Happy Easter
Tunkhannock PA
2019

Bunny Kisses ~ Easter Wishes

Chocolate bunnies were initially created in Germany in the mid-19th century. They gained mass appeal in 1890 when American shop owner Robert Strohecker created a five-foot-tall chocolate bunny as an Easter promotion in his drug store.

https://www.chocolatefetish.com/2017/04/04/handmade-chocolate-bunnies/

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Chocolate Bunnies

Ever wondered why we celebrate Easter with Chocolate Bunnies? Or how they are made? Or how big the largest one ever made was? Read on for the answers to these questions and everything else you ever wanted to know about chocolate bunnies.

When was the first Chocolate Bunny made?
Chocolate bunnies were initially created in Germany in the mid-19th century. They gained mass appeal in 1890 when American shop owner Robert Strohecker created a five-foot-tall chocolate bunny as an Easter promotion in his drug store.

Why Bunnies for Easter?
In medieval Europe the rabbit was a popular symbol for spring because of it’s fecundity. A German legend said that after a long winter’s sleep an Easter bunny would lay bright-colored eggs in the grass for good children to find.

How many Chocolate Bunnies are made each year?
Popular estimates say that about ninety million chocolate Easter bunnies are produced worldwide every year.

Why are Chocolate Bunnies hollow?
One major reason Chocolate Bunnies are made hollow is that once a piece of chocolate is over about ½ inch thick it becomes nearly impossible to bite into and enjoy. Making bunnies hollow allows chocolatiers to make them larger for visual impact but still enjoyable to eat. The practice of making bunnies hollow gained popularity in America during WWII cocoa rationing. Hollow bunnies could be produced using far less chocolate than their solid counterparts.

How are Chocolate Bunnies made?
To make a chocolate bunny, molten chocolate is poured into a bunny shaped mold. The mold is then shaken to remove air bubbles and rotated so that the chocolate forms a thin, even shell. After the chocolate cools it can be removed from the mold and packaged for sale. Large factories do this all by machine, smaller shops (like us) pour, shake, and rotate all by hand.

How big is the World’s largest chocolate bunny
The largest chocolate bunny ever made was made in 2014 for Chocofest in Brazil. It weighed over 8,000 pounds and was over 13 feet tall. If you are interested in purchasing a giant chocolate bunny the largest one we could find comes from Miesse Candies in Lancaster, PA. Miesse’s giant bunnies weigh over 25 pounds, are 3 feet tall and cost $500 each. If you’re looking for a more reasonable big bunny we offer a hand decorated extra large bunny in our shop that weighs over 2 pounds and cost $49.95.

How much is the Most Expensive Chocolate Bunny?
The world’s most expensive bunny was hand carved by a European chef and sells for about $49,000. Careful when you bite into him, his eyes are made of 1.7 carat diamonds.

What are the different kinds of chocolate bunnies?
These days chocolate bunnies can be found dressed up like cowboys, riding a motorcycle, getting married, playing sports and just about anything you or your local chocolatier can imagine. The Bortz Chocolate Company in Reading, Pa. is credited with being the first company to introduce bunny personalities with its accordion playing bunny in 1934. You can check out the bunny personalities we offer here.

What’s the most popular kind of Chocolate Bunny?
While chocolate bunnies can be found in milk, dark and white chocolates hollow or filled with a variety of nuts, caramels, and ganaches; the most popular bunny is still a hollow milk chocolate bunny.

How long does it take to eat a 1.25 pound chocolate bunny?
At the Wolfgang Candy Company’s annual chocolate bunny eating competition the record is about 9 minutes. We suspect it will take you a little longer.

Weirdest Chocolate Bunny?
We can’t decide which is weirder, Benedict Cummberbunny or the Zombie bunny. Leave your comment below and let us know what you think.

Other fun bunny facts
87% of parents will buy or make Easter baskets for their children—and 81% will then proceed to steal candy from them.

89% of Americans think chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first. 5% prefer to begin with the tail.

A Fluffle is a group of bunnies… if you are in Northern Canada.

The history of the chocolate Easter bunny is a combination of a variety of factors, including the symbol of the rabbit in medieval Europe, the invention of milk chocolate, and the development of molding machinery

The rabbit as a symbol
In medieval Europe, rabbits were a symbol of spring and fertility because of their high reproduction rate. Early Christians also considered rabbits a holy symbol because they believed rabbits could conceive without copulation.

The first chocolate bunnies
The first chocolate bunnies were made in Germany in the mid-19th century.

The rise of the chocolate Easter bunny
The chocolate Easter bunny became popular in 1890 when Robert Strohecker, an American drug store owner, displayed a five-foot-tall chocolate bunny in his shop as an Easter promotion.

The invention of milk chocolate
The invention of milk chocolate in 1879 led to the development of machinery that made it easier to produce chocolate in bars, bon-bons, and other forms.

The development of molding machinery
The development of molding machinery made it easier to produce shaped chocolate, such as chocolate bunnies.

The popularity of hollow bunnies
Hollow bunnies became more popular in America during World War II when cocoa was rationed. Hollow bunnies are easier to make larger without making them difficult to eat.