What You Need To Know About Fudge, Chocolate, & North Georgia Treats

If you have a sweet tooth and are visiting Helen, Georgia, then this comprehensive guide will tell you all of the best places for candies, desserts, and sweets, and what you need to know about fudge, chocolate, & North Georgia treats.

Fudge!

There are lots of great things to do, places to go, and wonderful food to eat when you vacation in Helen, Georgia. If your sweet tooth is particularly fond of delicious, rich fudge, then knowing where to find the best quality of this sweet stuff in Helen should pique your interest!

A few fudge facts

You already know fudge is a delectable decadence embodied in chocolate. But here are a few quick facts about fudge that may be new to you:

• Fudge is best at room temperature, eaten soon after purchase (as if you could wait!)
• There’s no need to refrigerate fudge, and cooling causes it to harden
• Fudge can be kept fresh and tasty by putting it in either a Ziploc bag or an airtight container and kept on the counter for up to a week
• You can freeze fudge if you have to store it longer – first, wrap it securely in plastic wrap, then place it in a plastic freezer bag before popping it into the freezer. To thaw, remove from freezer & leave sealed at room temperature – possibly up to eight hours. (Freezers may vary, so just check it once in a while to be sure)

Best places to buy fudge in Helen

When you visit Helen and find yourself craving a fudge fix, here are the best places to go to soothe your craving:

Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen

CCCR Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Address: 8651 N Main St, Helen, GA 30545
Phone: (706) 878-2443
Website: www.hanselandgretelcandykitchen.com

Hansel & Gretel offers two Helen locations – one at 8651 North Main Street, and the other at 8078 South Main Street. Featuring all manner of fudge, like Cream and Butter fudge, different flavors of slab fudge, a great variety box called “Fudge & Friends” and another titled “Pecan Lovers Delight” you’re sure to find plenty of fudge to tantalize your taste buds. Hansel & Gretel also sells caramel apples, rock candy, chocolate turtles, and a whole lot more – yum!

There’s a kid inside every one of us, and few can resist the powerful draw of fresh, homemade chocolates, candies, and other sweets. As you walk down Main Street Helen, you’ll soon notice a rich, sweet, and enticing aroma wafting out from one of the shops. Follow that delicious scent all the way to the doors of Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen – a staple in the Alpine village of Helen.

Here, you’ll find freshly made and carefully cooked candy confections that will absolutely melt in your mouth. Whether you’re just craving something sweet, want something to munch on as you watch a movie back at the cabin, or are looking for gift items to take back home to your family and friends, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen is the place to go when you’re in Helen.

History & Overview

Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen first opened its doors in 1973. Back then, though, it was just a tiny little shop situated in an alley of Helen. After years of experimentation, passion, hard work, and practice, owners David and Janet Jones – along with an excellent staff – mastered the fine art of candy making.

Today, the store has grown in size (from a 234-square-foot shop to a 5,000-square-foot production facility), and in the volume of candies that it produces. Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen is proud to cook up the widest assortment of candies of any retailer throughout the state of Georgia, offering over 100 different varieties of sweets.

Only the freshest ingredients are used throughout the candy-making process, including 100% real chocolate and never chocolate flavor coatings. This high standard of candy making is what makes the sweets so delectable, and what makes visiting the candy kitchen so worthwhile.

Available Candies and Products

It may not be Heaven, but for those who love sweets, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen sure is close. Whether you prefer rich, chocolaty flavors, something light and sweet, or something packed with peanut butter, you’ll find it here. For those who simply can’t get enough chocolate, you’ll relish in the soothing scent of freshly baked chocolate fudge – with or without nuts. Chocolate-covered pretzels, special layered chocolate cookies, clusters, truffles, chocolate lollipops, and chocolate-coated graham crackers are also a must. Still, of all the candies sold in Helen, the store’s chocolate caramel pecan turtles remain the best-selling item.

Peanut butter is always popular in candy, and Hansel & Gretel’s candy makers appeal to that demand. More than a dozen peanut butter products are available including fudge, meltaways, soft centers, crunch, and of course, peanut brittle.

Candy-coated fruits are also available for your enjoyment. Each and every day, strawberries and Granny Smith apples are freshly dipped in chocolate, white chocolate, and caramel. Some may even be dipped in pecans or other toppings. In addition, you may want to try one (or all) of the shop’s 5 flavors of fruit jellies which may be sanded with sugar or coated with chocolate.

