Go behind the scenes where “bunny making” is serious business at Folsom’s 59-year-old family-owned candy shop
Easter, a holiday synonymous with the arrival of spring, religious celebration, family gatherings and of course those famous giant chocolate bunnies we all longed for as a child.
While he wasn’t around when the first chocolate bunny was made in the 19th century, Folsom’s Jim Snook has made a great deal of them through the years in the back room of his family-owned Snook’s Chocolate Factory in the heart of Historic Folsom and this year is no exception.
“This is a very busy time of year for us, “ said Snook, as he continued to roll and form peanut butter filling balls into egg shapes to prepare them to be covered in chocolate and dressed with a colorful flower made of sugar.
“Valentine’s Day is one of our biggest holidays, along with Christmas, but Easter is right in there with them. We are busy all year long, but its times it really picks up. Ester is probably our second busiest holiday of the year.
Snook’s Chocolate Factory has been a family operation for 59-years now and has been a way of life for Snook since he was just a kid, following in the footsteps of his father John. Later in life, it was chocolate that brought him eye to eye with his wife Renee in the days prior to the company becoming a part of the Folsom community.
The story has been told time and time again, the year was 1982 when Renee made a trip to a department store to make an exchange. At the same time, Jim was working at his parents’ candy store, stretching out peanut brittle just inside a front window and the two came eye to eye.
“He had his name tag on his shirt, so I said, ‘Hi Jim, it looks hot back there.’ I didn’t even know what I was doing but my feet weren’t moving!” Renee said. “He asked what my name was, so I told him. Then I got my bread and left.”
Every Saturday after that, Renee would see Jim working at the candy store when she was shopping. Eventually, he asked for her phone number and from there, the rest is living history. It’s one of Folsom’s sweet love stories.
Snooks Candies and Chocolate Factory was established in 1963 as Country Candies by John and Jeannine Snook. In 1985, Jim and Renee opened up in Historic Folsom, then in the lower level of the Hacienda building. In 1999, they officially purchased the business from his parents.
In 2002, Snooks moved to its current corner location at 731 Sutter St. where visitors can get a good look at their products as they are being made and enjoy the sweet aroma that fills the shop during the process.
This time of year, those watching through those windows are seeing a great deal of Easter sweets in the making. A variety of chocolate bunnies of many sizes. Solid bunnies, hollow bunnies with prizes inside, tall bunnies, show bunnies and even bunnies with full tummies, packed with sweet marshmallow filling.
Two weeks before Easter, Snook tallied the numbers to determine they had already made over 2000 varieties of Easter themed sweets this year. Today, just three days before the holiday arrives, they continue to create their homemade specialties that will bring smiles to thousands on Easter weekend.
Snook gave Folsom Times an inside look at the art of making Easter bunnies, eggs and more. From the forming of the outer chocolate shells, to the pumping of the solid chocolate filling that comes thereafter. He even gave us a look at the their famous “tummy bunnies,” and “surprise bunnies,” which have a special prize inside. (See video)
“It’s a hollow bunny that has a small package inserted inside with another candy treat and a special coupon for a future visit to the candy store,” he explained. ‘We’ve even done custom ones for customers with a special gift inside when we have had time.”
Snook recalled one customer he had that wanted to propose to his future bride and insert a ring inside the bunny. He honored the request, albeit, nervously.
“It was a good friend of mine and unique idea,” said Snook. “But I was so nervous doing that. I had to make sure we kept close track of that bunny start to finish since it had a diamond ring up inside it. It all worked out and she said yes.”
Snook and his family will be busy through Saturday, making sure local families get all of the treats and gifts they need from the chocolate bunnies, chickens, chocolate crossed, caramel corn bunnies, chocolates boxed in bunny shaped boxes and those giant peanut butter and chocolate eggs that they will even personalize for customers.
As Easter is a time for family gatherings, Snook’s Chocolate Factory is all about family all year long. The company continues to operate with multiple generations behind the counter every day, just like it started decades ago.
“I worked with my father for many years and now my kids are working with Renee and I,” Jim said. “People always say they would never work with their husband or wife, but for us, it works, even though it doesn’t allow a lot of a lot of family time outside of work, we get to spend it together right here.”
To learn everything about Snook’s Chocolate Factory, visit them in person seven days a week or see what they have to offer online at www.snookscandies.com, or just CLICK HERE.
Fun facts about chocolate bunnies you may not have known:
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-19thcentury. 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 made hollow and then filled?
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 chocolate 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’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.
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.
When was the first chocolate bunny made?
Chocolate bunnies were initially created in Germany in the mid-19thcentury. 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.
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.
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.
