Looking for a sweet escape filled with cocoa delights?
These 10 candy factories in Florida are perfect for satisfying your chocolate cravings and experiencing confectionery magic!
1. The Chocolate Kingdom (Orlando)
Step into the Chocolate Kingdom, where the air is thick with the aroma of cocoa and dreams are made of sugar and spice.
This Orlando gem isn’t just a factory; it’s a full-blown chocolate experience that’ll have you feeling like you’ve won a golden ticket to Wonka’s wonderland.
The bright yellow exterior with its giant chocolate bar sign is like a beacon calling all chocoholics home.
Inside, you’re transported to a world where chocolate reigns supreme.
The tour guides here are part comedian, part chocolate wizard, spinning tales of cacao’s journey from bean to bar that’ll leave you both educated and entertained.
But let’s be real, we’re all here for the taste test, right?
The Kingdom doesn’t disappoint, offering samples that’ll make your eyes roll back in pure bliss.
From classic milk chocolate to exotic flavored truffles, it’s a flavor explosion that’ll have you contemplating a move to this sugary realm.
2. Hoffman’s Chocolates (Greenacres)
Nestled in Greenacres, Hoffman’s Chocolates is like that cool aunt who always has the best treats.
The Tudor-style building looks like it was plucked straight out of a fairy tale, complete with charming gables and a welcoming entrance that practically whispers, “Come in, we have chocolate!”
Inside, it’s a chocolate lover’s paradise.
The air is perfumed with the sweet scent of cocoa, and the displays are so artfully arranged, you’ll feel guilty disturbing them.
But disturb them you must, because these chocolates are meant to be savored, not just admired.
Hoffman’s has been crafting confections since 1975, and boy, does that experience show.
Their truffles are smoother than a jazz saxophone solo, and their chocolate-covered strawberries could make Cupid himself swoon.
It’s the kind of place where diet plans go to die, and nobody’s complaining about it.
3. Whetstone Chocolates (St. Augustine)
In the heart of historic St. Augustine, Whetstone Chocolates stands as a testament to the fact that some traditions are worth preserving – especially when they involve chocolate.
This family-owned business has been satisfying sweet tooths since 1967, and they show no signs of slowing down.
The factory tour here is like a crash course in chocolate-making, minus the boring lectures and with way more delicious samples.
You’ll learn about the intricate process of creating these cocoa masterpieces, from tempering to molding, all while resisting the urge to face-plant into a vat of melted chocolate.
Whetstone’s claim to fame?
Their “St. Augustine Sweets” – chocolate shells filled with a creamy center that’s smoother than a con artist’s sales pitch.
One bite, and you’ll understand why St. Augustine has been keeping this place a not-so-secret secret for decades.
4. Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory (Daytona Beach)
Forget the Daytona 500; the real race in this town is to get to Angell & Phelps before they run out of samples.
This beachside chocolate factory has been a staple since 1925, proving that some things, like the perfect chocolate recipe, never go out of style.
The factory tour here is free, which is dangerous because once you’ve tasted their chocolates, you’ll be throwing your wallet at them faster than you can say “cocoa butter.”
Watch in awe as skilled chocolatiers create everything from classic truffles to chocolate-covered bacon (yes, you read that right, and yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds).
The shop itself is a nostalgic trip down candy lane, with its retro decor and friendly staff who seem to have PhDs in chocolate knowledge.
It’s the kind of place where you walk in for “just one piece” and leave with bags full of goodies and a newfound chocolate addiction.
5. Peterbrooke Chocolatier (Jacksonville)
Peterbrooke Chocolatier in Jacksonville is like the James Bond of chocolate shops – sleek, sophisticated, and with a license to thrill your taste buds.
Founded in 1983, this place has been raising the bar (pun absolutely intended) for chocolate lovers across Florida.
Their signature chocolate-covered popcorn is a game-changer.
It’s the snack you never knew you needed, combining the satisfying crunch of popcorn with the smooth indulgence of chocolate.
It’s so good, it should probably be illegal in at least a few states.
But Peterbrooke isn’t just about the classics.
