It's Peep season! I can't say I'm usually a fan of these pure-sugar Easter staples, but they're so darn cute I always end up with a box or six. This year, instead of waiting till they take on ceramic-like qualities, I'm determined to actually consume them. So how do you make these adorable, sugar-coated fluffballs taste delicious? Burnish 'em -- here are two ways to do it.

Chocolate, marshmallows, peanuts -- they go together so well in Rocky Road ice cream, so why not bring Peeps into the mix? Mix a half-cup each of pastel-coated chocolate candies and roasted, salted peanuts into your favorite blondie recipe.

Once the blondies cool, take your choice of Peeps (I like classic yellow, but I mixed bunnies and chicks) and trim the sugar off the back sides with scissors. This will help them stick to the blondies. Then line up Peeps atop your brownies (I made 2 rows of bunnies and 1 of chicks) and put under the broiler for about 2 minutes.

Watch them closely -- nobody likes burnt Peeps, and the turn brown pretty quickly.  Alternatively, skip the broiler and  use this as an excuse to buy a kitchen torch.

Fair warning: These are super-sweet. Cut into small chunks and be sure to have milk handy!

If you like your sweet with a little sour like I do, try this take on a Peep dessert. Top a traditional spring favorite -- the lemon tart -- with peeps instead of meringue.

Press your favorite savory pie crust recipe into mini tart pans and bake at 450 degrees F until golden brown. Fill with lemon curd -- homemade ( watch Kelsey's how-to) or store-bought will work.  If you make your own, cut down on the sugar by about 1/3 since the marshmallow topping is super-sweet. For store-bought, stir in a couple of tablespoons of fresh lemon juice before adding to your tarts.

Now, the topping!  Cut 3 Peeps per tart into half-inch chunks, and trim the sugary back off of one whole rabbit-shaped peep. Again, the color is your choice, but with lemon, yellow is a natural!  Place the whole bunny  in the center of the tart, then surround it with the cut-up peeps.

Broil for about 2 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.