A "Sweet Tooth" Tour of Iowa

A "Sweet Tooth" Tour of Iowa

Indulge cravings with handcrafted chocolate creations

By Ann Foster Thelen

If foods were a love language, chocolate would be near the top of favorites. From delightful morsels nestled in heart-shaped boxes for Valentine’s Day to foil-wrapped eggs in Easter baskets, chocolate delightfully spells adoration for kids and adults. With studies showing that feelings of love can come from sweets, it’s easy to be head over heels for the perfect indulgence.

When it comes to chocolate, there is a lot to love in Iowa. Luxurious and velvety chocolate confections are made by hand in many on-site kitchens and then shipped worldwide. While Iowa is known for its leading role in agriculture and food production, the Hawkeye State also has claims to fame with local chocolates starring in Academy Award gift baskets and Grammy Award swag bags. At Iowa State University, chemical engineers even hone their skills by learning about chocolate – from raw to finished products.

If you’re looking for a divine reason to road trip across Iowa this year, satisfy your sweet tooth by visiting some of the state’s iconic candy shops. Hearts will race with anticipation to arrive at each delicious stop!

Drew's Chocolates - Dexter

In 1927, Helen Drew began making and selling her black walnut fudge from her kitchen using a recipe she received from relatives in New Hampshire. Word spread quickly about the scrumptious fudge because the main highway between Des Moines and Omaha ran directly through Dexter. As the business grew, Helen expanded to the basement of her home, making caramels, fudges, toffee, nut clusters and real fruit creams. Fresh cream, eggs, walnuts, strawberries and raspberries were purchased from local farmers, and the legendary Iowa candy shop Drew’s Fork-Dipped Chocolates was born.

Over the years, the shop has sold its sweet treats to many famous people. Bonnie and Clyde purchased 1 pound of chocolates for 29 cents before their famous Dexter shootout in 1933. Lawrence Welk, Johnny Carson, John Wayne and Cloris Leachman were customers. Clint Eastwood received several boxes of Francesca’s Passion while filming the Bridges of Madison County in Winterset. First Lady Barbara Bush personally sent a thank you note from Air Force One.

Jason Adams, a seventh-generation chocolatier, explains the century-old family business has remained in the original location using original recipes. The chocolate is made on mostly original equipment, including copper kettles, stainless steel dipping machines, marble tables and a crank soft center machine.

“The secret to the impeccable taste is pure Swiss chocolate and just a handful of simple ingredients. Our continued proactive approach to quality over the years has given us a long history of repeat customers from all over the U.S.,” he says. “It is a tremendous joy to meet generations of families and to hear their favorites.”

The shop will average 70 customers a day. The dark sea salt caramels, milk, coffee and deluxe assortments constantly sell out. To keep pace with demand, 12 hours is a normal workday, and Drew’s can easily go through 80 pounds of chocolate daily.

Two signs at Exits 97 and 100 off Interstate 80 direct travelers to chocolate heaven. The shop is along White Pole Road, a 26-mile scenic and historical byway that runs parallel to Interstate 80 and connects the communities of Dexter, Stuart, Menlo, Casey and Adair. More than 500 painted white poles dot the hillsides and invite passersby to enjoy the view, explore Americana and take home some chocolates.

“Once people taste the goodness of real chocolate, they always come back for more,” Adams says.

Seventh-generation chocolatier, Jason Adams, individually fork dips each sweet treat.

Chocolate Storybook - West Des Moines

Since 1985, Chocolate Storybook has been a beloved destination for delicious handmade chocolates and unique gifts. Chocolates and sweets bring people together, and each Chocolate Storybook item is designed to be a masterpiece in the art of gifting. With their Grand Avenue storefront fashioned after European chocolate shops, especially those in Switzerland, the original owners sought to bring that flair home to Des Moines.

“When people walk in, the first thing they comment on is the wonderful smell of chocolate,” explains Meg Shearer, who has owned the business since 2000 with her husband Steve.

“We want our customers to have an unforgettable experience by selecting individual chocolates from our glass cases to fill the perfect holiday box or to sit and enjoy a delicate treat.”

A quaint-sized candy kitchen on the property includes an enrobing machine that tempers chocolate. The equipment creates a precise process that ensures an end product with a consistent weight, uniform thickness and perfect finish.

“Pure chocolate must be tempered or brought to a temperature that will allow it to set up. When we’re enrobing chocolates, we melt the chocolate to 100 degrees F,” Meg explains. “Then we cool it down by adding blocks of solid chocolate to get it to about 83 degrees F. Then, we slowly bring the temperature back to 90 degrees F to allow the crystals within the chocolate to set.”

