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| Photo l Felicia D'Ambrosio |
| But will they explode in the microwave? |
Today I just noticed Just Born Sugar-Free Peeps in the hyper-pastel Easter candy aisle at CVS.� The diatetic treats are made with Splenda, and carry the appetizing warning that "excessive consumption may cause stomach discomfort and/or a mild laxative effect." Good times! Anyway, since that the female half of Meal Ticket is a card-carrying candy fiend, the sugarless marshmallow chicks had to be put to the test in a side by side comparison with traditional, corn-syrup filled Peeps.
PEEP |
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| Traditional Corn-Syrup Peeps | Sugar-Free Splenda Peeps | |
| Looks | Slightly mashed and misshapen, these are less than gorgeous, even in spring green |
Packaged in a wasteful but effective plastic box, these chicks get the star treatment and wind up� looking cartoonishly perfect |
Price to |
$1.50 for 10 Peeps, |
$1.50 for three larger-than-average Peeps, equaling one serving |
| Taste & Texture | Crispy sugar exterior provides a subtle crunch to the very soft, fresh Peep marshmallow. Very sweet. |
No sugary crunch or texture contrast. Marshmallow is still soft, but does not spring back when bitten. Less sweet than regular Peeps, with a slight chemical off-flavor characteristic of sugar alcohols. |
Microwave |
Behaved in the predictable manner, blowing up |
Swelled into a hostile blob-like MegaPeep. |
Calories per Serving |
140 calories per 5 Peep serving, 0g fat, |
60 calories per 3 Peep serving, 0g fat, |
| Conclusions | Gold-standard Easter basket filler. Cheap, unhealthy and way sweet. |
Lacks the crispy outside/soft inside texture |
Visit Just Born's Web site, marshmallowpeeps.com, to find stores that carry Sugar-Free Peeps, or to take a tour of the Just Born factory in Bethlehem.
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