Vegan Peeps Are a Thing, and So Are Vegan Peep S'mores

Peeps are a glorious Easter tradition, a necessary part of every basket, right alongside plastic grass and rainbow-hued jelly beans.

But for vegans, the gelatin-laced treats are a no-go. Luckily, vegan marshmallow company Sweet and Sara makes a cruelty-free Veep -- i.e., vegan Peep -- and they're available for order online.

See also: Five Awesome Gifts for Vegan Foodies

So how are Veeps different from Peeps (which contain gelatin, a product made from the skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones of pigs and cows)?

"No animals are harmed in the making! Our Veeps are vegan, non-GMO, and the yellow sugar for the chicks are naturally colored from beta carotene," says Sara Sohn of Sweet and Sara, Veeps creator.

As far as ingredients, Veeps contain tapioca syrup, vegan cane sugar, water, non-GMO corn starch, carrageenan, non-GMO soy protein, acacia, pure vanilla extract, sea salt, locust bean gum, organic confectioner's sugar, organic chocolate (chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla extract), and natural yellow coloring (beta carotene, vegan glycerine).

They're made completely by hand. Even the faces are painted on (with organic chocolate), says Sohn. Veeps came to be when she was inspired to create a vegan version of one of her favorite treats from childhood.

"I used to eat these as a kid and really missed them. Since we are a vegan marshmallow company, we try to veganize all nonvegan marshmallow treats. No one makes a vegan Peep except for us."

There's even a thing called Veep s'mores.

"We take a Veep and sandwich it between our grahams and some organic chocolate and pop it in the microwave or oven," says Sohn. "It's out of this world."

Veeps are available to order online. They run $6.89 for a three-inch pair (bunny and chick), plus shipping. Supplies are limited, so order up!

Follow Hannah on Twitter @hannahgetshappy.