How to Make Easter Centerpieces With Peeps

Jelly beans make a sweet accompaniment to peeps in a centerpiece.

The beloved sugar-filled, animal-shaped concoctions known as "peeps" are a mainstay of Easter festivities. You can find them by the dozen in all colors and shapes around springtime. If your Easter baskets have already had their fill of sweet and sinful goodness, you can still work some peeps into your holiday festivities by featuring them on your centerpieces. These edible decorations are cute and colorful and can even double as a special dessert.

Things You'll Need

• Glass containers
• Vases
• Flowers
• Jelly beans
• Coconut shavings
• Green food dye
• Chocolate chips
• Milk
• Sauce pan
• Pretzel sticks
• Dessert bowls or ramekins
• Wax paper
• Plate
• Easter grass
• Candy eggs

Instructions

Floral Peeps

1. Collect an assortment of glass containers. Vases, bowls, plates and cups will all work. Using a variety of containers will give your table a playful look that's not too stodgy and goes well with candy centerpieces.

2. Place a smaller vase in the center of any container that is large enough to accommodate it. Fill the vase with colorful spring flowers.

3. Fill the bottom of deep containers such as vases and bowls with about 1 inch of jelly beans. Line shallow containers such as plates with coconut shavings dyed green. Stick one or two cut blossoms on dishes that can't accommodate a vase.

4. Arrange peeps on top of the coconut or jelly beans. Place chick peeps on plates or large containers where they need to be freestanding. In vases with a smaller amount of space, arrange bunny peeps that may need more support to stand up.

Peep Nests

1. Pour a 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips into a sauce pan, and heat it over medium-high heat until the chips have melted. Add 1 tbsp. of milk to thin the mixture, and stir it until smooth.

2. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in about 1 cup of pretzel sticks. Add the sticks a few at a time, and stir gently to coat them in chocolate without breaking them.

3. Line three small dessert bowls or ramekins with wax paper. Arrange the chocolate-coated pretzel sticks in the bowls so they form small nests with an indentation in the center of each.

4. Place the pretzel nests in the fridge for an hour to cool. When the chocolate is completely cool and dry, gently peel each nest away from the wax paper.

5. Arrange the nests on a large plate or platter. Scatter Easter grass around the nests, and place two or three jelly beans or candy eggs in the center of each nest. Top with a single chick peep.

Tips & Warnings

• At the end of your event, remove the flowers from the vases and wrap carefully as a gift for adult guests. Give the peeps and jelly beans away to kids.

References

• "Parenting"; Easter Peep Centerpiece Craft; Charity Ferreira
• "Good Housekeeping"; Elegant Easter: Flower Arrangements and Centerpieces; Karin Lidbeck-Brent
• "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"; Edible Easter Treats to Dye For; Gretchen McKay; April 2007
• "Mountain Valley Living Magazine"; Hatching Peep Nests; Melissa Wynn