This post was updated in December 2018 to reflect new shops and choco-options 🙂
The Cure-All: Chocolate!
During this time of year we have our hands full with shopping, decorating, planning, vacationing and decision making. Chocolate (and wine) can usually cure just about any stressful situation, so we thought we’d help during this holiday season with a curated a list of all things made with that tiny magical cocoa bean.
There are over twenty bakeries and candy shops with treats for the choco-holic in the Charlotte area, from Fort Mill up to Lake Norman, offering truffles, bars, cakes, cupcakes, mousse and hot cocoa. With all the countless ways to eat chocolate, let’s start off with some sweet candy ideas for you or anyone on your gifting list.
Fine Chocolates
Fine chocolatiers around town are hand crafting tiny bites of joy. These shops are some of the best in the area for truffles and chews.
Julia Kote | South Charlotte
We found her on Instagram, and so can you. Beautiful handcrafted chocolates from a lady just as lovely in person.
Twenty Degrees Chocolate | 2820 Selwyn Ave, Ste 160 – Charlotte
Small batch dark, milk or white chocolates. They also create super unique flavors like pink champagne and strawberry balsamic. You can find them at their retail partner, Petit Philippe.
Potts Chocolates | 619 South Cedar St – Charlotte
One-of-a-kind chocolate confections with flavors like classic truffles, a truffle of the month and other delectable treats including breezies, caramels and espresso truffles.
Bar Cocoa | 201 East Trade St – Charlotte
Chocolate truffles of all varieties with beautiful color accents. They even offer cooking classes on unique chocolate, pastry and desserts in their “Cocoa Lab”.
The Secret Chocolatier | 2935 Providence Rd., also found around town at local retailers like Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Julia’s Cafe & Bookstore and more.
This family-operated chocolate shop has come a long way from its roots at local farmers markets. For a gift, try the Breakfast Truffle Sampler ~ dark and milk chocolate truffles with infusions of orange, espresso and cinnamon roll.
Chocolat Boutique | Baxter Village, 1012 Market Street – Fort Mill
Inventive truffle flavors including white chocolate egg nog, chocolate gingerbread, dark and white chocolate peppermint truffles, dark chocolate strawberry, black forest, dark rum and the classics: milk, white and dark chocolate.
Kilwins | 16926 Birkdale Commons Pkwy – Huntersville
This chocolate-lover’s paradise brims with treats of every variety, from turtles to rich truffles to smooth creamy truffles homemade daily. They’re also a go-to for fudge, which they churn out in both classic and unique flavors.
Davidson Chocolate Company | 610 Jetton St, Ste 150 – Davidson
All of their chocolate truffles are made from scratch, some with caramel filling, chocolate filling and other unique fillings like cranberry and wild orange, candy cane, champagne, pomosa, hazelnut, lavendar, hot chili and more.
Chocolatier Barrucand | 1 Union St. South – Concord
At Chocolatier Barrucand, they know fine ingredients make hand-crafted candies taste that much better. Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel and filled truffles seem to be a big hit.
See’s Candies | SouthPark Mall – Charlotte
For over ninety years, See’s Candies has handmade over a hundred varieties of treats. Favorites include truffles and soft chews in flavors like white chocolate mint, dark chocolate butter treat, dark chocolate raspberry cream and more.
Chocolate Desserts
Now let’s talk about chocolate cake, cupcakes and other chocolate desserts. Some like layers, some like filling, and I think it is safe to say everyone has a favorite style of icing. A very popular holiday treat is fudge, it normally hides on shelves during the warmer months so now is the time to get yours.
Fahrenheit | 222 South Caldwell St.
Don’t skip dessert while you’re hanging out on 21. The Popcorn Crunch Sundae has sweet cream corn ice cream, caramel corn and chocolate biscotti brownie.
Reid’s Fine Foods | Myers Park, SouthPark, Uptown
The professionals at Reid’s bakery department offer an assortment of chocolate-forward treats from cookies to mini cakes.
