Holiday classics like a box of delicate ribbon candy can be found at Granite State Candy Shoppes in Concord and Manchester. Courtesy of the Granite State Candy Shoppe
Nothing says season greetings like a homemade peanut cluster and a box of white chocolate snowflakes. We’re lucky that the independent candy shop is still a thing in New Hampshire and they do it up big this time of year. Here’s a listing of four fun candy shops, each with its specialties.
Nelson’s Candy, 65 Main St., Wilton. Sometimes candy is more than just candy. Sometimes it’s a piece of New England history. Nelson’s Candy is over 100 years old and still uses some of its original equipment to create chocolates and other confections, including hand-pulled taffy and the biggest homemade candy canes you’re likely to see.
Move over Willy Wonka, Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery, 53 Washington St., Suite 100, Dover, is a fantasy-and-sci-fi-inspired candy and ice cream shop situated in the city’s 200-year-old Cocheco Mills building. It’s named for creatures from the imaginary “Kingdom of Caramelot” and has a throne customers can sit on while perusing the shelves. In addition to handmade chocolates, caramels, truffles, chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, toffees, fudge, specialty cookies, stroopwafels, and their signature caramel apples they also have a wide selection of jelly beans, gummy creatures, Harry Potter candy, and “hundreds of Pez selections.”
Granite State Candy Shoppe,13 Warren St, Concord or 832 Elm Street Manchester, where the Bart family has been handmaking confections for nearly 100 years. Some of those original recipes are still used today. You can still buy old-fashioned ribbon candy and solid, milk-chocolate Santas. The store also has Hanukah selections.
Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates & Ice Cream, 43 Grove St. Peterborough, has been making gourmet chocolate for the past 20 years. The owners are particularly proud of their award-winning milk and dark chocolate turtles, coconut clusters, and hand-painted artisan chocolates. The shop has more than just chocolates, it also has 20 ice cream flavors, specialty drinks and pastries.
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