A trip to Washington State opens the doors to gourmet chocolate goodness — and you don’t need to find a golden ticket for admission. Talented chocolatiers can be found from Seattle to Spokane, with some shops offering factory tours to see the magic happen before your eyes. Here are some spots to enjoy locally made chocolate in Washington.
Explore Washington Chocolate Shops
Indi Chocolate
If you’re near Seattle’s Pike Place Market, make the short walk over to indi chocolate. A true bean-to-bar shop, indi focuses on creating single-origin dark chocolate in small batches. Their top creations include chocolate bars, cacao nibs, and truffles. They also expertly whip up bold cacao-infused coffee drinks upon request, like their mole caramel latte.
Want to learn how it’s all done? Watch the talented chocolatiers move through each step while chilling in the café. Or, get hands-on with a chocolate-making class with the experts themselves.
Chukar Cherries
Chukar Cherries, headquartered in Prosser in Wine Country, beautifully pairs bright cherry and chocolate flavors. Established in 1988, family owned Chukar’s uses local and regional fruit and chocolate crafted with minimal or no added sugar.
To create their signature chocolate cherries, they start by dehydrating only the finest cherries grown in the Pacific Northwest, including a local gem: Rainier cherries. Then, they enrobe the cherries in a thick layer of stunningly rich milk and dark chocolate.
Although their chocolates are the star of the show, for sure, their plain dried fruit makes for the perfect on-the-go snack. You can also find a store in Pike Place Market in Seattle.
Fran’s Chocolates
For over 40 years, Fran’s Chocolates has proudly made gift-giving easy with their Gold Bars, chocolate truffles, and chocolate-covered salted caramels. Inspired by the decadence of French chocolate, Fran Bigelow opened a small truffle shop in the Madison Park neighborhood. Soon after that, her signature Gold Bars were born, followed by imaginative caramels.
To see all the creations made in-house each day, just visit the flagship store in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. Set in the brick Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. building, this Washington chocolate shop lets you peer through the glass at all their handmade confections and build your own assortments.
Seattle Chocolate
Formerly Seattle Chocolate, Maeve Chocolate goes all out in creating Washington chocolate you can feel good about enjoying. Since 1991, they’ve created meltaway truffle bars and truffles using only ethically sourced ingredients and a sustainable approach. From the chocolate-making process to packaging, the operation stays 100% carbon neutral.
Join a factory tour at the flagship store in Tukwila to see their process in action and learn about how they invent new flavors before trying them for yourself.
Also See: Where to Sip Local Cider in Washington
Boehm’s Candies & Chocolates
Boehm’s Candies & Chocolates has served as the go-to place for handcrafted European-style chocolate truffles for decades. Founder Julius Boehm began his journey as a chocolatier in 1942 by opening his first candy shop in Seattle. Nearly 15 years later, he moved the shop to their Edelweiss chalet factory in Issaquah, eventually passing it on to his protégé, Bernard Garbusjuk.
Today, the shop still uses all the original recipes and a time-honored approach to handcrafting sweet treats. Nut clusters, caramels, and other confections continue to come off the line daily. See it for yourself at the self-guided tour window or sign up for a guided tour (typically offered during the summer).
Theo Chocolate
Theo Chocolate joined Seattle’s funky Fremont neighborhood in 2005 and has been delighting visitors with scratch-made chocolate ever since. As the first chocolate shop in North America to get organic and fair trade certified, they’re true innovators. Don’t miss their Caramel Pecan Turtle, Lunar Pie, and Peanut Butter Buddy Bar. You’ll find their factory next to the Fremont Sunday Market, making it easy to experience the full local flavor in just one trip.
Spokandy
If you’re going to downtown Spokane, take your trip to the next level with a visit to Spokandy. At over 100 years old, this candy shop has kept generation after generation enjoying handcrafted Washington chocolate and other tasty confections.
Terrence J. Riley originally opened the shop in 1913, and they still make their candies by hand using candy-making practices established centuries ago. Visit their shop on West Third Avenue to explore their chocolate assortments plus pecan caramel patties, peanut clusters, and so much more.
Brown & Haley
Brown & Haley has been serving up iconic chocolate delights since 1912. It started with their peanut butter, cherry, or vanilla-filled Mount Tacoma Bar (now the Mountain Bar). Almond ROCA followed in 1923 and quickly became a fan favorite worldwide. Take a step into the past by visiting their Almond ROCA factory store on 26th Street in Tacoma.
Halletts Chocolates
Over 40 years ago, Halletts Chocolates began as a way to fill the gap between Otis Orchard’s strawberry and raspberry season. Their peanut brittle, Peanut Butter Crunch, started it all, firmly cementing them as a must-try candy shop in Spokane. Over the years, they’ve added 120 candies to the lineup, including fudge, almond toffee, and assorted chocolates.
The Kane Family took over the company in 2004. Don’t miss the caramels infused with grey sea salt, habanero, and other innovative flavors. To get a taste, visit their factory store and coffee shop on Spokane’s Holyoke Avenue.
NW Fudge and Confections
At NW Fudge and Confections, enjoy an old-fashioned candy store experience in Port Angeles. Owners Bob and Lindi Lumens started their shop as a small fudge and candy kiosk in Bellevue. As their company grew, they set their sights on opening up a shop in the Olympic Peninsula and expanded their offerings to over 700 candies. Fudge remains their trademark product, and they go big on its creation. Over 75 pounds is produced every week. You’ll also find chocolates, truffles, and saltwater taffy.
Schocolat
Located in the charming Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth, Schocolat specializes in Belgian-style chocolates. The pure artistry on display is a true delight, as are their delicious flavors, like Rum Raisin, Amaretto, and Pecan Pie Crunch.
About the Author
Marie Abendroth is a freelance writer and content strategist from Seattle. She enjoys helping brands boost their digital marketing success with informative and engaging content. In between her projects, she’s out exploring the beautiful PNW with her family and three dogs: Ruby, Bandit, and Nyxie.