Mindo Chocolate Makers Shop

Ann Arbor

Mindo Chocolate Makers Shop in Ann Arbor belongs on any best-chocolate-in-Michigan shortlist for its true bean-to-bar chocolates, craft, and ethical sourcing.

Tucked into Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown district, this cozy gourmet chocolate shop showcases chocolate made in small batches from organic Ecuadorian Nacional cacao, prized for its exceptional flavor and heritage. Mindo works directly with organic family farms in Ecuador, overseeing every step from harvesting and fermenting the beans to stone‑grinding and hand‑wrapping the finished bars in Michigan.​

Stop into the Ann Arbor storefront for a steaming cup of chocolate, a beautifully balanced dark chocolate bar, or seasonal treats that highlight Michigan flavors like cherries and blueberries. I purchased one of their chocolate bars studded with blueberries for a special treat. With its transparent sourcing, meticulous process, and richly complex chocolate, Mindo offers a tasting experience that feels both indulgent and responsible, a must-visit for serious chocolate lovers exploring Ann Arbor.

Piper’s Pro Planning: They offer a 90-minute Truffle Making Class and a Make Your Own Bon Bon Class on Saturday afternoons. Schedule your class here.

Jackson Candy & Fudge Factory

Jackson

A sweet treat from Jackson Candy & Fudge Factory is exactly what I needed to top off my lunch from one of the local Coney dog spots.

Visiting this authentic candy shop, styled after the 1890s, takes you back in time. The historic building is over 100 years old and features decorative copper ceilings, clay brick walls, wooden floors, elegant mirrors, and vintage lighting from the turn of the last century. You’ll also find old Toledo scales for weighing candy and a brass National cash register that’s still in use.

They offer more than 300 fudge recipes in rotation and usually have around 30 varieties available at any time. All their fudge is made in-house. In addition to fudge, they prepare frosted almonds and pecans, a selection of house-made chocolates, and chocolate-covered snacks like Oreos and Nutter Butters. They also produce popcorn and caramel corn.

Piper’s Pro Planning: If you need a gift basket for any occasion, save time by calling and ordering it the old-fashioned way. They’ll deliver anywhere in Jackson County and ship worldwide.

Gilbert Chocolates

Jackson

In 1893, John O. Gilbert started his confectionery factory and bakery in Findlay, Ohio. He later moved from Findlay to the larger city of Jackson, Michigan, so his business, Gilbert Chocolates, could continue to grow. Today, they operate two stores: one in downtown Jackson and another at Jackson Crossing Plaza.

They offer everything from truffles to various nuts coated in chocolate. I especially liked their chocolate-covered caramels, which have soft, non-sticky centers. They also sell a range of sugar-free chocolates for those with dietary restrictions.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Sign up for one of Gilbert Chocolates’ tours of their downtown Jackson store. They’re offered on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

Read More: 10 Unique Things to Do in Jackson, Michigan in 2026

Fabiano’s Candies

Lansing

The red-and-white striped awning beckons you in; the chocolate aroma welcomes you. Fabiano’s Candies, a family-owned business, creates each piece by hand, starting with original recipes and the finest quality ingredients, and employing the same family recipes and techniques they have used for almost 100 years.

They use domestic chocolate, making over 250 varieties of candy from 30,000 pounds of chocolate each year. The traditional favorites include toffee, turtles, caramels, and cherries. All enrobed in chocolate. And even after 95 years, they’re still coming up with new products.

Their candy-making process is labor-intensive. The chocolatiers roast premium nuts in coconut oil, then lightly salt them and form clusters. After curing, the makers blend the basecoat and hand-cover the nuts with tempered chocolate. Finally, each treat is cooled, cupped, and packaged individually.

Piper’s Pro Planning: You’ll find plenty of free parking in the lot behind the store.

Oh MI! Organics

St. Johns

Oh MI! Organics makes their hand-made dark chocolate in-house from four ingredients: fair-trade cocoa, organic coconut oil, pure Michigan maple syrup, and local raw honey. If you’re looking for a vegan option that excludes honey, place an order in advance. For those with special dietary needs, such as peanut and tree-nut allergies, gluten-free and dairy-free requirements, Oh Mi! Organics is your go-to chocolate shop. My favorite treat here is the energy balls. I have a peanut allergy, and these are made from sunflower seed butter. I didn’t realize how much I missed peanut butter until I had this delicious replacement.

For everyone else, dark chocolate is addictive. They created over 180 varieties of chocolate and typically have 50 types in their rotating selection.

They offer some vegan treats, like No-Bake Dream Bars topped with dairy-free butterscotch sauce, and brownies. Pair your selected baked goods with some of their cold-brewed coffee. With 11 flavors of vegan hummus, including chocolate and an assortment of vegan chips for dipping, you’re sure to find the perfect snack.

Village Chocolatier

East Tawas

Located in downtown East Tawas, the Village Chocolatier is a gourmet chocolate shop that makes chocolates in small batches with the finest ingredients. This heritage chocolate brand delights chocolate lovers with its homemade chocolate bars, creamy milk chocolates, and inventive combinations like peanut butter, potato chips, and chocolate-dipped fruit. Every piece of chocolate is a special treat, showcasing their dedication to delicious chocolate crafted with care and in a sustainable way. Perfect for gifting, the Village Chocolatier offers gift cards, making it easy to share Michigan’s chocolate magic with family members and friends. Whether you’re savoring these treats yourself or exploring new flavors, these gourmet chocolates earn their place on any best list of Michigan sweets.

Piper’s Pro Planning: If you’re looking for a place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Mr. Jack’ss Bar & Grill is a great place to have a summer meal on the patio.

