With Valentine’s Day coming up, I can’t help but think of all the pink and red and chocolate treats- and chocolate covered cinnamon bears totally fit the bill!

Have you ever tried chocolate covered cinnamon bears? If you live outside of Utah, you may or may not have heard about these uniquely addictive treats. If you live in Utah, you may not have realized that chocolate covered cinnamon bears are actually a Utah treat!

Sweet Candy Company is based in Salt Lake City. Leon Sweet started the company in Portland Oregon in 1892, but moved it to Salt Lake City in 1900, where they have been ever since. Cinnamon bears were sold in the 1920’s, but chocolate covered cinnamon bears didn’t become a thing until 1990! Apparently, one of the vice presidents thought everything was better with chocolate (wisdom I can get behind!)- and thus the chocolate covered cinnamon bear was born. And even then, they really didn’t start becoming popular until well after 2000- so they are a relatively new little sweet.

This is definitely a popular treat. Sweet’s produces a million pounds of chocolate cinnamon bears each year, and that barely keeps up with the demand. Brigham Young University in Provo often sells out, and when shipping to one of 143 countries, it’s common for people to add chocolate covered cinnamon bears to their order- making chocolate covered cinnamon bears an internationally approved treat!

Luckily, you don’t have to stress if you can’t find chocolate covered cinnamon bears locally, or if they’re sold out, because they are super easy to make at home! Literally- take your cinnamon bear, and use a toothpick to dip it in melted chocolate. Wait for it to cool and BOOM! Tasty, cute little chocolate covered cinnamon bears just for you! If you haven’t tried these scrumptious little guys, you need to give this recipe a shot! Something about the smooth, creamy, cooling chocolate pairs so well with the spicy, chewiness of the cinnamon bear. The perfect pairing of opposing flavors and textures- it’s a match made in heaven!

These would make the perfect little Valentine’s treat- but don’t feel like you have to wait until then to enjoy, because these are delicious at any time of the year! Try experimenting with different chocolates- I’ve never tried white chocolate, but I'm thinking that’s definitely something I need to do!

Have you ever tried these curiously addicting sweets? If not, now’s the time! ;)

    Camille Hoffmann
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com