Peeps-DF and naturally colored

My kids love peeps.  They are loaded with food coloring and with HFCS and corn syrup etc.  I really wanted to try making some from scratch and was surprised how amazingly easy they were to make.  I will definitely make these again.  The beet powder worked the best, the blueberry...well...by the time I got enough into it, it would have been goo...so it looks more grey.  The powdered sugar was cute as well.

Ingredients and directions

1 packet Knox unflavored gelatin
1/4 c. water

Put into stand mixer or bowl to sit while cooking.

1/3 c. water
1 c. sugar

Put in small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil until temp on candy thermometer reaches about 230° F.
Add very hot mix to mixer and mix on medium/high speed for about 8 min or until it begins to form soft peaks.  Spoon mix into Pam sprayed silicone forms or sheet pan lined with sprayed parchment paper to use cookie cutters on. 

When set they will pop right out of silicone forms and roll in prepared sugar.

I used about 1/4-1/8 tsp. beet powder mixed with enough drops of water to make a paste.  Mix in enough sugar to make a pretty pink.  The blueberry made that grey color and would take so much blueberry that it would make it gooey...I haven't tried letting it dry first yet, but that  will be another day for sure. I would also like to work with some flavors.  They were really good alone but maybe with some almond flavoring or this butter/nut flavoring that I have...hm...
Needless to say, the girls loved them.  I bet they would make a great smore...