Collection: Calissons

La Maison du Petit Duc, founded in 1991, is located in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, in the South of France. Although production now takes place within the Fabrique, its shop still welcomes you at 7 boulevard Victor Hugo, just like at its origin. It invites you to discover their delicious confections, especially the famous Calisson. An artisanal and family recipe revisited from the famous calisson of Aix!

The origin and history of Petit Duc's calissons

The Saint-Rémy calisson, a delicious emblematic sweet of the Provence region, has a history as rich as its flavor. Its story dates back to 1991 and is steeped in family traditions and artisanal know-how.

Before the advent of factories, around the turn of the 19th century, sugar was a rare resource, used sparingly.

After long reflections and hours of work dedicated to studying the old recipes of the Aix calisson, we found our ideal version, which we named the Saint-Rémy calisson. These efforts gave birth to a soft confection, rich in flavor and light in sugar, the result of meticulous and passionate work.

Where does the original shape of the Saint-Rémy calissons come from?

Thirty years ago, when the calissons began to be made, Le Petit Duc was not equipped with a calisson press... Lacking the means, it could not create the famous diamond shape. They then had the idea to pass the calisson dough through a roller before cutting it into "squares" with a guitar cutter.

Their square shape was so successful that they never dared to change it, and today, it has become the signature of this creation.

An artisanal creation of this sweet delicacy

The making of the Saint-Rémy calisson has always followed the same artisanal recipe, from its beginnings to today, thus preserving an unchanging creative know-how. Every day, these delights are handmade in a dedicated workshop, where the dough is prepared with meticulous care.

The secret of the Calissons’ soft texture lies in the meticulous attention given to each step of production. Each piece is cut precisely and delicately glazed with a fine royal icing, adding the note of sweetness and shine to the calisson.

This is how we obtain our delights!

The composition of the Saint-Rémy calisson

The calisson draws its unique flavor from its carefully crafted composition. It is a blend of almond, sugar, candied fruit, and egg, each bringing its own touch!

The sugar provides its natural sweetness, the almonds offer a smooth texture and subtle taste to the whole. Meanwhile, the candied orange peel zest adds a refreshing citrus note. The sugar syrup makes the calisson soft and maintains its moisture. The eggs serve to bind the ingredients, while the wafer paper provides a light and crispy base to this delicious treat.

Together, these ingredients give the calisson its incomparable character and unforgettable flavor.

Where are our calissons made?

The Saint-Rémy calissons are made at the Biscuiterie de Provence, in a workshop dedicated to Petit Duc creations. They are then carefully hand-wrapped in this workshop.

Calissons with surprising flavors, bursting with taste

Our creations 

Several years ago, the Maison decided to reinvent the calisson. In our range of calissons, you will find:

• Our Lemon Calissons : the perfect marriage between delicious Provençal calissons and the refreshing intensity of lemon
• Our Raspberry Calissons : a flavorful creation that will delight lovers of fruity and tangy sweets
• Our Hazelnut Calissons : a creation with roasted and comforting notes
• Our Pistachio Calissons : a rich, intense taste with a slight crunch in every bite 

Our assortments

Calisson assortment bar - the fruity ones : an assortment of Saint-Rémy calissons, raspberry and lemon.

Calisson assortment bar - the indulgent ones : an assortment of Saint-Rémy calissons, hazelnut and pistachio.

The assortment - 5 recipes: Presented in a prestigious metal box, including 5 gourmet & fruity recipes: Saint-Rémy calissons, raspberry, lemon, hazelnut, and pistachio.

The assortment - 4 recipes: Inside, you will find 4 tasty variations of the Saint-Rémy calisson: lemon, raspberry, hazelnut, and pistachio.

The Checkerboard: calissons accompanied by fruit paste, presented in a very beautiful metal box. An ideal and easy-to-gift gourmet mix for a loved one.

Provençal sweets, perfect to give as a gift

These are true delights to offer! Whether our bars or our metal boxes, you will find something to please your loved ones with a gourmet, refined gift and sophisticated packaging.