In the mood for something lighter? There’s nothing quite like divinity to satisfy your craving for something sweet without being too filling. Homemade marshmallows are another airy and yummy option.

On top of providing customers with the very best candies possible, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen is also happy to share some of its secrets. If you want to try your hand at candy making, check out “Candy Making for Dummies” which was written by the owner, David Jones in 2005. It’s available at the store, from many national retailers, and online.

Planning Your Visit

Great news for chocoholics and sweets lovers – the Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen is open 7 days a week so that you can get your fix whenever you need it. The store is open to the public Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Give yourself time to browse through the entire facility so that you’re able to check out all of the candies that are available – especially if you’re traveling with little ones who are sure to be mesmerized by the candy paradise. You’ll find that certain chocolates and other sweets are available for you to taste before purchasing. Be advised that the facility’s production equipment is regularly exposed to nuts (peanuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts, and cashews), so if you have any nut allergies, you should shop safely and accordingly.

Have you fallen in love with a sugary treat but have to head back home after your vacation? Fear not! Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen’s scrumptious products are available for purchase online and can be shipped right to your door.

Have you had the privilege of visiting Helen’s own Hansel & Gretel Candy kitchen? Share your experiences and favorite flavors with future visitors in the comments section below.

The Fudge Factory

Address: 8 N Park St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone: (706) 864-3988
Website: dahlonegafudgefactory.com

The Fudge Factory is located in Dahlonega (adjacent to Helen) at 8 North Park Street, right on the historic square. Making delectable fudge for over 25 years, The Fudge Factory offers a number of assortment boxes, gift boxes, nougats, and pralines. Very involved in community charity causes, The Fudge Factory is a candy company with a heart. Their online store delivers anywhere, but while you’re staying in Helen, Georgia, get on over to Dahlonega and scarf some up right away!

Many of the folks who choose to vacation in Helen, Georgia will also make the trip to nearby Dahlonega to explore its fascinating history and culture. Here, the irresistible aroma of freshly baked fudge and candies is always hanging in the air over Park Street, drawing visitors inside. This is The Fudge Factory – where the chocolate is as rich and alluring as the gold miners who once found fortune within the city.

Once you walk through the doors of this beloved sweet shop, you’ll be hard-pressed to find your way out without purchasing something scrumptious to take back to your cabin with you for movie night or to offer as a gift to your friends back at home. Everyone will find something to enjoy at The Fudge Factory. We rate this lovely shop 4.5 out of 5 stars!

History & Overview

The Fudge Factory has been a staple in Dahlonega and the greater Helen area since it first opened its doors in 1982. The primary goal of the expert candy cooks who work here is to provide customers with superior sweets through the use of only the highest quality ingredients and time-tested recipes. The result is a mix of heavenly flavor and Southern charm.

Each item is handmade or hand-dipped for consistency and perfection. Throughout the years, the menu of available sweets has expanded significantly, now even including sugar-free items for those with special dietary concerns. Despite the fact that new delicacies have popped up, the old staples remain tried and true, and the commitment to quality has never wavered. These are just a few of the many reasons why The Fudge Factory has been able to impress and dazzle its visitors for decades.

Your taste buds are sure to fall in love with something sweet during your visit.

Available Candies & Products

As you might expect, The Fudge Factory has no shortage of fudge in supply. In fact, the confectioners work hard to cook up 12 different varieties of fudge for you to choose from. No matter what you fancy most, you’ll find it. Of course, traditional milk chocolate fudge is always a favorite, but those who prefer dark chocolate will not be disappointed.

Nuts for nuts? Choose from chocolate walnut or chocolate pecan. For a more unique spin on chocolate, go with chocolate mint. Of course, fudge doesn’t always have to be chocolate. Vanilla, vanilla pecan, amaretto, maple, and pumpkin fudge are available as well. Of course, peanut butter fudge is another top pick, and can even be combined with chocolate for something really rich and flavorful. You can even get a fudge-dipped apple…mmm!

The Fudge Factory offers other candies in addition to its signature fudge items. Caramel cashew and pecan nuggets are other big sellers, as are caramel-dipped apples (with or without nuts, depending on your preference).

