Easter chocolates: has the bunny been dethroned by a bear?

All hands on deck in the chocolate menagerie: the traditional rabbits, hens, chicks, fish and even penguins must make room for a party crasher: the marshmallow and chocolate bear!

In the form of a sweet inspired by marshmallows sold at funfairs, this little bear has existed since 1962, when it was created by Michel Cathy of the Bouquet d’Or chocolate factory in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, later acquired by Cémoi in 2003. The chocolatier chose the shape of a small bear because, according to him, “it’s the most gifted stuffed toy for children and, above all, the one you remember your whole life.”

The brilliant inventor probably had no idea that nearly 60 years later, his little bear would become the star of major artisanal and industrial chocolatiers. At Ladurée, it’s given a chic twist with a pink chocolate bow tie and a 66% dark chocolate coating. Pastry chef Michalak, chocolatiers Sève, Alex Olivier, the Belgian brand Jeff De Bruges and the French De Neuville all offer collections of “customized” bears with a wide variety of chocolate combinations—dark, white or milk—and flavored marshmallows.

At Cyril Lignac’s, where it’s one of the bestsellers, the bear has tripled in size while keeping its original shape, with indulgent coatings like praline and dulcey, a caramelized white chocolate.

An icon of nostalgic indulgence, this bear can be enjoyed at any age—and for older generations, Easter is the perfect occasion to take that leap back into childhood.