Milwaukee area's sweetest candy shops: Your ultimate guide

The greater Milwaukee area is home to distinctive candy shops ranging from century-old family chocolatiers to quirky nostalgic penny candy stores—many using original recipes dating back to the 1920s. Whether you're hunting for award-winning caramel apples in Cedarburg, hand-dipped fairy food in West Allis, or watching fudge being made on a marble slab at Bayshore, this region offers an exceptional candy shop experience for families. The concentration of fourth-generation candy makers and artisan chocolatiers rivals any Midwest city, with several shops earning national recognition from the Wall Street Journal, Food Network, and international chocolate competitions.

Milwaukee's neighborhood gems

Freese's Candy Shoppe (Milwaukee Public Market)

400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (inside Milwaukee Public Market, Third Ward)
Phone: (414) 336-1111
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

A Milwaukee institution since 1928, Freese's has been perfecting their hand-dipped chocolates for nearly a century using recipes passed down through three generations. Their famous Fairy Food—chocolate-covered honeycomb toffee—remains the signature item, alongside heavenly roasted nuts dusted with cinnamon-sugar and handmade turtles. The shop also serves Wisconsin-made Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream and Sprecher root beer on tap, making it perfect for families exploring the Public Market. Watch for seasonal chocolate bunnies and whipped eggs at Easter. Their products are so beloved they're sold at AmFam Field and Lambeau Field.

Burke Candy & Ingredients (Riverwest)

3840 N. Fratney Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 964-7327
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm

Established in 1929, Burke Candy operates from a 12,000-square-foot facility where families can watch candy being made through viewing windows into the factory floor. Their legendary sea salt caramels consistently earn reviews calling them "beyond this world" and "the best in the state, if not the country." The English toffee, Flying T's (chocolate turtles with pecans), and mint meltaways follow recipes perfected over four generations. Dark or milk chocolate caramels run $14.00 per package. Kosher certified and available for corporate gifting.

Melt Chocolates (Bay View/Harbor District)

2018 S. 1st Street, Suite 120 (Lincoln Warehouse), Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone: (414) 939-6358
Hours: Fri 5pm-8pm, Sat 12pm-7pm (limited hours)

Milwaukee's only internationally recognized award-winning chocolate shop operates from the trendy Lincoln Warehouse district. Chocolatier Bjorn Rogness—a biomedical engineer turned artisan—crafts small-batch truffles, bonbons, single-origin bars, and dragées (chocolate-covered blueberries and hazelnuts). An 8x4-foot viewing window lets visitors watch production. The shop maintains a sustainability mission, planting a tree in the rainforest for every sale. Customer reviews describe the experience as "life-changing good chocolate." Note the limited weekend-only hours.

Indulgence Chocolatiers (Walker's Point)

211 S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Phone: (414) 223-0123
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm, Closed Sun

Founded in 2007 by chocolatier Julie Waterman, Indulgence distinguishes itself with chocolate pairing experiences—classes combining their handcrafted truffles with wines, craft beers, cheeses, and cocktails. The open kitchen lets visitors watch chocolatiers at work. Signature truffles include balsamic fig, coconut habanero, blackberry espresso, and cabernet. Their Milwaukee Chocolate Bar features the city skyline on dark chocolate with sea salt. Sign up for 15% off your first online order.

The hidden treasures worth discovering

Haymarket Candy Store inside the Milwaukee Public Museum (800 W. Wells Street) offers a uniquely nostalgic experience within the beloved "Streets of Old Milwaukee" exhibit. Open weekends 10am-4:30pm, this 17x9-foot candy shop has operated since at least 1976, selling classic candy sticks, rock candy, flying saucer wafers, and candy buttons on paper strips. Requires museum admission but provides a genuinely old-fashioned experience.

Can-D Shop at 3rd St. Market Hall (275 W. Wisconsin Avenue) specializes in Wisconsin-sourced chocolates exclusively, featuring products from Buddy Squirrel, Kohler Chocolates, Gail Ambrosius, and other state chocolatiers. Bulk candy runs $10 per half-pound; individual chocolates $2.50-$4.00.

Rosemary's Candy Store Classics in Bay View (2655 Kinnickinnic Avenue) combines penny candy with pinball machines and DVDs in a quirky shop that reviewers describe as "sorcery" and "stepping back in time."

Chocolate Sommelier on Brady Street (829 E. Brady Street) curates fine chocolates from artisan makers worldwide, though visitors should call ahead as hours can be limited.

North Shore upscale confections

Burke Candy (Whitefish Bay)

Burke Candy & Ingredients has been making candy in Wisconsin since 1929

513 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217 (across from Sendik's)
Phone: (414) 312-8718
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm

Burke's first dedicated retail storefront, opened March 2023, brings their legendary caramels and toffees to the North Shore. This location offers the full Burke experience—sea salt caramels, English toffee, peanut butter crunch bombs, and Flying T's—in a bright retail setting with event space for classes and candy-making experiences. All candy made in small batches using Wisconsin AA-grade butter, natural cane sugar, and freshly roasted nuts. Popular for wedding favors and corporate gifts.