Assortments of milk chocolate or dark chocolate truffles are a great idea for satisfying your sweet tooth in smaller portions, for sharing with friends and family back at the cabin, or as gift items. Dipped candy pretzels are also perfect for a cabin movie night. You’ll find milk, dark, and white chocolate pretzels, and can even have the pretzels coated in M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces. They’re truly irresistible!

If you’re not a chocolate person, you’re in luck. You’ll still have your pick of magnificent Brittles (both peanut and pecan), butter brickle toffees, and pralines (made with fresh Georgia pecans) to your heart’s content. So if you’re in the mood for something light and sweet, be sure to give The Fudge Factory’s divinity a try. You’ll feel as though you’ve found a little bit of Heaven here in northern Georgia.

Planning Your Visit

Located just southwest of the center of Helen, Dahlonega is easily accessible via GA-75 and GA-52. The Fudge Factory can’t be missed, as it is situated right across the street from the city’s welcome center, on the corner of Park Street and Main Street.

The store’s hours may vary by season. During the months of April through December, you may visit Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. During the months of January through March, the store is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For those who may suffer from allergies, it’s important to note that all of the candies sold in the shop are made in a factory that uses peanuts and other nuts, as well as dairy products.

Are you planning on spending an afternoon exploring nearby Dahlonega? Let us know what you’d like to see, and we’ll be happy to provide you with all of the necessary details.

Kopper Kettle Fudge

Address: 8619 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545
Phone: (706) 892-1235
Website: kopperkettlefudge.com

Kopper’s Kettle Fudge Shop can be found at 8619 South Main Street in Helen, Georgia. Family-owned and operated since 1977, all candies are made fresh daily from a secret family recipe, using only the finest ingredients (delicious!)

Just a sampling of the many mouth-watering fudge flavors here include peanut butter, chocolate pecan, cookies and cream, chocolate almond, chocolate peanut butter swirl, and chocolate walnut.

So beat your feet to get a scrumptious treat at the Kopper Kettle Fudge!

Chocolates!

If Fudge is not your favorite sweet, we suspect chocolate may be. Explore your North Georgia chocolate options below.

Paul Thomas Chocolates

CCCR Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Address: 102 Public Sq N, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone: (706) 864-6333
Website: www.paulthomaschocolates.com

Need a sweet treat pick-me-up?

What better way to give yourself a much-needed energy boost after a long day of visiting northern Georgia shops and attractions than by taking a bite of mouth-watering chocolates?

Located just a hop, skip, and a jump away from downtown Helen, Dahlonega has long been known for its rich history in the gold mining industry, but it’s also known for something else – chocolate.

Paul Thomas Chocolates is a favorite of both locals and visitors, offering delectable homemade sweets with high-quality ingredients. After all, everybody loves chocolate, and Paul Thomas works hard to ensure that everyone will be satisfied.

History & Overview

Paul Thomas Chocolates of Dahlonega was founded by chocolatier Paul T. Hoffman.

Paul began his work of candy making in 1975 with the hopes of offering sweets for everyone to enjoy. In 2007, Paul Thomas Chocolates opened its doors and has been delighting its customers from all around the world ever since.

The idea behind Paul Thomas is to not only provide visitors with something tasty to savor but also to take home a lasting memory. It’s more than just a chocolate shop or candy store; it’s an experience.

Customers are welcome to actually watch the experts craft the chocolates from the finest ingredients. This provides guests the rare opportunity to actually understand the complexity of chocolate making. Of course, watching a cascade of smooth, warm, chocolate pour over the various nuts, fruits, caramels, and truffles is sure to get your mouth watering. As your eyes follow the finished chocolates down the conveyor assembly (think: “I Love Lucy”), you’ll be ready to pop a candy in your mouth and buy some more to take back to the cabin with you.

Available Candies & Products

Chocolate truffles are among the best sellers at Paul Thomas Chocolates, and with so many classic and unique flavors, it’s easy to see why. Many of the truffle flavors are available in milk, dark, or white chocolate, adding even more to the originality. You’ll recognize some of your old favorites like Irish creme, coffee truffle, raspberry truffle, coconut creme, or French truffle. You might be surprised, though, at how quickly you take to the more unique flavors like tart lemon chiffon, key lime truffle, cherry cheesecake, pepper spice truffle, and even jalapeño.

