Photos: Step-by-step: How to make homemade peeps

Bloom powdered gelatin in mixing bowl with water.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, bring sugar, corn syrup and water to 245 degrees.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

With the mixer running, slowly pour the hot sugar mixture into the bowl with the gelatin.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Beat until the marshmallow is light and fluffy and doubled in volume, then beat in the flavoring.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Continue to mix until the marshmallow loses its sheen, becomes a bit more dense and is not so stringy.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Spoon the marshmallow into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Pipe chick shapes over colored sugars, one marshmallow for the body, and a separate marshmallow for the head.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Spoon colored sugar over the freshly piped chicks to coat.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Gently roll the peep over the colored sugar until evenly coated.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Dot “eyes” on each chick using melted chocolate or food coloring.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Finished “peep” ready to be eaten!  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)