Kilwins, a Favorite Michigan Chocolate Shop

Petoskey, Charlevoix, Bay Harbor

Kilwins, located in the charming northwest Michigan town of Petoskey, continues to make candy in the same way Don Kilwin did back in 1947. This is the original factory that makes chocolates for their other stores. Each piece is handcrafted by team members who are dedicated to quality chocolate. Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the rich aroma of chocolate turning into fudge. Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen provides a multisensory experience beyond just chocolate. The smell of fresh waffle cones led me to order ice cream cones for a delightful afternoon treat. Hearing the paddle stirring in the copper pot made us look forward to peanut brittle. I looked through the window as staff prepared the various confections. Be sure to sample some of their homemade treats.

When I checked out the Charlevoix store, the owner was mixing caramel corn on the large marble table. Again, the aromas were enticing.  I couldn’t help but buy a box of their chocolate peppermint bark and another of their sea salt caramel boxes, which features six different types of sea salt. Many of their products are made in-store, like handcrafted waffle cones, Mackinac Island Fudge, caramel apples, caramel corn, brittle, and dozens of Kilwins Heritage Chocolate-dipped treats.

Piper’s Pro Planning: The Petoskey store offers plenty of free parking in its lot. In either store, I’ve had them take one of their giant caramel apples, cut it, and wrap it, so that I have a fruit snack for the road.

Drost’s

Indian River

Our family likes to stop at Drost’s Chocolates for an ice cream treat on those Michigan hot summer nights. They feature more than two dozen ice cream flavors that you can spin into several ice cream treats.

In the chocolate category, I especially enjoy dark chocolates and treats featuring Michigan cherries. The dark chocolate cherry bark is a must-try. While my personal favorite flavor is Michigan cherries, they offer a wide variety, so you’re likely to find one that suits your taste.

They have been hand-making their chocolates and fudge for decades behind the counter on a marble slab, offering truffles, buttercreams, and bark.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Purchase some Northern Michigan specialties, like jams created from hand-picked Northern Michigan fruit or Michigan maple syrup.

Alpine Chocolat Haus

Gaylord

Alpine Chocolat Haus brings classic, small-town sweetness to several northern Michigan communities, making it a beloved stop for travelers with a sweet tooth.​

With locations in Gaylord, Boyne City, and other up‑north towns, this cheerful shop is known for its generous selection of hand-dipped chocolates, nutty clusters, and fudge that feels equal parts nostalgic and indulgent. Glass cases brim with truffles, barks, and old-fashioned candies, inviting you to choose a little bit of everything.​

Alpine Chocolat Haus is primarily known for playful specialties like chocolate-covered potato chips and caramel corn, as well as seasonal favorites that make easy, crowd-pleasing gifts. Whether you pop in after a ski day or a summer hike, it is the kind of place where grabbing “just one piece” quickly turns into a whole box to share—or not.

Doncker’s

Marquette

Located in Marquette, the largest city on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Doncker’s has been hand-making candy since 1896. This family-owned shop uses recipes passed down through generations to craft its chocolates in its own candy kitchen. They use fair-trade chocolate and caramel to create their candies. Walking into the shop, I found the charming original marble countertops, wooden floors, and cozy booths that created a warm, nostalgic feel. While they’re famous for their caramel candies, like sea salt caramels, sea salt caramel Oreos, bear paws, and turtles, they also offer a great variety of chocolates. I personally loved the bark with Michigan fruits, like the Blueberry Crunch Bark and Cran-Cherry Pecan Bark. And let’s not forget their delicious chocolate-covered Michigan cherries, one of my favorite Pure Michigan treats.

Piper’s Pro Planning: If you want to try their chocolate without traveling all the way to the Upper Peninsula, they ship their candies.

The Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate Shop

Empire

Located in Northern Michigan, the Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate is the perfect stop after a day of exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Located in Empire, it brings northern Michigan’s farm-to-table spirit into every bite, earning its place among the state’s best chocolate shops.​

Set in a cheerful green shop just off M22, this family-run chocolatier specializes in small-batch truffles, caramels, and bars that highlight local ingredients from nearby farms, orchards, and wineries.  We found flavors featuring Leelanau fruit and local honey that change with the seasons, making each visit feel fresh.​

The chocolatiers prioritize fair-trade and ethically sourced cacao, pairing it with regional flavors for treats that feel both indulgent and responsible. Visitors can pick up beautifully packaged assortments, hot chocolate, and whimsical seasonal shapes, perfect for gifting or enjoying on the beach after a day along Lake Michigan.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Stop by the shop next door for an ice cream cone.

The Sweet Shop

Cadillac

If you’re road-tripping from Empire down to Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), the Sweet Shop in Cadillac is an excellent stop for snacks. They’ve been making handmade candies for over 50 years, carefully crafting each piece. Their selection includes over 100 handmade candies in white, milk, and dark chocolate. Their signature treat is the Snow Bird, a white chocolate candy named after those who escape Cadillac in winter for warmer climates.

During summer, enjoy one of their 12 gourmet hand-scooped ice cream flavors served in house-made waffle cones.

In the fall, try one of their ten unique caramel apple varieties. These Honeycrisp apples are large enough to last for two or three days as a delightful dessert. I personally enjoyed the Death by Chocolate caramel apple, featuring milk, dark, and white chocolates.

With over 15 seasonal fudge flavors, choosing what to try can be the hardest part. They also sell wrapped candies reminiscent of old-fashioned stores and offer a variety of gourmet popcorn options.

Piper’s Pro Planning: Once you’ve visited Cadillac and fallen in love with their sweets, don’t worry—you can order online and have them shipped worldwide.

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