Thelife- I tried 17 different flavors of Peeps and ranked them all from worst to best.
- The chocolate-pudding and party-cake flavored Peeps did not impress me.
Peeps are a treat that people seem to either hate or love, but I've got mixed feelings depending on the flavor.
According to Food and Wine, these marshmallows have roots in the 1940s as an unnamed treat. It once took about 80 people to make a limited amount during Easter and 27 hours to create one tray.
I was skeptical that this process was ever worth it but was also excited to be proven otherwise.
As a writer for Insider, Just Born sent me several flavors of Peeps, with the exception of the sparkly wild berry ones, to taste test. Although most of the products were free for reviewing purposes, a typical package usually costs under $3.
Keep reading to see how I ranked these sugary chicks and bunnies in descending order from my least-favorite to my top pick.
Chocolate-pudding flavored Peeps
First impression: The chocolate-marshmallow combination is basically the hallmark of Easter, but this bunny looked off.
I've yet to find a convincing chocolate-pudding flavored candy, so I was open to the possibility of this one being good but didn't expect it.
Review: This choice was fine, but the chocolate taste seemed diluted and reminded me of protein powder. I didn't mind it, but I didn't love it either.
Peeps Filled Delights in chocolate-caramel swirl
First impression: This option smelled like unmixed hot-cocoa powder, so I figured it'd be not great or absolutely delicious.
In addition to doubting the chocolate coating, I also expected the caramel filling to result in a gooey center that would feel out of place.
Review: In addition to looking like the melting-sludge Pokémon (Muk), this one had too much going on.
The caramel center lacked flavor, yet was extremely sweet. And paired with the bottom chocolate layer, this conglomeration was just too much.
Party-cake flavored Peeps
First impression: I really hate birthday cake — like, a lot. I also hate birthdays, but that's a different story.
Luckily, I like frosting, and that's what I expected this flavor would be. Yet the silence was deafening as the marshmallow bird stared me down.
Review: I didn't actually know what to make of this option, as it almost tasted like the prepackaged frosting you'd slap on a cake at the last second.
So it was better than expected, but only because the flavor wasn't robust. It was far more like the original Peeps than anything else but still not quite as good.
Hot Tamales Fierce Cinnamon Peeps
First impression: Cinnamon was probably the last flavor I expected to see paired with marshmallow. I figured it could work but almost didn't care — I was just excited to see what these tasted like.
Props to Peeps for going for it, too. So far, I had mostly tasted unsurprising flavors, but this one gave me pause.
Review: This choice tasted way less exciting than I expected it would and was far less spicy than a real Hot Tamale. It felt more like licking a hot-chips bag than anything else.
But I also didn't want more heat. A spicy marshmallow, albeit funny, doesn't really appeal to me.
This option was OK and definitely not the worst. So honestly, I'm glad I had it. And even though I'll award extra points for effort, I probably won't eat these again.
Peeps Delights dipped in milk chocolate
First impression: This one seemed like two-thirds of a s'more.
I was hoping the milk chocolate would add depth to the marshmallow flavor, but I assumed it would just taste like a chocolaty Peep.
Review: I was right — it tasted like Peeps and chocolate, which was good, but I'd rather have a plain chick.
The chocolate felt a little cheap, but it cut the sweetness like I hoped it would. So if you like the inside of a s'more, you'll likely enjoy this one.
Fruit-punch flavored Peeps
First impression: I liked this option's deep-red color and creamy inside, plus it smelled quite fruity.
I knew this flavor was either going to be delicious or outright bizarre-tasting, kind of like fruit punch itself.
Review: These were pretty weird-tasting but not necessarily in a bad way. Still, I felt like I was wiping red drink off my face at Chuck E. Cheese.
Plus what I suspected was a sweet-cherry flavor didn't feel very "Easter" to me — I'd rather have regular Peeps or chocolate.
Strawberry Delights dipped in crème fudge
First impression: This Peep looked too real. If I squinted, I could imagine it sitting on a Tootsie Roll branch.
That said, this flavor smelled like store-brand strawberry ice cream, and I anticipated it would be delicious.
Review: The fudgy bottom went better with this Peep than the others but it still wasn't my thing, especially because the strawberry was sweet enough to carry the whole snack.
Unfortunately, the fruity flavor was also subtle, making it difficult to taste before the crème overpowered it.
Raspberry Delights dipped in crème fudge
First impression: At first glance, I thought this was an interesting combination. I love raspberries and cream, but the fudge left me skeptical.
These also really smelled like berries, the sweet kind that you'd find mimicked in a candy filling.
Review: In this case, the pieces were better than the whole.
The fudge was creamy but didn't go well with the rest of the Peep — it was like someone dumped several marshmallows in my yogurt.
I would have preferred just the raspberry flavor, which was sweet and actually worked well with the marshmallow.
Coconut Delights dipped in dark chocolate
First impression: I opened the bag and got a powerful whiff of coconut. For some reason I can't logically explain, that smell pairs well with Easter for me.
Review: This one was very good, even if it tasted a bit watered-down.
