Mad Science Halloween – Edible Experiments with Frankenstein Monster Peeps

Mad Science Halloween activities can vary far and wide, but a favorite among all guests…..experiments you can EAT! Take a look at this easy experiment using Halloween themed marshmallow peeps.

It's the final Day of our 13 Days of Halloween! Every year I try to come up with fun ideas that surround a general theme. This year we're doing Frankenstein and sharing all things bubbly Mad Science and green. If you missed the last post it's here: Day 12 – Mad Science Birthday Party Ideas for Halloween Lovers

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Get Your Mad Scientists Ready!

You'll want to get your little scientists ready with a lab coat and goggles. Remember safety first! Want to make lab coats of your own?  Here's how I did it.

Prep Your Specimen

Frankenstein Peeps are sugar covered marshmallows that circulate in September and October. But different varieties can be found year round. Keep an eye out for Halloween Peeps as they are the most fun, but any marshmallow will work for this experiment. We'll keep our eyes on you!

Step 1: Put one Peep on a microwave safe plate. Pretty easy right!?

Enter the Mad Science Halloween Chamber

Place your plate inside the microwave “Halloween Chamber” and set it for 45 seconds on High.

Now sit back and watch science at work! I'm not a big fan of staring at a working microwave but this is one time you DEFINITElY need to see this! You can see how excited my kids were about this in the video below!

Carefully Remove Mad Science Specimen

The magic happens in the microwave and you don't want to miss it because as soon as you take the plate out {could be hot so be careful!} Frankenstein starts to shrink. It's hard to believe he was even bigger than this! And I love that he started getting burn marks on his face. So perfect for a creepy Halloween activity!

Enjoy Peeps Edible Mad Science! 

After the marshmallow cools off a bit, you can enjoy this sugary mad science experiment. The sugar cooks and your once soft marshmallow has become tough like taffy and even crunchy on the edges. The more you cook it, the crunchier marshmallow gets. If you cook a mallow too long it'll end up black and burned! Which is not a nice smell.

What IS The Science Behind It? 

Marshmallows are made up of sugar, water, gelatin, and lots and lots of air bubbles. The sugar makes them sweet, water makes them sticky, gelatin makes them stretchy, and the air bubbles create that perfect puff.

When you place them in the microwave the temperature changes and the water heats up. As the water heats it warms the air and each air bubble starts to expand, or gets larger. {Did you know that air expands as it gets warmer?} The expanding air accounts for the change in size, and the melting sugar creates holes and might even flow out.

When you remove the heat the air contracts, or get smaller, again and the puffy marshmallow shrinks. But it's not the same because the sugar has melted, changing the shape and structure forever. Once the sugar cools it hardens creating those crunchy edges. Isn't that cool?

More Marshmallow Fun

You can try this experiment with regular marshmallows, minis, huge ones, and other peeps to see how they react.

• How long does it take them to get hard and crunchy?
• How big do they puff up?
• Which ones look most different after the experiment?
• And most importantly, which ones are best to eat?
• Anyone have graham crackers and chocolate?

Enjoy Your Party

You can only microwave so many Peeps. When you're all done, serve up your extra Peeps in a pistachio pudding cup like this one. Or tint a white chocolate pudding if pistachio isn't your jam.

What do you think? Do you know anyone who would love this Peeps Edible Mad Science Experiment? It doesn't just have to be kids! If you try it please let me know! I'll be coming out with more fun Mad Science activities and I'd love to share them with you.

Please follow us and tag @partieswithacause on Facebook and Instagram. Or email a photo to hello{at}partieswithacause{dot}com 

If you try out this Mad Science Birthday Party I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. And if you share photos, I want to see it too! Please tag us @partieswithacause on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. We love celebrating all your hard work! 

If you love Halloween like I do – check out my Master List of Halloween Party Ideas here:

Then join me, your Healthy Hostess for better-for-you holiday and party foods. Grab your free food substitution guide as the first step in your next healthy holiday gathering.

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Every Day of our Halloween Celebration

Day 1: Frankenstein Halloween Snack Mix

Day 2: Halloween Charcuterie Witch Hat

Day 3: Frankenstein Finger Breadsticks Easy Recipe

Day 4: Halloween Flowers and Frankenstein Decoration Ideas

Day 5: Halloween Baby Shower Food Ideas – Welcome Little Monster

Day 6: Halloween Mocktail Recipe for Monster Sunrise

Day 7: Halloween Baby Shower Theme – We Created a Monster Decor

Day 8: Halloween Food Ideas for Frankenstein Party

Day 9: Brain Cake – Tutorial for Easy Halloween Cake

Day 10: Halloween Costume Couples – Frankenstein and Bride – Monster Family

Day 11: Halloween Breakfast Ideas that are Cute and Easy

Day 12: Mad Science Birthday Party Ideas for Halloween Lovers

Day 13: Mad Science Halloween – Edible Experiments

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