colored sugar:

1 cup sugar
4 drops food coloring

  • mix in food processor until combined
  • spread on baking sheet and bake on lowest setting for 10 minutes stirring every few minutes

marshmallow base:

1/3 cup cold water
7g (1 packet) powdered gelatin

  • sprinkle gelatin over water in mixing bowl

1/4 cup water
1 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

  • stir water and sugar while heating until sugar is dissolved
  • brush sides of pot with a wet pastry brush to remove sugar crystals
  • cook without stirring until thermometer reaches 238°F.
  • pour sugar into gelatin mixture and mix on low speed until combined and frothy
  • increase mixer speed to medium-high and mix until thick and shiny, about 10 minutes
  • add vanilla and mix for 20 seconds

assembly:

black gel food coloring

  • coat baking sheet with half of the colored sugar
  • pipe 1” x 2” ovals close together to make a row of birds
  • pipe a circle at one end, tapering to a point which you pull over to make the beak
  • coat with remaining colored sugar before the marshmallow sets
  • use a toothpick to make eyes with the black food coloring

source: https://ashleemarie.com/homemade-peeps-marshmallow-recipe-video-tutorial/ and https://www.marthastewart.com/1141390/marshmallow-piping

note: i tried the marshmallow recipe from the first link, and it did not set, even after waiting an hour (i piped the peeps out and they immediately collapsed into pools of goo). but the recipe lacks even the basics of candy-making (no real times or temperatures), so maybe some small change to what i did would fix it. the martha stewart recipe works perfectly.