Next time you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, there’s no need to settle for the grocery store. Minnesota has plenty of unique candy shops to fulfill every craving! What more could you expect from the home state of Pearson’s Candy who made such delectable treats as the Nut Goodie, Bit-O-Honey, and Salted Nut Roll? From Owatonna to Virginia, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest candy confectioners and chocolate shops in Minnesota that are sure you satisfy your sweet tooth.
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1. Canelake’s Candies – Virginia
Another iconic Minnesota candy maker, Canelake’s is a century-old fixture in Virginia (it was founded in 1905). In fact, some of the best chocolate in Minnesota can be found here! Original owner, Gust, taught his sons to make candy only using the finest chocolate, cream, and butter. His same recipes are still used today, and the candy is still made the old-fashioned way: in small batches cooked in copper kettles. Fudges, brittles, “hot air” chocolates, barks, and so much more will delight visitors of all ages! I think the retro diner/soda fountain décor is an addd bonus.
2. Abdallah Candies – Apple Valley
Family owned for five generations, Abdallah’s has been THE Minnesota candy maker since 1909. Gourmet chocolates are still handmade, often using the same copper kettles from a century ago! Every flavor is exquisite and timeless, from cinnamon churro toffees to butter almond to fresh peppermint patties.
3. Gunflint Mercantile – Grand Marais
Is there anything better than ultra-creamy, handmade, stirred-by-hand fudge from an old-school general store? Gunflint Mercantile knows fudge (and all things sweet!), and makes every batch using real ingredients and a whole lot of love. You’ll also find turtles, tasty Minnesota truffles, bonbons, peanut butter cups, and more! Unique flavors like s’more and cookies and cream will get your heart aflutter, that’s for sure. Bonus: if you’re craving some savory with your sweet, the mercantile is packed with homemade soup mixes, preserves, gifts, and more.
4. Red Wing Confectionery – Red Wing
The kids will love watching Red Wing Confectionery make chocolates in the back, and they have amazingly rich ice cream, too!
5. Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen – Knife River
Three generations of old-fashioned Minnesota chocolate and candy-making means this small-town haven really knows its stuff! Each batch is stirred, poured, and formed by hand, just the way grandma made it – and you can definitely taste the quality. From turtles and chocolate bars to brittles, barks, licorices, and gummies, Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen is an incredibly decadent treat in Minnesota. You’ll find a visit to their shop to be a historic day trip of its own, too!
6. Aunt Belle’s Confectionery – Park Rapids
Aunt Belle’s is as much of a family activity as it is a purveyor of tasty made-from-scratch turtles, caramels, chocolates, and fudge. Inside you’ll find a quaint gift shop (Grandpa’s Cabin), coffees, taffy, jams, jellies, and more. Local favorites include hand-dipped malt balls, s’more chocolates, and epic turtle fudge. Yum!
7. Truffle Hill Chocolates – Excelsior
This specialty chocolate shop crafts every delicious candy the way they should be: by hand and in small batches with fresh ingredients! Truffle Hill’s fresh ingredients and careful precision make for some of the best chocolates in Minnesota, including tasty barks, turtles, and chocolate-covered popcorn as well. This specialty chocolate shop crafts every delicious candy the way they should be: by hand and in small batches with fresh ingredients! Truffle Hill’s fresh ingredients and careful precision make for some of the best chocolates in Minnesota, including tasty barks, turtles, and chocolate-covered popcorn as well.
8. Hepzibah’s Sweet Shoppe – Duluth
At the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace in Duluth’s Canal Park, you can find a huge candy selection, the cutest canal-inspired chocolate ore boats, and award-winning European truffles, ranging from English toffee, raspberry, and Pepperitas to White Russian, Crème de Menthe, and Kahlua. In fact, these treats are so delicious they even made it into Grammy celebrity gift bags! Hepzibah’s Sweet Shoppe has been family-owned since 1987, and they’ve been a Duluth staple for good reason.
9. Fancy Pants Chocolates – Brainerd
The phenomenal chocolates at Fancy Pants are all made by hand daily using exquisite Colombian and Belgian chocolate. No shortcuts here.
10. St. Croix Chocolate Co. – Marine on St. Croix
This incredible chocolate shop in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, turns out the most delectable and visually stunning artisan chocolates we’ve ever seen, crafted at the hands of a dynamic duo that combines the science of chocolate with dreamy, out-of-this-world flavors that tantalize every sense. Translation: They’re artistically gorgeous and delicious!
11. Chocolat Celeste – St. Paul
St. Paul’s favorite Zagat-rated chocolatier! You can’t help but fall in love with Chocolat Celeste and their luscious, artisan chocolates that are uniquely hand-decorated and crafted “from bean to bonbon.” Custom art orders are available!
12. Candyland – Stillwater
Candyland has been a Main Street staple for sweet treats for decades in historic downtown Stillwater. Famous for its popcorn, it’s truly a cornucopia of candy with just about anything your sweet tooth might be craving, from gourmet chocolate to fudge and chocolate-covered goodies. The shop also offers holiday-specific specials.
From nationally recognized makers to local icons, these phenomenal chocolate shops in Minnesota just prove that there’s no shortage of delectable goodies to discover in the Land of 10,000 Lakes! We also know there are so many more shops to add to this list. So tell us: Where’s your favorite place to grab a sweet treat?
Please note that many of these tasty chocolate and truffle confectioners close for the winter and do not ship treats during summer. Double-check all hours and seasonal closures before making any special trips. In the meantime, you can always get your chocolate fix delivered straight to your door from one of the many wonderful chocolatiers on Etsy.
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Written by Jo Magliocco
