Looking for a reason to get out of the house? Why not treat yourself to an indulgent road trip for some Iowa chocolate, where you’ll get to taste the sweetest treats in the whole state? Head across the middle of the Hawkeye State to track down the best chocolate shops in Iowa!

Follow our interactive map for the trip of a lifetime.

Google Maps Here’s the interactive map!

  1. Your first stop is Drew’s Quality Chocolates!

Google Local / Nancy VanBell

Facebook / Drew’s Chocolates This family owned chocolate shop is known for their Drew Drops - famous sea salt caramels they make by hand. 426 State St, Dexter, IA 50070, USA

  1. Next, head on down to Chocolate Storybook, the first of three stops in the capital region.

American Marketing & Publishing/Google

Google / Chocolate Storybook Chocolate Storybook is a wonderland for anyone with a sweet tooth! Stop in to try the chocolate berries or truffles and you’ll fall in love at first bite.No wonder it’s on our list of the best candy shops in Iowa! Watch as Chocolate Storybook makes scrumptious chocolate caramel toffee apples: 1000 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA

  1. Try out Beaverdale Confections, just across town, as your second stop in the city.

Google / M Wolfe

Facebook / Beaverdale Confections Des Moines is full of chocolate shops, but be sure you don’t skip over Beaverdale Confections In addition to hand-made bonbons, you’ll find all sorts of sweet goodies here. Many are one of a kind, and hard to find elsewhere. 2641 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA

  1. Your final stop in Des Moines is Chocolaterie Stam

Marcellus Amatangelo/Google

Google / Danny Cook This historic chocolate shop is certainly worth a visit. Their hot cocoa bar is the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold day. After walking through their offerings, you’ll wonder if Willy Wonka was real after all. 2814 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA

  1. The Chocolate Haus, in Amana, is next!

Tripadvisor / Janet S.

Google / The Chocolate Haus - Amana The Chocolate Haus in Amana is a must-stop on any road trip to find the best sweets in the Hawkeye State. Truly, you could spend a whole day exploring the town and trying different delicious foods. 4521 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA

  1. It’s a bit of a drive to your next stop, Dutchman’s Store, but it’s so worth it.

Tripadvisor / management

David Cline/Google You’ll find handmade candies and chocolates at Dutchman’s Store, along with a ton of other goodies! 103 Division St, Cantril, IA 52542, USA

  1. Finally, wrap up your sweet trip at one of Iowa’s most famous candy shops, Piper’s Grocery.

Facebook / Piper’s Grocery and Homemade Candies

Facebook / Piper’s Grocery and Homemade Candies Piper’s Grocery started off as a chocolate shop in 1947. 901 Braden Ave, Chariton, IA 50049, USA

What’s your favorite of these chocolate shops in Iowa? Let us know in the comments! Check out this chocolate museum if you want to learn all about Iowa chocolate.

Google Maps

Here’s the interactive map!

Google Local / Nancy VanBell

Facebook / Drew’s Chocolates

This family owned chocolate shop is known for their Drew Drops - famous sea salt caramels they make by hand.

426 State St, Dexter, IA 50070, USA

American Marketing & Publishing/Google

Google / Chocolate Storybook

Chocolate Storybook is a wonderland for anyone with a sweet tooth! Stop in to try the chocolate berries or truffles and you’ll fall in love at first bite.No wonder it’s on our list of the best candy shops in Iowa! Watch as Chocolate Storybook makes scrumptious chocolate caramel toffee apples:

1000 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA

Google / M Wolfe

Facebook / Beaverdale Confections

Des Moines is full of chocolate shops, but be sure you don’t skip over Beaverdale Confections In addition to hand-made bonbons, you’ll find all sorts of sweet goodies here. Many are one of a kind, and hard to find elsewhere.

2641 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA

Marcellus Amatangelo/Google

Google / Danny Cook

This historic chocolate shop is certainly worth a visit. Their hot cocoa bar is the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold day. After walking through their offerings, you’ll wonder if Willy Wonka was real after all.

2814 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA

Tripadvisor / Janet S.

Google / The Chocolate Haus - Amana

The Chocolate Haus in Amana is a must-stop on any road trip to find the best sweets in the Hawkeye State. Truly, you could spend a whole day exploring the town and trying different delicious foods.

4521 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA

Tripadvisor / management

David Cline/Google

You’ll find handmade candies and chocolates at Dutchman’s Store, along with a ton of other goodies!

103 Division St, Cantril, IA 52542, USA

Facebook / Piper’s Grocery and Homemade Candies

Piper’s Grocery started off as a chocolate shop in 1947.

901 Braden Ave, Chariton, IA 50049, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The Best Treats In Iowa January 27, 2023 William Suphan What are the best candy shops in Iowa? The best candy shops in Iowa include:

Goodies Handmade Candies. This family-run candy shop in Spirit Lake uses only fresh ingredients with no preservatives. Chocolate Storybook. Located in West Des Moines, this shop uses no additives and only uses fresh cream and butter, real chocolate, and fresh fruits. The Chocolate Haus. This is the place for German chocolate that’s made with a 100-year-old recipe. Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. Palmer’s makes old-fashioned candies using traditional methods.