Specialty chocolate and candy items are also hot sellers at Paul Thomas. Once again, the candies here appeal both to those who love traditional sweets, as well as those with a unique palette. Your taste buds will crave the Yahoola or Sea Salt Turtles, and you’ll find yourself positively addicted to the chocolate-covered pretzels, with either medium, dark, or white chocolate.

Caramel and chocolate-coated apples are available, with or without pecans or peanuts. Try homemade marshmallows, or peanut butter delights, which make for great movie snacks back at the cabin. With peanut clusters, orange peals, haystacks, mints, peppermint & almond bark, chocolate-covered Twinkies and so much more, there’s something for everyone at Paul Thomas Chocolates.

And we mean everyone! Even if you have dietary restrictions, sugar-free candies are available for you to enjoy. You’ll love peppermint patties, maple walnut cremes, peanut butter cups, pecan patties, and other sugarless treats.

Planning Your Visit

If you’re traveling from Helen, you won’t have to go far in order to satisfy your sweet tooth. Dahlonega is located just a short drive southwest of central Helen. Paul Thomas Chocolates is located in the Hall Block Building on Public Square North which is just off Main Street, and across from the Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site.

Hours may vary by season, so it’s best to call ahead to confirm that it will be open on the day when you plan to visit. Currently, listed hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Be sure to set aside plenty of time, not only to purchase some fine chocolate for yourself but also to watch the candy-making process. You may also want to ask about all of the unique and original flavors produced at Paul Thomas or try a sample. Once you’ve settled on your favorites, you can even customize your own candy box.

We’ve all heard that famous Forest Gump quote “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get.” This isn’t the case at Paul Thomas, though. If a random assortment isn’t your style, you can pick and choose exactly what you want in your box of sweets.

Have you visited Paul Thomas Chocolates on a previous visit to the Helen area? What were your favorite items? Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions with future visitors in the comment section below.

Cakes, Pastries, and Ice Cream!

Helen, Georgia, and its surrounding areas are great for calorie-burning activities like whitewater rafting, hiking, and sightseeing. But these areas are also rife with possibilities when it comes to confections, ice cream, and other sweet treats that will bring back memories of your candy-loving childhood.

To help you zero in on one of these places that will satisfy your need for something sweet, we’ll take a look at some of the more popular (and unique) bakeries, candy shops, and ice cream parlors. If you have the time or a big enough appetite, perhaps you’ll find time to visit more than one. And we wouldn’t blame you one bit.

Hofer’s Bakery And Cafe

Address: 8758 N Main St, Helen, GA 30545
Phone: (706) 878-8200
Website: www.hofers.com

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hofer’s has become a staple of the Helen, Georgia experience. Voted as the Best Bakery in the Atlanta and Northeast Georgia area a few years back, they show the excellence of quality that is nearly unmatched in the surrounding region.

Inside the bakery, you’ll get about as much of a German experience as one business can muster (they even have German magazines for purchase). Hofer’s offers a variety of baked goods, from delicious cakes, pies, and donuts, all the way to their Bavarian pretzels.

You’ll also find a variety of authentic German bread, french rolls, sunflower bread, five-seed sourdough bread, and a wide variety of other tasty treats.

Ain’t B’s Bakery & Confectionery Arts Studio

Address: 44 Mulberry Drive Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
Phone: (706) 809-1760

When you drive up to Ain’t B’s, located in Sautee Nacoochee, the first thing you’ll notice is how homey it looks, complete with an old wooden fence surrounding it. It simply looks inviting, before you’ve even gotten out of your car.

As you walk inside and view its charming, down-home ambiance, your olfactory senses will swell thanks to the aroma of all the sweetness this little bakery has to offer.

Ain’t B’s is most famous for being the “home of the original 17-inch Cinnamon Roll Pie,” but there are plenty of other fantastic items to be found, ranging from fried pies, cheesecakes, and cookies to jams, jellies, and their homemade “Cinnamon Pecan Caramel” sauce.

Is your mouth watering yet just thinking about it?

Enjoy Your Sweets With A Cedar Creek Cabin Rental Getaway

If you’re ready to go on a delicious adventure, your first step is finding a place to stay in the Helen, Georgia area.

We recommend our cabins Great Escape (above) and Bear Hollow (below).

Click here to view all of our cabins.

What’s Next?

We look forward to seeing you!

Don’t forget to share your experiences, favorite places, and the best type of sweets to enjoy in the comments below.