Indulgence Chocolatiers (Shorewood)

4525 N. Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211
Phone: (414) 332-2749
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm (fall/winter)

The Shorewood location combines artisan chocolates with a full scoop ice cream shop featuring Purple Door ice cream with house-made signature toppings. The modern chocolate boutique showcases Indulgence's artistic truffles—the Milwaukee Chocolate bar makes an excellent gift. Families appreciate the ice cream/chocolate combination, and curbside pickup is available. Premium pricing with individual truffles and bars running $5-15.

Kilwins Milwaukee-Bayshore (Glendale)

5756 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale, WI 53217 (Bayshore Town Center)
Phone: (414) 967-4803
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-6pm

This locally-owned franchise delivers the classic Kilwins experience: Mackinac Island fudge made fresh on a marble slab while you watch, hand-crafted truffles, caramel apples, and 24 flavors of Original Recipe ice cream. Chocolate-dipped strawberries available every weekend. Winter brings hot chocolate made with shaved chocolate and trendy "Choc-cuterie" hot chocolate boards. Owners BJ and Rick earn praise for exceptional guidance in selecting treats. Family-friendly with easy parking at Bayshore Town Center.

Cocoa Tree Confectionery (Mequon)

1330 W. Mequon Road, Mequon, WI 53092
Phone: (262) 643-4692
Hours: Tue-Sun (typically 10am-7pm), Closed Mon

Mequon's only artisan confectionery and gelateria opened in March 2020, featuring hand-poured, hand-painted, hand-finished bonbons alongside fresh-made gelato and sorbet. Owner Kishoreee Boegel sources single-origin chocolate and ingredients from local Wisconsin vendors. Bonbon 4-pack costs $12.00, 9-pack $27.00; chocolate bars run $4.50-$5.00. The shop offers traveling gelato carts for events and $1 off gelato for kids in team uniforms—a thoughtful family touch. Rated 5 stars on Yelp.

Note: Fox Point and Bayside do not have dedicated standalone candy shops; residents typically visit Burke Candy in Whitefish Bay or Kilwins at Bayshore.

Cedarburg's historic Washington Avenue

A 25-minute drive north rewards families with two excellent candy destinations in one charming downtown.

Amy's Candy Kitchen

W62N579 Washington Avenue, Cedarburg, WI 53012
Phone: (262) 376-0884 or (800) 513-8889
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm

The Wall Street Journal named Amy's caramel apples "Best Overall" in a national competition, and Food Network has featured this destination shop multiple times. The 19th-century open-concept kitchen lets visitors watch chocolatiers working with old-world copper kettles and marble tables. Fresh caramel made daily contains no hydrogenated oils or preservatives. Beyond the famous apples (typically $10-12 each), expect Belgian couverture chocolates, handmade fudge, and truffles. Blue Ribbon "Seal of Excellence" from Wisconsin State Fair. Plan visits around Cedarburg's Strawberry Fest (June), Harvest Fest (September), and Winter Fest (December). Rated 4.6/5 with nearly 300 Tripadvisor reviews.

Ashley's Confectionery

W63N650 Washington Avenue, Cedarburg, WI 53012
Phone: (262) 375-8665
Hours: Sun-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm

Just steps from Amy's, Ashley's offers a complementary old-fashioned candy experience with nostalgic favorites, handmade chocolates, giant chocolate-covered strawberries (weekends), and Cedar Crest ice cream—Wisconsin-made in Cedarburg. The shop stocks complete Jelly Belly lines, M&Ms by color, and penny candy by the pound. Excellent for wedding and party favors with special orders accommodated.

Wauwatosa and West Allis preserve Milwaukee's candy-making heritage

Niemann's Candies & Ice Cream (Wauwatosa)

7475 Harwood Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Phone: (414) 774-4940
Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-5:30pm, Closed Sun-Mon

Operating continuously since 1919, Niemann's represents over a century of candy-making using the same original recipes. Their legendary Almond Butter Toffee follows the unchanged 1919 formula. The Fairy Food, hand-dipped chocolates, cremes, caramels, and homemade ice cream draw loyal customers to charming Tosa Village. Fair warning: items sell out during holidays—pre-order for Christmas. Health department score: 97/100. Ships nationwide.

Freese's Candy Shoppe (West Allis - Flagship)

7312 W. Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 453-5353
Hours: (Call for current hours)

The original Freese's location, operating since 1928, offers their complete lineup including the famous hand-dipped chocolates, pecan turtles rated "beyond compare," Fairy Food, and Heavenly Roasted Nuts. Pricing: Fairy Food, Pecan Turtles, and English Butter Toffee run $14.50 each; Assorted Deluxe Box $16.00; Hot Chocolate Bombs $9.95. Corporate gifting and nationwide shipping available.

