Who hasn’t melted at the sight of the iconic marshmallow teddy bear from childhood? In the 11th arrondissement, Les Oursons de Manon offers a playful transition from nostalgia to hands-on creation with a workshop dedicated to this classic confection. Inside the shop—a glass partition separates the storefront from the workshop—you'll see these adorable little bears being crafted: from piping airy marshmallow to coating them in a crisp chocolate shell.
For Manon Valtier, this indulgence evokes nostalgic memories of joyful moments from the past. Her shop is entirely dedicated to marshmallow teddy bears, offering treats infused with melting cores and a crunchy exterior — from classic vanilla to passion fruit. These handcrafted creations can be made during a two-hour session, after which you'll take home your delicious bears for just 65 euros.
Up to ten people can gather around the elegant marble table, where mussels and spatulas await. Just a heads-up, spots fill up quickly. If it’s fully booked, the space can get a bit cozy!
Led by your expert chocolatier for the day, Aliénor, during our visit, you'll receive insightful explanations about chocolate and marshmallows, ensuring you're well-versed on the topic before getting hands-on. It's also a perfect opportunity to sample the delicious bear-shaped confections already crafted!
As is often the case with culinary workshops, we put on aprons and hairnets before heading to the chocolate tempering machine. This handy tool helps us fill the piping bag. We then carefully fill our six bear-shaped molds with chocolate, and surprisingly, we flip the mold over and let the excess chocolate drip out! This technique forms the bear’s outer shell, which quickly sets and hardens.
Once that's done, it’s back to the caramel (deliciously enhanced with sea salt), or any other filling of your choice from the options available. Just use a thinner layer here, as it will impart the distinctive taste to the marshmallow-filled teddy bear. As for the marshmallow itself, which takes a bit more time and finesse to prepare, your instructor will handle that step. They’ll ensure it stays at the perfect temperature to achieve the ideal texture.
For those who prefer to do everything from start to finish, this could be a bit frustrating, as the caramel is already prepared. It’s a practical choice that would require more workshop time if everything needed to be made from scratch—but it’s important to keep that in mind! If marshmallows aren’t your favorite, other workshops that involve making everything yourself might be a better fit.
Next, you’ll want to carefully spoon the richly vanilla-flavored marshmallow mixture all the way to the top of the mold—this time with a generous helping that ensures it becomes soft and fluffy, like a cloud. Additionally, this marshmallow is made with fish gelatine, gluten-free, using fluffy whipped sugar syrup to achieve that bright white hue. It’s whisked until perfectly smooth and airy.
We head back to the chocolate machine to add a thin layer over our creation, just atop the marshmallow, to seal everything together. Once it's set, we carefully unmold and walk away with these adorable little bears! A handy tip: if you book a private session, it's also possible to participate in English, perfect for visitors exploring the city.
An activity suitable for everyone, starting at age 12, offering a delicious family experience that will require a bit of patience and attention to detail from the younger participants!
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Dates and Opening Time
From March 25, 2026 to July 18, 2026
Location
Manon's Little Bears
15 Rue Richard Lenoir
75011 Paris 11
Prices
€65
Official website
lesoursonsdemanon.com
