What Are Peeps?
Peeps are the soft, sugar-coated marshmallow chicks and bunnies made by Just Born, best known as an Easter candy and polarizing for roughly the same reasons every year: some people love the stale-on-purpose chew, others cannot stand them. If you are vegan or vegetarian, there is a more practical question: are Peeps vegan? The short answer is no. Peeps contain gelatin, and the manufacturer says it comes from pork.
This guide explains why Peeps are not vegan, what the gelatin is for, which Peeps varieties are even less vegan, which marshmallows you can eat instead, and how to check any marshmallow candy label yourself. You can also run any label through the spvegan.com ingredient checker.
Peeps Ingredients
The ingredient list on traditional pink Peeps, as reported by Spoon University, is: sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, Red #3, potassium sorbate, natural flavors and carnauba wax. The label also states they are gluten-free. Colors differ by variety, so always check the pack in your hand, as formulas and color additives can change.
- Sugar and corn syrup: the bulk of the candy. Sugar can raise the bone char question for strict vegans (see is white sugar vegan), but it is a secondary concern here.
- Gelatin: the problem ingredient. It is what gives Peeps their springy, chewy structure.
- Color additives: synthetic dyes, not animal-derived. Note that this is different from carmine, the insect-based red dye found in some candies, which is not listed on the Peeps ingredient list we reviewed.
- Potassium sorbate: a preservative, vegan.
- Natural flavors: undisclosed source, usually a minor concern in a candy like this.
- Carnauba wax: a plant wax from palm leaves, used as a glaze. It is vegan, unlike shellac (see are jelly beans vegan), which comes from lac insects.
Are Peeps Vegan?
No. Marshmallow Peeps are not vegan because they contain pork-derived gelatin. Just Born itself says its marshmallow candies are not vegan because of the gelatin, according to Vegetarian Times. The company's position is that gelatin is essential to the texture and that it has not found a consistent alternative that delivers the same result.
That is not a gray area or a "check with the manufacturer" situation. Gelatin is made by boiling animal skin, tendons, ligaments and bones, and the manufacturer confirms it is pork-derived. It also means Peeps are not suitable for vegetarians who avoid animal-derived ingredients, or for people who avoid pork for religious reasons.
What About the Other Peeps Varieties?
Peeps come in dozens of seasonal flavors and formats: chocolate-dipped, sours, flavored marshmallows, and more. Vegetarian Times notes that chocolate-dipped and caramel-filled varieties also contain dairy, so they are doubly non-vegan. Our rule of thumb: if it is a Peeps marshmallow, assume gelatin; if it is chocolate-covered, assume gelatin plus milk ingredients. We did not find a vegan Peeps product, so we would not rely on one existing unless the company announces it.
If you are a Peeps fan who went vegan, you are not alone. PETA has publicly pushed Just Born to replace the gelatin, but at the time of writing the manufacturer's stated position is that it has not found a suitable substitute.
Why Is Gelatin in Marshmallows?
Gelatin is a protein that forms a flexible network when it cools. In marshmallow, it holds whipped air bubbles in place, creating the soft, bouncy chew. Without a replacement for that structure, a marshmallow collapses into sticky foam. Plant alternatives exist: seaweed-based gelling agents such as agar and carrageenan, plus starches, can do a similar job. The catch is that they change the texture, which is why a vegan marshmallow often feels a little different, closer to a firm fluff or a slightly gummy chew than a classic gelatin marshmallow.
Vegan Marshmallows That Actually Work
The good news is that vegan marshmallows are easy to find now. Vegetarian Times highlights two examples:
- Dandies: plant-based marshmallows, free of corn syrup and gluten. We also have a full Dandies vegan marshmallows review.
- Trader Joe's house-brand marshmallows: reported to have been vegan since a 2019 reformulation, using a seaweed base in place of gelatin. Retailer formulas change, so confirm the current label.
For roundups of more options, see our best vegan marshmallow brands guide. If you want a Peeps-style Easter treat, a homemade version using vegan marshmallows is also an option, and Easter-themed crispy rice treats made with plant butter and a vegan marshmallow are an easy swap, as suggested by Vegetarian Times.
Peeps vs Vegan Alternatives
| Candy | Vegan? | Key reason |
|---|---|---|
| Peeps marshmallow chicks and bunnies | No | Pork-derived gelatin |
| Chocolate-dipped Peeps | No | Gelatin plus dairy |
| Dandies marshmallows | Yes | Plant-based, no gelatin |
| Trader Joe's marshmallows | Reported yes (check label) | Seaweed-based since 2019 reformulation |
| Classic mainstream marshmallows (most brands) | Usually no | Typically contain gelatin; check each label |
How to Check Marshmallow and Candy Labels
- Look for "gelatin." It is almost always listed by name. If it is there, the product is not vegan.
