For Christmas, Marchesi 1824 Has Transformed a Rocking Horse into Chocolate From hand-decorated panettoni to sweets to color in, the historic Milanese pastry shop has chosen childhood games for its 2026 Christmas collection

This year, Marchesi 1824's Christmas begins with a rocking horse. The toy that has accompanied childhood for generations becomes the protagonist of the historic Milanese pastry shop's 2026 Christmas collection, featuring window displays, decorations, and chocolate creations. A theme that runs through the fittings of the boutiques in Milan and London, where the world of old-fashioned toys meets that of fine pastry-making. The collection is signed by Pastry Art Director Diego Crosara, who has reinterpreted the rocking horse through sweets, gift boxes, and edible miniature objects.

From the classic panettone to new recipes

At the heart of the collection remains the Classic Panettone, made with natural sourdough starter that has been carefully tended for over fifty years, available in sizes ranging from 500 grams to 10 kilograms. Alongside the Pandoro and the Veneziana with candied Sicilian orange and almond glaze, new recipes also make their debut. The Gran Cuvée 74% Chocolate Panettone, crafted with a blend of dark chocolate, celebrates the opening of the new Chocolate Laboratory, while the Aurora Panettone features a dough free of raisins and candied fruit.

For those wishing to stray from the traditional recipe, there are also versions with Apple, Cinnamon and Caramel, Almond, Mandarin, Figs, Vanilla and Honey, and Candied Chestnuts. The Barbajada Panettone also returns, drawing on the flavours of the historic Milanese drink made with chocolate and coffee. The offering extends all the way to aperitivo hour, with savoury panettoni in Cacio e Pepe, Saffron and Parmesan, or Anchovy, Caper, Olive and Cherry Tomato varieties, alongside a box featuring savoury mignons and Champagne.

The rocking horse rendered in chocolate

The rocking horse reappears in the collection's most elaborate creations. There are hand-decorated panettoni, adorned with small raised horses, bows, and garlands crafted from marzipan and royal icing. And then there is a true dark chocolate rocking horse, available in 200- and 800-gram formats, echoing the decorations of old wooden toys. Completing the series are hand-painted chocolate spheres and hemispheres, designed to be given as gifts just as much as to be eaten.

The packaging, too, draws on the world of toys. Tin boxes shaped like a little horse or a gingerbread man contain biscuits and cremini chocolates, while a maxi chocolate bar is sold together with a small brush and food-safe colours, so you can decorate your own rocking horse before eating it. There is also an Advent Calendar, a Befana stocking in jacquard silk, hatboxes and trunks in velvet, as well as the pastry shop's signature modular chest-of-drawers boxes.

The collection is available at all three Marchesi 1824 locations in Milan — Via Santa Maria alla Porta, Via Monte Napoleone, and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — as well as at the London boutique and the Chocolate Hall at Harrods. The large leavened cakes and a selection of gift boxes can also be purchased on the official website.