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Paleo Peeps (Paleo Marshmallows): Raspberry + Toasted Coconut Lemon

These paleo peeps are the perfect paleo Easter candy. Made from homemade raspberry paleo marshmallows and toasted coconut lemon paleo marshmallows, you’ll be shocked at how similar they are to the traditional treat but made only with healthy ingredients. A paleo Easter staple! Or cut them into cubes for an anytime paleo dessert.

With recipes for both raspberry paleo marshmallows and toasted coconut lemon paleo marshmallows, you’ll love the tangy sweetness that the light and fluffy bites offer. Cut them into bunny shapes and you’ve got yourself a healthy version of the Easter favorite.

Ingredients:

Raspberry paleo marshmallows:

  • 1 cup honey
  • ½ cup + 1/4 cup water, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 .25- ounce packets of gelatin,
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ ounces freeze-dried raspberries (I get mine at Target in 1 1/4-ounce bags)
  • 2 tablespoons arrowroot for dusting, plus extra for preparing pan
  • 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips, optional, for faces
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil for preparing pan
  • 1 cup honey

Ingredients:

Raspberry paleo marshmallows:

Instructions:

  1. Place freeze-dried raspberries in a blender or food processor and blitz until powder. Separate 2 1/2 tablespoons and set both aside.
  2. Prepare your pans: grease an 8×8″ pan with a little coconut oil. Take a piece of parchment paper and rub the top of it with a bit of coconut oil. Press the parchment paper evenly down in the middle of the baking pan, then sprinkle a bit of arrowroot on top. Shake around to lightly coat.
  3. Place gelatin in a small bowl and sprinkle 1/4 cup water over. Stir to mix and set aside.
  4. Combine 1 cup honey, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan with high sides. Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil, whisking until very smooth and well combined. Continue boiling very gently for 10 minutes, or until a thermometer reaches 240ºF. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir in the gelatin and water mixture and whisk until very smooth. Let cool for about 2-3 minutes then stir in vanilla extract.
  6. Add honey syrup to the large bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for 5 minutes or until tripled in size, almost white. The texture should be like a soft lava that holds a soft peak for a few seconds. Add in raspberry powder (minus the 2 1/2 tablespoons you set aside) and beat for another 2 minutes, or until well combined and a lovely, even pink.

Instructions:

7. With a rubber spatula, scrape out marshmallow mixture and spread into one prepared 8×8″ pan. Smooth the top with the spatula and sprinkle a little (1/2 tablespoon) of the raspberry powder you reserved on top. Let dry, uncovered, at least 4 hours or overnight. Do not refrigerate.

8. Combine 2 tablespoons arrowroot with the remaining raspberry powder (about 2 tablespoons). Lift marshmallows out using the sides of the parchment and use a bunny dipped in the arrowroot-raspberry powder mixture to cut out shapes. For regular marshmallows, use a very sharp knife coated in a bit of the arrowroot-raspberry powder mixture to cut into cubes. Place marshmallow shapes in a large bowl and coat with the remaining powder mixture. Toss until pieces are well-coated.

9. To create Peep eyes and mouth, melt the dark chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Use a toothpick to dot the melted chocolate on the “face” of the Peeps. It might be tricky, since the surface is covered in arrowroot, but you can almost spear the surface to help.

10. Keep in an airtight container for a few days or in an airtight freezer bag in the freezer for months. Thaw 2 hours before eating.

Instructions:

Toasted Coconut Lemon Paleo Marshmallows:

  1. Place toasted coconut in a blender or food processor and blitz until ground fine and texture is consistent.
  2. Prepare your pans: grease an 8×8″ pan with a little coconut oil. Take a piece of parchment paper and rub the top of it with a bit of coconut oil. Press the parchment paper evenly down in the middle of the baking pan, then sprinkle a bit of arrowroot on top. Shake around to lightly coat.
  3. Place gelatin in a small bowl and sprinkle 1/4 cup water over. Stir to mix and set aside.
  4. Combine 1 cup honey, 6 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan with high sides. Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil, whisking until very smooth and well combined. Continue boiling very gently for 10 minutes, or until a thermometer reaches 240ºF. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir in gelatin and water mixture and whisk until very smooth. Let cool for about 2-3 minutes then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric.

Instructions:

6. Add honey syrup to the large bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for 5 minutes or until tripled in size, almost white. The texture should be like a soft lava that holds a soft peak for a few seconds. Add in lemon zest and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and beat for another 2 minutes, or until well combined and a lovely, even light yellow color.

7. With a rubber spatula, scrape out the marshmallow mixture and spread it into one prepared 8×8″ pan. Smooth the top with the spatula and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the ground toasted coconut. Let dry, uncovered, at least 4 hours or overnight. Do not refrigerate.

8. Lift marshmallows out using the sides of the parchment and use a bunny dipped in arrowroot to cut out shapes. For regular marshmallows, use a very sharp knife coated in a bit of the arrowroot to cut into cubes. Place marshmallow shapes in a large bowl and sprinkle with the remaining 3 tablespoons of ground toasted coconut. Toss to coat, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon arrowroot. Toss to coat until no longer sticky.

9. To create Peep eyes and mouth, melt the dark chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Use a toothpick to dot the melted chocolate on the “face” of the Peeps. It might be tricky since the surface is covered in arrowroot, but you can almost spear the surface to help.