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If you grew up loving Peeps but can’t get behind the artificial dyes and corn syrup anymore, these Homemade Healthy “Peeps” Marshmallows are going to be your new favorite Easter tradition.

They’re soft, bouncy, naturally sweetened, and colored entirely with freeze‑dried fruit—no artificial ingredients needed.

The best part? They look just as cute as the classic version, but they’re made with simple, real-food ingredients you can feel good about sharing with your kids.

Whether you coat them in naturally dyed sanding sugar or keep them completely refined‑sugar‑free with a dusting of arrowroot, these little bunny marshmallows are guaranteed to steal the show in any Easter basket.

These homemade Peeps-style marshmallows come together with just a handful of wholesome ingredients.

Grass‑fed gelatin gives them that classic marshmallow bounce, while honey creates the perfect soft sweetness.

Freeze‑dried raspberries, peaches, or blueberries add beautiful natural color and subtle fruit flavor.

Once whipped, the marshmallow mixture sets in an 8×8 pan before being cut into adorable bunny shapes using a cookie cutter.

Coat them in arrowroot for a fully refined‑sugar‑free version, or dip the fronts in naturally dyed sanding sugar for that iconic Peeps look.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Peeps

• Naturally colored using freeze‑dried fruit—no artificial dyes
• Refined‑sugar‑free when made without sprinkles
• Sweetened with honey, not corn syrup
• Kid‑friendly and allergy‑friendly (gluten‑free, dairy‑free, nut‑free)
• Fun to make and perfect for Easter treats or spring baking
• Customizable with different fruit powders for pink, yellow, or purple bunnies

Ingredients

1 cup Water, Divided
2 Tbsp Grass-Fed Gelatin
3 Tbsp Freeze-Dried Blueberries, / peaches / raspberries
1 cup Honey,
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Tbsp Arrowroot Flour, For coating

Click the images below to find the tools I used for these homemade peeps!

Process

This recipe makes 1 flavor at a time:
Frind your freeze dried raspberries (or freeze dried peaches for yellow or freeze dried blueberries for purple) into powder, enough to get 2-3tbsp worth
To a large mixing bowl add 1/2 cup water & gelatin and stir to combine
In a small pot combine remaining 1/2 cup water and honey
Heat over medium, stirring intermittently, until you’ve reached 238-240 degrees F (5-8min)
Remove from heat and pour into gelatin mixture bowl
Use a standing or hand mixer to mix together for 5-6 minutes until a lightly gooey texture is achieved
Add vanilla extract and freeze dried fruit powder and mix again for another minute
Pour mixture in 8×8 pan sprayed with nonstick spray & lightly coated with arrowroot flour & excess flour shaken off, and refrigerate 1 hour
Loosen the edges, then Remove from pan
Use a bunny cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Your bunny marshmallows will be a little sticky. You can either coat the whole thing inin arrowroot starch, tapping off excess. This keeps them from sticking to eachother. Or you can coat the front in naturally colored pink sprinkles to resemble “peeps” more and the rest in starch
Enjoy!
Store leftovers in the fridge

I love how identical they are to store bought! But made with much better ingredients!

FAQ

Can I use maple syrup instead of honey?

Honey works best for texture and stability in homemade marshmallows. Maple syrup may cause them to set softer, but it can work in a pinch.

Do I need a candy thermometer?

Yes — heating the honey mixture to 238–240°F ensures the marshmallows whip up properly and hold their shape.

How do I naturally color the marshmallows?

Use freeze‑dried fruit powders:

• Raspberries → pink
• Peaches → yellow
• Blueberries → purple

Just grind them into a fine powder and mix them in at the end.

Can I make these without the bunny cookie cutter?

Absolutely. You can cut them into squares, hearts, or any shape you like.

How should I store homemade marshmallows?

Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh for several days.

Can I make them fully refined‑sugar‑free?

Yes — skip the sanding sugar and coat them entirely in arrowroot starch.

Homemade Healthy “Peeps” Marshmallows (Naturally Colored, No Corn Syrup!)

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Servings:

Ingredients

1 cup Water Divided
2 Tbsp Grass-Fed Gelatin
3 Tbsp Freeze-Dried Blueberries / peaches / raspberries
1 cup Honey
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Tbsp Arrowroot Flour For coating

Instructions

This recipe makes 1 flavor at a time:
Grind your freeze dried raspberries (or freeze dried peaches for yellow or freeze dried blueberries for purple) into powder, enough to get 2-3tbsp worth
To a large mixing bowl add 1/2 cup water & gelatin and stir to combine
In a small pot combine remaining 1/2 cup water and honey
Heat over medium, stirring intermittently, until you’ve reached 238-240 degrees F (5-8min)
Remove from heat and pour into gelatin mixture bowl
Use a standing or hand mixer to mix together for 5-6 minutes until a lightly gooey texture is achieved
Add vanilla extract and freeze dried fruit powder and mix again for another minute
Pour mixture in 8×8 pan sprayed with nonstick spray & lightly coated with arrowroot flour & excess flour shaken off, and refrigerate 1 hour
Loosen the edges, then Remove from pan
Use a bunny cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Your bunny marshmallows will be a little sticky. You can either coat the whole thing inin arrowroot starch, tapping off excess. This keeps them from sticking to eachother. Or you can coat the front in naturally colored pink sprinkles to resemble “peeps” more and the rest in starch
Enjoy!