Find out more about the best candy shops in Iowa.  What are the most iconic foods in Iowa? The most iconic foods in Iowa include:

Maid Rite. This is a loose-meat sandwich that originated in Iowa and is beloved by people all over the state. Taco Pizza. Iowans top a pizza crust with taco sauce, lettuce, tomato, and tortilla chips to make taco pizzas. Puppy Chow. Known in many places as Muddy Buddies, this is a confection of Chex cereal, chocolate, and powdered sugar. Morel Mushroom. Locals love to make breaded, deep-fried morel mushrooms and you can even find them in restaurants.

Learn more about the most iconic foods in Iowa.  What are the best bucket list foods in Iowa? The best bucket list foods in Iowa include:

Ham Balls. Ham and ground beef are mixed in with graham crackers and smothered in a tomato and brown sugar sauce. Dutch Letters. These are thick pasties usually in the shape of the letter “S” for “Sinterklaas” as a holiday treat. Scotcharoos. This sweet treat is made of rice or corn cereal mixed with butterscotch and topped with chocolate. Breakfast Pizza. This is pizza with eggs, sausage, and bell peppers and is a popular dish at Casey’s.

Discover more about the best bucket list foods in Iowa. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The Best Treats In Iowa

January 27, 2023

William Suphan

What are the best candy shops in Iowa? The best candy shops in Iowa include:

Goodies Handmade Candies. This family-run candy shop in Spirit Lake uses only fresh ingredients with no preservatives. Chocolate Storybook. Located in West Des Moines, this shop uses no additives and only uses fresh cream and butter, real chocolate, and fresh fruits. The Chocolate Haus. This is the place for German chocolate that’s made with a 100-year-old recipe. Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. Palmer’s makes old-fashioned candies using traditional methods.

Find out more about the best candy shops in Iowa.  What are the most iconic foods in Iowa? The most iconic foods in Iowa include:

Maid Rite. This is a loose-meat sandwich that originated in Iowa and is beloved by people all over the state. Taco Pizza. Iowans top a pizza crust with taco sauce, lettuce, tomato, and tortilla chips to make taco pizzas. Puppy Chow. Known in many places as Muddy Buddies, this is a confection of Chex cereal, chocolate, and powdered sugar. Morel Mushroom. Locals love to make breaded, deep-fried morel mushrooms and you can even find them in restaurants.

Learn more about the most iconic foods in Iowa.  What are the best bucket list foods in Iowa? The best bucket list foods in Iowa include:

Ham Balls. Ham and ground beef are mixed in with graham crackers and smothered in a tomato and brown sugar sauce. Dutch Letters. These are thick pasties usually in the shape of the letter “S” for “Sinterklaas” as a holiday treat. Scotcharoos. This sweet treat is made of rice or corn cereal mixed with butterscotch and topped with chocolate. Breakfast Pizza. This is pizza with eggs, sausage, and bell peppers and is a popular dish at Casey’s.

Discover more about the best bucket list foods in Iowa. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

The best candy shops in Iowa include:

  • Goodies Handmade Candies. This family-run candy shop in Spirit Lake uses only fresh ingredients with no preservatives.
  • Chocolate Storybook. Located in West Des Moines, this shop uses no additives and only uses fresh cream and butter, real chocolate, and fresh fruits.
  • The Chocolate Haus. This is the place for German chocolate that’s made with a 100-year-old recipe.
  • Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe. Palmer’s makes old-fashioned candies using traditional methods.

Find out more about the best candy shops in Iowa. 

What are the most iconic foods in Iowa?

The most iconic foods in Iowa include:

  • Maid Rite. This is a loose-meat sandwich that originated in Iowa and is beloved by people all over the state.
  • Taco Pizza. Iowans top a pizza crust with taco sauce, lettuce, tomato, and tortilla chips to make taco pizzas.
  • Puppy Chow. Known in many places as Muddy Buddies, this is a confection of Chex cereal, chocolate, and powdered sugar.
  • Morel Mushroom. Locals love to make breaded, deep-fried morel mushrooms and you can even find them in restaurants.

Learn more about the most iconic foods in Iowa. 

What are the best bucket list foods in Iowa?

The best bucket list foods in Iowa include:

  • Ham Balls. Ham and ground beef are mixed in with graham crackers and smothered in a tomato and brown sugar sauce.
  • Dutch Letters. These are thick pasties usually in the shape of the letter “S” for “Sinterklaas” as a holiday treat.
  • Scotcharoos. This sweet treat is made of rice or corn cereal mixed with butterscotch and topped with chocolate.
  • Breakfast Pizza. This is pizza with eggs, sausage, and bell peppers and is a popular dish at Casey’s.

Discover more about the best bucket list foods in Iowa.