- Check for dairy. Chocolate coatings and caramel fillings often add milk ingredients.
- Look for insect-derived colors and glazes. Carmine (also called cochineal or natural red 4) and shellac (confectioner's glaze) are common candy traps.
- Do not trust "gluten-free" or "fat-free" as a proxy for vegan. Peeps are gluten-free and still not vegan.
- Look for a vegan label or certification. It is a shortcut, though ingredient lists still matter.
- Cross-check unfamiliar ingredients. Our hidden non-vegan ingredients list covers the usual suspects.
Who Might Still Want to Eat Peeps?
Some people who follow a plant-based diet for health rather than ethics may decide a once-a-year marshmallow chick is fine. That is a personal call. If you are vegan for animal welfare, Peeps are off the menu, because the gelatin comes directly from an animal-derived source. If you avoid pork for religious reasons, the manufacturer's own statement that the gelatin is pork-derived matters.
Pork Gelatin, Explained for Label Readers
Gelatin is one of the most common hidden animal ingredients in candy, and it appears in far more than marshmallows. Gummy bears, many fruit chews, some yogurts, gelatin desserts and certain frosted cereals use it. When a brand says "gelatin" without naming the animal, it is typically sourced from pork or beef by-products, and the label alone will not tell you which. Peeps are unusual in that the manufacturer names the source directly, which at least makes the decision simple for people avoiding pork.
Because gelatin is a by-product of the meat industry, some people argue that avoiding it makes little difference. Vegans generally disagree: buying gelatin-containing products still creates demand for animal-derived material and does not fit the principle of avoiding animal exploitation wherever practical. Whatever your view, the key point for readers is accuracy: Peeps are not vegan, and nothing on the ingredient list is ambiguous about that.
Other Easter Candy to Watch
If you are putting together a vegan Easter basket, Peeps are not the only seasonal trap. Here is what to scan for on common spring candy:
- Jelly beans: many are polished with shellac (confectioner's glaze) and some contain beeswax. See our jelly bean shellac guide.
- Milk chocolate eggs and bunnies: contain milk by definition. Look for dark chocolate or explicitly dairy-free versions, and read our dark chocolate guide.
- Cream-filled eggs and caramel centers: usually include dairy or egg whites.
- Gummy and chewy candy: frequently contain gelatin, similar to Peeps.
- Red candies: check for carmine, an insect-derived dye.
The easiest approach is to buy candy that is clearly labeled vegan or dairy-free, then verify the ingredient list. Many specialty chocolate makers now sell Easter shapes that avoid all of these problems.
Making Your Own Vegan Peeps-Style Marshmallows
Home bakers have been making vegan marshmallows for years, usually with agar or another plant-based gelling agent and a syrup base. The process is similar to classic marshmallow: whip the mixture until light, pipe or cut shapes, and coat in sugar. Results are slightly firmer than gelatin-based marshmallow, and you will not get the signature Peeps squish, but the flavor is close and the colors are easy to control with plant-based food dyes. If you do not want to bake, simply using Dandies or another vegan marshmallow in a crispy treat recipe gets you most of the way to the Easter basket spirit.
Why This Matters for Vegans and Vegetarians
Marshmallow candy looks like pure sugar, so many people assume it is automatically plant-based. It is not. Gelatin hides in plain sight in candy aisles, and seasonal products are especially easy to buy on autopilot because they are everywhere in March and April. The habit that saves you is simple: read the ingredient list on every candy purchase, even brands you have eaten for years, because recipes change and variants differ. If a product does not list its ingredients clearly, treat that as a reason to put it back.
It also helps to know which candy categories are usually safe. Hard candies, many fruit-flavored chews made with pectin, licorice made without gelatin, and dark chocolate without milk ingredients are common vegan-friendly categories, though each brand still needs a label check. Marshmallow is the opposite: unless it is specifically sold as vegan, assume gelatin.
Final Verdict
Are Peeps vegan? No. Every marshmallow Peeps variety we checked relies on gelatin, which the manufacturer says is pork-derived, and chocolate-dipped versions add dairy. The good news is that Dandies and some store-brand marshmallows are plant-based, and a vegan marshmallow is easy to find for Easter baskets, s'mores and crispy treats. Check the label every time, because candy formulas change from season to season.
