read the ingredients in regular sprinkles earlier today and the stuff they put in there is just scary.
★★★★★
Yikes! Ever since I heard that some colorings come from bugs, I’m just kind of scared to go near any of that stuff. Those nasty additives just force people like us to get more creative 😉
Ok, love this so much! Very cute. What did you use for the eyes? 🙂 Cacao nibs?
I’m so jealous of your dried fruit powder too — I’ve been looking for some dried fruit for a long time to make some, but they just don’t sell it around here for some reason. The powdered forms available cost more than an arm and a leg. Still waiting till I come across some freeze-dried fruit so I can make it. I know it’s out there. I’ve seen it before so many times. But just when you need it, it’s nowhere to be found!
Yep cacao nibs! The fruity powders are fun for color purposes, but they aren’t cheap here either. Maybe not an arm and a leg, but at least an arm 😉 Well, I’ve been looking everywhere for amaranth balls and cannot find a single little one. Even online!
Aw, that’s a shame about those amaranth balls. The fruit powder here costs about $20 for a bag… and that’d be just one color…
P.S. tail first! 🙂
Another clever idea! I’ll be searching for freeze dried fruit now! Let’s see if I can find any here… Anything to add a bit of (natural) colour to my treats!
It’s so hard to know if all these ingredients are available in other places! Over here its available at any store, even non-natural/health food places. It is very bold and bright in color! Good luck with the search 🙂
I really can’t even handle this……I think I just died from the amazingness….
It was in the library, with the cuteness, by the Peeps! Hehe don’t mind my Clue reference 🙂
What are these lovely things? 😀
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I like to call them little bites of Easter adorableness (a.k.a. Peeps made out of dates and coated with fruity powders) 🙂
What an awesome idea to make your own fruit powder?! AMAZING! And they look too cute!!
It’s so colorful, I love using it to brighten up my recipes 🙂 Although if any water gets in or near it it’s all over, because it clumps up really easily!
THESE ARE PERFECT!!! I’m not a huge Peeps fan but always ate them just cause they seemed festive. Now there’s a kind that I’d actually enjoy! can’t argue with dates and oats!
I loved peeps! Marshmallow anything and I’m a fan 😀 But yes I know you’ll like these, just like a raw snack ball in bunny form!