Caramel – a favorite ingredient in many of Chocolate Storybook’s candy – is melted in a large, copper kettle over an open flame. It’s the traditional, time-honored way of making caramel. The caramel is then turned out onto marble slabs and cut into pieces or piped onto fresh pecans for their delectable turtles. For Valentine’s Day, fresh strawberries coated with homemade chocolate are customer favorites.

Chocolate Storybook owners Tom and Meg Shearer, along with daughter Sabrina (center), make chocolate-covered bacon.

Their wildly popular cotton candy is produced at a larger facility in Des Moines.

“We have cotton candy customers all over the U.S., even some in France, Dubai and other countries,” Meg says. “We also do private labels for Universal Studios.”

Selling local food items is also important to the business, which are often available for gift boxes. It’s not uncommon to find Maytag Blue Cheese, Amana sausage, Iowa Smokehouse products or Almost Famous popcorn to pair with high-end chocolates.

“I grew up on a large cattle, corn and soybean farm in Madison County, and my sisters and I still own the farm,” she says. “We know the value the farmer plays in what we do. Chocolate often has soy in it because it’s an emulsifier. Ag is vital to anything that we’re producing for food.”

The Marion Chocolate Shop - Marion

In 2021, Ben Davis was serving full time in the Iowa Army National Guard with a looming job transfer 90 miles away but wanted to stay closer to home and his family. His wife Katy, who works as an occupational therapist, showed him a Facebook post announcing The Chocolate Shop in Marion was for sale. The rest is history, and that same year, the couple became the fifth owners of the business, and The Marion Chocolate Shop was born with a slight change to the shop’s name.

“We pride ourselves on creating and selling classic confections for all occasions,” Ben explains. “We make all our creams, caramels, truffles, toffees and gourmet hot fudge inhouse. We cook everything in our kettle or copper pot, cut and coat by hand, and package fresh for sale to our customers.”

Because of the local production, The Marion Chocolate Shop can create unique flavors, new creations and special treats.

“One of my favorite things we make are buttercreams – a type of European, old-fashioned chocolate,” he says. “We also make products like peanut clusters and coconut haystacks. If you can imagine an old-fashioned chocolate shop, that’s what you’ll find at our store.”

The Marion Chocolate Shop’s kitchen is at the back of the building and the retail space is in the front. From being made to appearing in the display cases, the bites of bliss travel about 40 feet.

“I’m always working to create new things,” Ben says. “Just in time for the late winter and spring holidays, we’ll have our same popular products but also some new flavors and fresh concoctions. One of the best things about this business is celebrating with people and making someone’s day brighter with a memorable piece of candy.”

Katy and Ben Davis, owners of The Marion Chocolate Shop.

More Chocolatey Points of Interest

Palmer's Candy - Sioux City

Started in 1878, Palmer’s Candy is one of the country’s oldest candy companies, originally selling hand-dipped boxed chocolates, penny candy, gumdrops and marshmallows. In 1923, the company introduced its Bing candy bar, which came in four flavors: maple, vanilla, pineapple and cherry. The Cherry Bing is still produced by hand and remains a Midwest regional favorite. Today, their state-of-the-art facility in Sioux City churns out candies, nuts, munchies and chocolates. The Old Time Candy Shoppe is located close to Interstate 29 and contains a museum decorated with old pictures and antique advertising and packaging.

Betty Jane Candies - Dubuque

Since 1938, Betty Jane Candies has provided Iowans with fine homemade chocolates and candies. Betty Jane Candies was named one of the top chocolate shops in the country by Taste of Home magazine. In 2013, People magazine selected their gremlin candies (pecans and caramel covered in chocolate) as Iowa’s top culinary gift. Their chocolates have also been included in Academy Award gift baskets and Grammy Award swag bags.

Mount Vernon Confections - Mount Vernon

Located in The Sweet Factory, each truffle at Mount Vernon Confections is handmade, one at a time. Choose from nearly a dozen varieties, including dark raspberry, classic dark chocolate and Grand Marnier dark chocolate. They also sell chocolate pigs, corn and barns as well as handmade ice cream using fruit from the family’s farm.

Detour to these other delicious destinations

• Chocolate Haus, Amana

• Main Street Sweets, Cedar Falls

• Piper’s Grocery & Homemade Candies, Chariton

• Lagomarcino’s, Davenport

• Beaverdale Confections, Des Moines

• Chocolaterie Stam, Des Moines

• Monastery Candies, Dubuque

• Kalona Chocolates, Kalona

• Shameless Chocoholic, Le Claire

• Goodies Handmade Candies, Okoboji

Win a $100 gift card to The Chocolate Storybook for sweet treats of your choice. Visit iowafoodandfamily.com/contest/chocolatestorybook and enter to win.