Yes, I’m Jewish. And I love it. But I also have some serious Easter candy envy.
I still remember one glorious Passover seder as a kid, when, as a prize for finding the afikomen, my grandfather gave my sister, my cousins, and me a Cadbury Creme Egg. In my childhood mind, this was infinitely cooler than the silver dollars he usually gave us.
The years (um, make that decades…) ticked by. My love of candy continued unabated; meanwhile, I grew up and started hosting Passover seders of my own. Both scarfing down Easter candy and having a seder happened every spring, without fail. But they happened independently of one another.
Enter the amazing internet phenomenon of the Peeps Skillet S’mores, circa 2016. I somehow found it online, and my sister — who was once a member of a Peeps fan club — had the brilliant idea to serve it for the seder. Passover dessert has never been the same since.
For the uninitiated, Peeps Skillet S’mores are pretty much exactly what they sound like: They are the sticky, sweet goodness everyone loves about s’mores, but cooked and served in an indoors-friendly skillet. And instead of boring old marshmallows, the melty mess of chocolate is topped with those pretty, pastel-colored Peeps.
I’ll pause to acknowledge here that, yes, Peeps aren’t kosher for Passover. (In fact, they’re not kosher at all.) But for a not particularly observant family like mine — and one in which a majority of us have sweet teeth — serving the Peeps Skillet S’mores at our Passover seder has made at least some of our dreams come true.
(Fun fact: Peeps are made by Just Born — the makers of one of my all-time favorites, Hot Tamales — a family-owned company in Pennsylvania with deep Jewish roots.)
Unlike complicated Passover desserts like flourless cakes, the Peeps S’mores Skillet couldn’t be easier to make: You basically heat some whipping cream and pour it in a skillet. Add chocolate, and decorate with Peeps. Stick the whole pan in a hot oven and, within minutes, you’ve got yourself some toasty spring sweetness.
These Skillet S’mores are designed for dipping: You’re supposed to dip graham crackers into the skillet.
But — c’mon, people! — it’s Passover. Serving graham crackers at a seder would be insanely inappropriate. So, instead, we use matzah. The bland crunchiness of the bread of affliction is the perfect compliment to the super-sweet, sticky, literal “hot mess” that is the Peeps S’mores Skillet.
Try it — you’ll like it. Chag sameach and Happy Peepster!
The Passover seder is an adventure, not a chore — and Kveller’s new, family-friendly haggadah captures all the excitement, plus explains everything you need to know. Best of all? It’s free! Get it here.