Nona’s Sweets Bakery | 1520 Overland Park Lane Ste, 1-107 – Charlotte
A favorite is the German Chocolate Pastry filled with chocolate, flaky layers, topped with drizzles of sugar delights.
Tizzerts | 518 Griffith Road – Charlotte
People flock to this go-to spot for s’mores and chocolate cupcakes, chocolate chip loaf, chocolate cake, chocolate peppermint brownies and more.
Java’s Brewing Co | 1526 Providence Road – Waxhaw
Here, expect hand-crafted treats baked in-house by a husband and wife team. Top picks include chocolate cakes, chocolate muffins and chocolate pastries.
Carolina Chocolate Company | Local retailers like Reid’s Fine Foods, Vin Master, Paper Skyscraper, Peach Stand, Green With Envy and more.
Shop chocolate peppermint bark, chocolate bars, chocolate nut bars, chocolate fruit and nut bars, chocolate-dipped items and more at local Charlotte retailers.
Cupcrazed | Multiple locations
Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake, Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches, Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint Sandwiches, Peppermint Mocha Cupcake, Peppermint Fudge Sundae Cupcake
Iva Jean’s Fudge | Local retailers like CLT Find, The Mint Museum, Paper Skyscraper, Common Market Plaza Midwood, Sweetest Beginnings in Concord, Provisions Waxhaw and more.
They’re known for fudge of all flavors but the chocolate ones are the goal here! Try the chocolate Peppermint, Chocolate Walnut, Rocky Road, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate Chip, S’mores and more.
Suarez Bakery | 4245 Park Road – Charlotte
Winter specials include Chocolate Peppermint Doughnuts (Devil’s food doughnut with peppermint glaze and peppermint bark), Chocolate Snow Cap Cupcake, Chocolate Cookies and several more from this all-time favorite bakery.
Amelie’s French Bakery | Multiple locations
Head to your nearest Amelie’s for a Mint Chocolate Macaron, Dark Chocolate Macaron, Chocolate Walnut Tart, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brioche A Tete and several more chocolatey French things.
Drinking Chocolate
If you would prefer to drink your chocolate, you can warm up with a cup of homemade hot cocoa or cafe mocha at these top picks:
Enderly Coffee Company | served up all around town at places like Rhino Market, The Mayo Bird, Roots Cafe, Earl’s Grocery, Green with Envy, Urbean and more.
Don’t miss the seriously delicious hot chocolate, complete with all of the marshmallows you could desire (just look at the size of that bucket!)
Amelie’s French Bakery | Multiple locations
French pastries, coffees and other drinks is something Amelie’s does right. Sip on a cafe Mocha, hazelnut or chocolate praline cafe creme, peppermint blanc cafe creme, or chocolat chaud. They also have homemade flavored syrups to add to any of their drinks.
Sunflour Baking Company | Multiple locations
Favorites at Sunflour include housemade hot chocolate and what is known as a “dirty” chocolate made with white chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate sauces to create their signature hot cocoa.
Ninety’s Ice Cream | 9009 J M Keynes Drive, Ste 4 – Charlotte
An Instagram-lover’s dream, this spot on the north side of town boasts a homemade hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, chocolate drizzle and chocolate Pocky Sticks.
Davidson Chocolate Company | 610 Jetton St, Ste 150 – Davidson
In Davidson, this go-to served rich and creamy sipping chocolate (different from regular hot cocoa) that’s thick, creamy and sure to fill your belly with warm fuzzies.
Crossroads Coffee House | 112 North Broome St. – Waxhaw
Coffee roasters with delicious chocolate options in their coffee, hot chocolate, lattes, and even milkshakes.
Enjoy! We suggest you keep a napkin handy to wipe away any chocolate eating (or drinking) evidence 🙂
What are you favorites, comment below and tell us!
