Peeps Topiary

By margiekyle

"Much like squirrels, it’s a little known fact that Peeps grow on jelly bean trees. Topiaries, to be exact. It’s true. It must be. I have one in my kitchen right now." —Jessie Cross

Ingredients

• 1 (6-inch) pot
• 1 (7-inch) styrofoam ball (for topiary top)
• 1 (4 to 5 inch) styrofoam chunk (for inside the pot)
• 1 (12-inch) wooden stake or thick wooden dowel
• 1 box wooden toothpicks
• 6 to 7 boxes marshmallow Peeps
• 1 bag jelly beans

Details

Adapted from thehungrymouse.com

Preparation

Step 1

ASSEMBLE TOPIARY TOP:
Pick your workspace carefully. It's going to get covered in sugar. Poke the stake or dowel into the styrofoam ball, about into the center. Give it a quick check to be sure you're happy with the basic shape. Wedge a piece of styrofoam in the bottom of the pot. You want it to be really snug, so it doesn't move at all. This is going to anchor your topiary. I cut this piece of styrofoam from a larger piece to ensure a snug fit.

COVER BALL WITH PEEPS:
To begin, set the ball in the flower pot, so you can work on the center of the topiary. Poke 3 toothpicks into the ball in a triangle, about an inch apart from each other. Insert them about halfway into the ball. This is the center of your topiary. Insert 10 toothpicks in a large circle around the triangle. Make them about an inch or so apart. Don't make yourself nuts with precise spacing. You'll be able to adjust them later if you have gaps. Do the outer ring first. Stick one Peep onto a toothpick. Do it so that the toothpick goes through the center of the Peep, up through his head. This will give him the strongest anchor. Smoosh him down gently to be sure he sticks. Repeat with the rest of the Peeps. Next, do the center. I used the little purple guys. Do the rest of the ball by placing each layer of Peeps in between the Peeps on the previous layer.

When you've covered one side of the ball, it's time to put it in the pot. Insert the stake or dowel into the center of the styrofoam in the flower pot. Stick it down far enough so that the topiary stands upright and is stable.

Work your way around the ball, alternating rows of Peeps until the entire ball is covered. I only did the flower-y face on one side of my topiary, but if you wanted to, you could do one on the other side, too. You get the idea.
When your ball is totally covered in Peeps, it's time to finish the display.

FINISH PEEP TOPIARY:
Cover the styrofoam with colored tissue paper or a few paper towels. Pour in the jelly beans to cover. And...voila! One Peep topiary! How about it?
CREATE TABLE TOP:
Grab your Easter grass and your silk flower garlands. Set the Peep topiary in the center of your table. Wrap the garland around in a loose circle. Fill in the area between the pot and the garland with Easter grass. Fill a handful of plastic Easter eggs with candy and chocolate. Nestle the filled eggs into the Easter grass. Surround with more silk flowers, if you like.