Line a half sheet pan (18x13) with parchment paper (we want these less thick than the traditional marshmallows). Using a fine mesh sieve, dust the parchment paper with ¼ cup of tapioca flour.
Make the vegan marshmallows by following the thorough step by step instructions in my Homemade Vegan Marshmallows recipe from step 2-13. Note that this vegan peeps recipe calls for a 1/2 teaspoon more gelatin to make them hold their shape and is spread on a sheet pan to make them less thick, otherwise it is the same ingredients and process.
Once finished preparing the marshmallows through step 13, using a greased spatula, quickly pour it from the stand mixing bowl onto your parchment lined half sheet pan and spread it so it evenly. You want to do this as fast as you can. The longer it sits, the harder it will be to spread.
Making the peeps
Once the marshmallows have set for 3 hours, coat your bunny shaped cookie cutters in tapioca flour to prevent sticking and cut out 12-15 bunnies. Remove the marshmallow scraps and save them for hot chocolate or rice krispie treats!
Next, prepare the colored sugar for coating. Add the cane sugar to a food processor and pulse several times until it is finer in texture, but be sure not to pulse it into a powder.
Divide the cane sugar between bowls and add 2-5 drops of vegan food dye gel to each bowl. I used 4 bowls (1/3 cup cane sugar each) to make the colors blue, yellow, pink, and purple. You can use as many bowls/colors as you would like.
Using a fork, mix the food dye gel between the sugar until the gel is completely incorporated.
Fill a separate shallow bowl with a 1/3 cup of water.
Next, coat the marshmallows in the colored sugar by first quickly dipping in the water then quickly coating in sugar.
Repeat process until peeps have been coated.
Lastly, add eyes and a nose with black food dye gel.
Notes
Make sure to pulse the sugar in a food processor before coating to get a better, fine texture.
When you coat the peeps in water, do it very quickly. You do not want them to sit in the water for any extended length of time or they will get soggy and fall apart.
Store these marshmallow peeps in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.