Half Nuts (West Allis)

9617 W. Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 476-6887
Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Closed Sun-Mon

For nostalgic candy hunters, Half Nuts is essential. Since 1990, this family shop has assembled the Milwaukee area's largest selection of retro candy—candy cigarettes, Necco wafers, wax lips, Chuckles, BB Bats, and treasures from the 50s through 80s. The shop revived the historic Ziegler Giant Bar, an iconic Milwaukee chocolate bar, through the owners' fifth-generation chocolatier heritage. They stock 50+ Jelly Belly flavors, 21 individual M&M colors, and specialize in candy-by-color for wedding buffets. Mackinac Island fudge and sugar-free options available. Reviewers call it "like being a kid in a candy store" with prices "lower than anywhere else."

Suburban destinations worth the drive

Chocolate Falls (Menomonee Falls)

N88W16733 Appleton Avenue, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Phone: (262) 415-5808
Hours: Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-7pm, Closed Thu & Sun

Owner Dawn handcrafts every truffle, fairy food piece, and almond bark personally in this charming pink-and-brown shop overlooking the mill pond and roaring falls. Signature items include salt and caramel truffles, hot cocoa bombs, chocolate-covered strawberries, and Wisconsin-shaped chocolate bars. Ranked #1 Shopping in Menomonee Falls on Tripadvisor with a 98/100 health score.

Allô! Chocolat (Waukesha)

234 W. Main Street, Suite 1, Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: (262) 544-8030
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Closed Sun

Located along Waukesha's beautiful Riverwalk, Allô! Chocolat features artistic handmade truffles shaped like honey bees and Aztec temples. The shop combines artisan chocolates with a nostalgic candy wall and Chocolate Shoppe ice cream. Chocolate classes for adults and children, plus wedding services and corporate gifts. Friday night ice cream runs have become a summer family tradition.

Sweettrio (Grafton)

1225 Washington Street, Grafton, WI 53024
Phone: (262) 375-8746
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-3pm

This open-kitchen concept shop—watch candy being made—specializes in hand-dipped European chocolates, gourmet caramel apples ($5-$8), and artisan gelato. The signature "Grafton Gravel" snack mix and large cashew/pecan turtles ($1.25 each) draw locals and corporate clients alike, including Rockwell Automation and GE Healthcare. BBB A+ rated.

Indulgence Chocolatiers (Brookfield)

320 High Street, Brookfield, WI 53045 (The Corners of Brookfield)
Phone: (262) 202-8731
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm

The newest Indulgence location offers the full chocolate pairing bar experience with classes, wine/beer/cheese pairings, and the complete truffle lineup in an upscale shopping center setting.

Nostalgic Candy (Oak Creek)

210 E. Oak Street, Oak Creek, WI 53154
Phone: (414) 304-5760
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-5pm, Sat 9:30am-1pm, Sun 11am-2pm

One of the first online old-fashioned candy stores (since 2000), now with a retail location offering candy from the 50s-80s, decade-themed gift boxes, and classic convertible car boxes. Corporate clients include Sprint, Mattel, and Wells Fargo.

Planning your family candy shop adventure

Best for watching candy being made: Amy's Candy Kitchen (copper kettles and marble tables), Burke Candy Riverwest (factory window), Kilwins Bayshore (marble slab fudge), Melt Chocolates (production viewing window)

Best for nostalgic/retro candy: Half Nuts (largest selection), Haymarket Candy Store (museum experience), Rosemary's Candy Store Classics (quirky Bay View vibe), Nostalgic Candy Oak Creek

Best ice cream + candy combo: Indulgence Shorewood (Purple Door ice cream), Kilwins Bayshore (24 flavors), Freese's Milwaukee Public Market (Chocolate Shoppe ice cream), Cocoa Tree Mequon (house-made gelato)

Best for special gifts and corporate orders: Burke Candy (wedding favors, kosher certified), Freese's (ships nationwide), Sweettrio (corporate specialists), Indulgence (elegant gift sets)

Best day trip combinations:

• Cedarburg: Amy's Candy Kitchen + Ashley's Confectionery + historic downtown shops

• Third Ward: Freese's at Milwaukee Public Market + stroll to Indulgence in Walker's Point

• Waukesha: Allô! Chocolat + Riverwalk exploration

• North Shore: Burke Candy Whitefish Bay + Kilwins at Bayshore + Cocoa Tree Mequon

Holiday planning tip: Pre-order from Niemann's, Amy's, and Burke Candy for Christmas—popular items sell out. Freese's chocolate bunnies and whipped eggs are Easter traditions worth reserving early.

Conclusion

Milwaukee's candy shop scene thrives because family operations have refused to compromise on tradition—some using identical recipes for over a century. The convergence of German, Polish, and Scandinavian confectionery traditions created a regional candy culture where fairy food, sea salt caramels, and hand-dipped turtles remain artisan products rather than mass-produced imitations. For families, the educational value compounds the sweetness: watching caramel made in copper kettles at Amy's or chocolate poured through factory windows at Burke creates lasting memories beyond the sugar rush. The shops span every neighborhood and price point, but the through-line is personal craftsmanship you simply cannot find at chain stores. Plan your visits around the seasonal specialties and local festivals, and these candy shops become destinations rather than mere shopping stops.