Who needs a golden ticket when you’ve got Wisconsin?
This Badger State candy crawl is sweeter than Willy Wonka’s wildest dreams and twice as delicious.
Prepare for a sugar-coated adventure that’ll make your dentist weep and your taste buds sing!
1. Oaks Candy Corner (Oshkosh)
Nestled in a charming Tudor-style building, Oaks Candy Corner is like stepping into a fairy tale – if fairy tales were made of chocolate and caramel.
This Oshkosh gem has been satisfying sweet tooths since 1890, proving that good things do indeed come in small packages.
The storefront’s quaint appearance belies the treasure trove of treats within.
It’s like Mary Poppins’ bag, but instead of lamps and coat racks, it’s filled with toffees and truffles.
Just try not to press your nose against the window like a kid on Christmas morning – or do, we won’t judge.
2. Hughes’ Home Maid Chocolates (Oshkosh)
If Hughes’ Home Maid Chocolates were a person, it’d be that warm, welcoming grandma who always has a cookie jar full and a hug at the ready.
This unassuming white house in Oshkosh might look like any other on the block, but inside, it’s a wonderland of cocoa-based delights.
The “Home Maid” in their name isn’t just cute wordplay – it’s a promise of quality that’s been kept since 1942.
Walking up to this chocolate haven feels like you’re about to knock on a neighbor’s door, except instead of borrowing a cup of sugar, you’re there to indulge in the finished product.
3. Seroogy’s Chocolates (De Pere)
Seroogy’s Chocolates in De Pere is the Midwest’s answer to Willy Wonka, minus the potentially traumatizing boat rides.
This family-owned business has been crafting confectionery magic since 1899, proving that chocolate-making is indeed an art form that can be perfected over generations.
The storefront, with its bold signage and tempting window displays, is like a beacon of sweetness in the heart of Wisconsin.
It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder if they have a secret underground chocolate river – and if they do, where can you sign up for a swim?
4. Wilmar Chocolates (Appleton)
Wilmar Chocolates in Appleton is like that overachieving friend who’s good at everything – except instead of making you feel inadequate, they just make you feel delighted.
This green-shingled shop, with its charming striped awning, looks like it was plucked straight out of a storybook.
Founded in 1956, Wilmar has been proving for decades that good things come in small packages – especially when those packages are filled with handcrafted chocolates.
It’s the kind of place that makes you seriously consider changing your name to Charlie and hoping for the best.
5. Confections for Any Occasion (Theresa)
Tucked away in the small town of Theresa, Confections for Any Occasion is like finding a golden ticket in your chocolate bar – unexpected and absolutely thrilling.
This quaint shop, housed in a historic brick building from 1916, proves that you don’t need a big city address to create world-class sweets.
It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder if the town’s water supply has been secretly replaced with liquid sugar.
The shop’s motto might as well be “If you can dream it, we can make it into candy” – a philosophy we can all get behind.
6. Vande Walle’s Candies (Appleton)
Vande Walle’s Candies in Appleton is the Swiss Army knife of candy shops – it does everything, and it does it well.
This white-clad confectionery castle has been a sweet tooth’s paradise since 1974, offering everything from handmade chocolates to ice cream.
It’s like the United Nations of desserts, bringing together all forms of sugar in delicious harmony.
The building itself looks like it could be made of white chocolate, and honestly, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was.
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Just remember – licking the walls is generally frowned upon, no matter how tempting it might be.
7. Beerntsen’s Confectionary (Manitowoc)
Beerntsen’s Confectionary in Manitowoc is like stepping into a time machine set to “delicious.”
This historic candy shop, with its classic red and white striped awning, has been serving up sweets since 1932.
It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder if you’ve accidentally wandered onto a movie set for a feel-good small-town rom-com.
But instead of meet-cutes, you get meet-sweets.
The neon sign in the window promising “Fine Candies” isn’t just advertising – it’s a solemn vow that’s been kept for nearly a century.
8. Kilwins (Lake Geneva)
Kilwins in Lake Geneva is like the overachiever of candy shops – not content with just chocolates, they’ve branched out into ice cream and fudge too.
It’s a triple threat of sweetness that’ll have your taste buds doing a happy dance.
The shop’s facade, with its elegant green awning and gold lettering, looks like it belongs on a postcard.
It’s the kind of place that makes you seriously consider moving to Lake Geneva, just so you can claim it as your local candy shop.
Who needs a lake view when you can have a fudge view?
9. Indulgence Chocolatiers (Milwaukee)
Indulgence Chocolatiers in Milwaukee is the James Bond of candy shops – sleek, sophisticated, and dangerously good at what it does.
With its modern storefront and elegant logo, it’s clear this isn’t your average sugar shack.
This is where chocolate goes to get a college degree and come back as Doctor Delicious.
Founded in 2007, Indulgence proves that you don’t need a century of history to make history-worthy chocolates.
It’s the kind of place that makes you feel fancy just by walking in – suddenly, you’re not just eating chocolate, you’re having a “chocolate experience.”
10. Sjölind’s Chocolate House (Mount Horeb)
Sjölind’s Chocolate House in Mount Horeb is like finding a chocolate-covered diamond in the rough.
This charming little shop, with its distinctive peaked roof and circular window, looks like it could be home to the world’s most delicious gnomes.
But instead of garden ornaments, it’s filled with handcrafted chocolates that would make Willy Wonka jealous.
It’s the perfect sweet ending to our candy-coated journey across Wisconsin, proving that sometimes the best things come in small, adorable packages.
There you have it, folks – a sugar-fueled tour of Wisconsin’s finest candy shops.
Your road trip starts here.
Use this map to stay on course and create memories at every turn.
Remember, calories don’t count when you’re on vacation… or at least that’s what we’ll keep telling ourselves.
Now go forth and conquer that sweet tooth!