They’re constantly innovating, creating chocolate masterpieces that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the palate.
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From hand-painted truffles to chocolate-dipped Oreos, it’s a wonderland of cocoa creativity that’ll have you questioning why you ever settled for a plain old candy bar.
6. Norman Love Confections (Fort Myers)
Walking into Norman Love Confections is like stepping into a chocolate museum where you’re encouraged to eat the exhibits.
This Fort Myers institution is the brainchild of Norman Love, a man who clearly took the phrase “love what you do” to delicious extremes.
The chocolates here aren’t just confections; they’re edible works of art.
Each piece is meticulously crafted and decorated, looking almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
Because once you taste these flavor bombs, you’ll realize that not devouring them would be the real crime.
From seasonal collections that capture the essence of holidays in chocolate form to their signature flavors that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance, Norman Love Confections is proof that chocolate making is indeed a labor of love.
And we, the chocoholics, are the grateful beneficiaries of that love.
7. Kilwins (Key West)
Kilwins in Key West is like finding a chocolate oasis in a sea of key lime pie.
Don’t get me wrong, I love key lime pie, but sometimes you need a cocoa fix that only Kilwins can satisfy.
Housed in a charming yellow building that looks like it belongs on a postcard, Kilwins is more than just a chocolate shop – it’s a full-sensory experience.
The moment you walk in, you’re hit with the intoxicating aroma of freshly made waffle cones and bubbling chocolate.
It’s enough to make you consider setting up camp and never leaving.
Their fudge is the stuff of legends, made right before your eyes in copper kettles that have probably seen more action than a pirate ship in the Caribbean.
And don’t even get me started on their “Turtle” confections – caramel and pecans enrobed in chocolate that’s so good, it might actually make you slow down and savor life, just like its namesake.
8. The Ganachery (Disney Springs, Orlando)
The Ganachery at Disney Springs is proof that Mickey Mouse isn’t the only attraction worth visiting in Orlando.
This chocolate shop is to confectionery what Cinderella’s Castle is to architecture – magical, awe-inspiring, and slightly unreal.
Step inside, and you’re transported to a world where chocolate is king and calories don’t exist (okay, they do, but who’s counting?).
The shop’s dark wood and copper accents give it an air of sophistication that says, “This isn’t your average candy store, folks.”
Their signature ganache squares are like tiny bites of heaven, each one a perfectly balanced explosion of flavor.
From classic dark chocolate to more adventurous flavors like chipotle pepper, it’s a taste adventure that’ll have your palate doing backflips of joy.
9. Castronovo Chocolate (Stuart)
Castronovo Chocolate in Stuart is the hipster of the chocolate world – small-batch, ethically sourced, and cooler than a polar bear’s toenails.
This place takes chocolate-making so seriously, you half expect the staff to be wearing lab coats and safety goggles.
Founded by Denise Castronovo, a woman who clearly believes that chocolate is more than just a treat – it’s a way of life.
Her dedication to sourcing rare cacao beans and transforming them into award-winning chocolates is nothing short of impressive.
The flavors here are like a world tour for your taste buds.
From bars made with beans from the Amazon rainforest to others featuring notes of red fruit and spice, it’s a chocolate experience that’ll make you feel both worldly and incredibly lucky to be in Stuart, Florida.
10. William Dean Chocolates (Belleair Bluffs)
Last but certainly not least, we have William Dean Chocolates in Belleair Bluffs.
This place is like the Michelangelo of the chocolate world – each piece a masterpiece, almost too beautiful to eat.
Almost.
Their chocolates are not just confections; they’re edible art.
Each piece is hand-painted and decorated with the kind of precision that would make a Swiss watchmaker jealous.
Flavors range from the classic to the adventurous – think lavender, passion fruit, and even curry.
It’s a flavor adventure that’ll have you reconsidering everything you thought you knew about chocolate.
So there you have it, folks – a chocoholic’s guide to Florida that’ll have you planning a sweet-toothed road trip faster than you can say “cacao.”
Remember, calories don’t count when you’re on vacation… right?