M&S has only just given us the Gingerbread Latte Whip, but already something else has caught our eye in the food hall.
Meet the brand’s new Playful Penguins: a five-pack of hand-decorated milk and white chocolate treats filled with a delicious, caramel-sweet blond chocolate ganache.
And yes, they’re every bit as cute as they sound.
M&S has previous when it comes to turning chocolate into characters. Obviously, we’ve seen Colin the Caterpillar in various forms – most recently rocking a ski suit – and the brand has also given its much-loved Whips a Christmas makeover, topping them with tiny seasonal gingerbread men.
Now it’s the turn of the penguins to join the M&S chocolate line-up.
The penguins come in a 98g pack and are made with a mixture of creamy milk and white chocolate. Each one is decorated by hand and looks impressively realistic, complete with chocolate feathers and a bright orange beak. Kids are bound to find them just as cute as Jonty Gentoo, from Julia Donaldson’s book of the same name.
But not only do they look adorable; when you bite into them, you’re rewarded with a smooth blonde chocolate ganache filling. These are honestly so good, we genuinely think they could give our beloved Gingerbread Latte Whips a serious run for their money.
The only problem is that they’re almost too adorable to eat. Almost.
M&S describes the Playful Penguins as a seasonal treat, so we wouldn’t hang around if you want to try them. They’re also vegetarian and made with 100% responsibly sourced cocoa.
They’d make a great stocking filler for kids and big kids alike, or the perfect accompaniment to a festive cup of tea. Although, based on our previous Whip-related behaviour, they probably won’t make it that far.
If blonde ganache isn’t your thing, M&S has also launched a box of Playful Pups made with solid milk chocolate. The kids will love them – if you decide to share.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
