An Easter Candy Showdown

There are a lot of crap candies that get peddled around Easter time, but there are only two worth talking about: Peeps and Cadbury Creme Eggs. Unlike other “Easter candies” that are actually the same boring thing that we see all the time but in a different shape (Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs?), these two are unique once-a-year treats. But which one is better?

For anyone unfamiliar with these candies, a Cadbury Creme Egg is a life-sized milk chocolate egg filled with an oozing, thick candy “creme”, part of which is colored bright yellow--like a yolk. We find this adorable. The competition, Peeps, are essentially regular old marshmallows shaped like cute creatures (chicks, bunnies) and covered in colored sugar.

We much prefer the Creme Egg. Yes, it will melt your teeth off and no, we don’t know what the stuff in the center is, or what relationship it bears to real cream; but we like the whole package. It works for us. Peeps, on the other hand, disgust us. They are rubbery and bland and taste like a whole lot of nothing. That being said, we know many, many people who adore Peeps. They buy them by the caseload and stockpile them for the peep-free months. They even eat Peeps for breakfast. We fail to see the allure.

Although we almost never buy candy (except of course, Violet Crumble) something about these Easter novelties always takes us in. The part of us that makes high-end pastries for a living revolts against eating either of these candies, but once a year, we just can’t help ourselves. Maybe you’re a peep person, maybe you go for the creme egg. Or maybe you’re far too sensible to even participate in this ludicrous battle. Either way, happy Easter.

The photo of Peeps and Cadbury Eggs in battle is by Rachael Coyle

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By Rachael in Food on March 23, 2007 8:07 AM

Comments [rss]

Mark Andrich

Check what these guys got up to with their creme eggs... one.revver.com/watch/223968

Amy

Creme eggs for taste, peeps for style. Just had the first egg of the season, a new one, orange flavor. It's not bad.

As for peeps, a friend likes to puncture the packs and let them get good n' stale. I'm going to try roasting them next time i camp... just born, and just burned at the stake!

Emily Coyle

I'm a creme egg person, myself. Must take after my sister...

kirsten

What about those chocolate coconut nests with the jelly bean eggs? Those are awesome. Lots of people must be eating them because I never can find them anymore.Then I get all bitter and resentful staring balefully at the empty box in the candy aisle at Rite Aid.

David F.

I noticed last week at QFC that the marketing geniuses at Just Born have started tagging their boxes with "Always in Season(tm)." Just at the moment when the local food movement has gained some legs...

Joe

This whole post makes my pancreas hurt. Easter is even worse than Halloween in terms of the bad-candy-to-festivities ratio.
Cadbury Creme Eggs are the only thing that take the sting out of the constant reminders that Jesus wouldn't stay dead.
That, however, is priceless.

Audrey

Peeps are gross. I like Cadbury Creme Eggs, but I loooooove Cadbury Caramel Eggs!

Julia

Though I love peeps and mini eggs, Creme Eggs are really the official easter candy because they're the only one that's not available at any other season (christmas mini eggs? basphemy.) Peeps make a different shape for every holiday now so they're not really "easter" candy anymore.

James Callan

I suspect Ronald Reagan and Jelly Belly helped jelly beans move on up out of the Easter ghetto.

Dan

I love that photo! It's like the Peep villagers are ready to put the torch to Frankenstein's egg.

Man, has the jelly bean drifted so far off the cultural radar that it no longer merits mention in a discussion of Easter candy?

Courtney

When I was in college we'd get Peeps and then yell "Just born!" before popping them into our mouth and devouring them. (Just Born is the company that makes Peeps.) That was really the best part, because I hate marshmallows in general. I'm more the creme egg type as well.

Seth

Cadbury Creme Eggs are the only thing that take the sting out of the constant reminders that Jesus wouldn't stay dead.

Matt the Engineer

Although I'm a cadburry egg person, I do have a good use for peeps. Next time you're out camping, take a pack with you. When it's time to roast marshmallows, pull out your little chick, stab him with a stick, and roast him. His sugar coating will slowly melt as he heats up, and after letting him cool (really, hot sugar is not something you want to thrust in your mouth too soon) he becomes a melted marshmallow with a hard candy shell.

Jack

My wife loves the Peeps for some reason, but for me it's the creme egg all the way. Mostly because it takes me back to the days when just seeing a Cadbury egg sent me into a fit of the gimme gimmes.