Chocolate and coconut is an impossible pairing to mess up, so this Peep's simplicity worked in its favor.
But as I ate this option, I noticed it had a somewhat strange consistency and realized most coconut products have actual flakes, which then threw off the rest of my eating experience.
Root-beer-float flavored Peeps
First impression: I was most excited for this one because I love root beer and thought it would go really well with the marshmallow base.
Then I remembered I know a few people who hate root beer, which made me realize that the business of food reviewing basically stands on my personal opinion. And to think, this whole time I figured my palate deserved a pedestal.
Review: This option was good but also disappointing. It seemed like a tried (and failed) attempt to mimic the carbonated sweetness of soda, in turn reminding me of a flat root beer.
Still, there was a nice depth to the flavor that enhanced the marshmallow base instead of overpowering it.
Sour-watermelon flavored Peeps
First impression: This option strongly smelled of watermelon, but I was doubtful it would actually be sour. But if I was proven wrong, I predicted this could be a top flavor.
I also appreciated the pink interior and heart-like shape, which added up to create a happy treat.
Review: The sour-watermelon Peeps were fascinating. They definitely had a strong, juicy watermelon flavor, but I wasn't sure it fit with the marshmallow's lightness.
Still, this option ended up as one of my favorites once I stopped thinking of it as a Peep and instead as a dupe for a chewy watermelon Jolly Rancher.
Sparkly wild berry Peeps
First Impression: I noticed the packaging was decorated with images of a strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and pomegranate, and I got a whiff of a berry-medley fragrance when I opened the package. It was overpowering, but I couldn't tell right away if that was good or bad.
In the past, I've appreciated the fruity Peeps flavors since I think they often work better than the brand's chocolate options. I thought the sparkly wild berry Peeps should be fine, but my hopes weren't the highest. It seemed more like a gimmick than a great new flavor.
Review: I actually immensely enjoyed the sparkly wild berry Peeps. I appreciated that the taste was just as robust as the smell, which isn't always the case with candy. The berry medley had an unmistakable twang, like a bullfrog on a hot summer night.
I'd certainly buy these again next season, and if I found one in a little plastic egg, I'd be pleased.
Peeps rainbow pop
First impression: I was pretty sure these would turn out to just be regular Peeps, but if I was wrong, I promised myself I'd eat my hat.
Review: No hats were eaten in the making of this taste test — these were just like regular Peeps.
Plus the fact that they were on a stick made me feel like I needed to eat the whole thing, which I didn't appreciate. I prefer the illusion of control that comes with having a box.
Individually wrapped egg-hunt Peeps
First impression: The same but different — a Peeps story.
Review: I almost skipped this option but am glad I reviewed it. These Peeps were slightly different than the original ones, and if my math (read: my palate) was correct, each one had a greater sugar-to-marshmallow ratio.
That was an important distinction that ultimately swung my opinion.
I liked these a little less than the regular-sized ones, but that could've been a result of my stubborn nature clinging to tradition.
Original Peeps
First impression: The Peeps that started them all. Did we need any more flavors after this one? I really didn't know but figured we'd find out.
I have fond memories of eating too many Peeps and going into a sugar blackout, so there was a chance history would repeat itself, and I'd eat all 10.
Additionally, because the chicks and bunnies taste the same, I only reviewed the former — a sentence I never thought I'd find myself typing.
Review: The thing that makes Peeps so good is their ability to be light and sugary at the same time, which is a combination that doesn't actually come around as often as you'd think.
The marshmallow wasn't in-your-face sweet, which I can't say about the yellow sugar, but it's still hard to beat this classic since it's so simple and perfectly sized.
Author's Note: Lucien tried to review the other color Peeps but failed miserably. He sat at his desk for hours, pulling his hair out and attempting to distinguish red dye from blue dye with his taste buds — it didn't work.
Eventually, he gave up, laid down on his couch, and began shoveling Peeps into his mouth.
Cotton-candy flavored Peeps
First impression: This one could've really gone either way since cotton candy and marshmallow are in the same boat as far as processed desserts go.
Intrigued but pessimistic, I was more than willing to be proven wrong.
Review: As far as Peeps go, these were fantastic. I actually wanted another. I enjoyed this flavor more than I thought I would, as it tasted like drinking cotton-candy milk.
With well-blended flavors and a smooth texture, these Peeps gave me every reason to place them above the original ones.
Froot Loops Peeps pop
First impression: I was unnaturally excited about these. I love Froot Loops cereal and felt like this flavor would go well with the marshmallow base.
At first whiff, they smelled really fruity. And despite my experience with the original Peeps, I was actually excited to see if each color brought something different to the table.
Review: The green one was very Froot Loop-y and became my favorite Peep of all time. Putting it above the original felt sacrilegious but was an easy decision.
The other colors tasted less authentic to me, yet I didn't know why that would be the case.
But ultimately, I loved this combination. It marries the two best parts of sugary cereal: non-dehydrated marshmallows and fake fruit.
So without a doubt, I deem these the best Peeps — subjective palate or not.