No trip to downtown Gatlinburg, TN is complete without a visit to one of The Strip’s wonderful candy shops! Featuring all of your favorite fudges and candies, these stores are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. To help you make the most of your vacation, Amazing Views Cabin Rentals has put together a guide to the five best Gatlinburg candy shops.
1. Aunt Mahalia’s Candies
Aunt Mahalia’s is the oldest and best candy store in Gatlinburg. This beloved shop has been making delicious sweets in the Smokies since 1939! All of the candies at Aunt Mahalia’s are prepared the old fashioned way, using the same tried-and-true techniques they have employed for decades. Visitors can even watch the candymakers at work in their glass enclosed kitchen.
Everything at Aunt Mahalia’s is delicious, but some of the most popular items include the fudge, divinity, candy apples, and pecan puffs. Aunt Mahalia’s has two locations in downtown Gatlinburg: one in the Mountain Mall and an additional store on the Parkway.
2. Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen
While Aunt Mahalia’s has been in Gatlinburg the longest, Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen also has a long history on The Strip. This popular store first opened its doors in 1950 after founders Dave and Peggy Dych got sidelined on their trip to California when they fell in love with Gatlinburg. Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen is a throwback to a simpler era, featuring white uniformed candymakers, fudge made in copper kettles, and taffy pulled on a mesmerizing machine.
Visitors to Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen will find all of their favorite sweets, including authentic salt water taffy, caramel apples, cashew brittle, chocolate covered peanut butter balls, and a large selection of gummies. Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen has two convenient locations on the downtown Parkway.
3. Kilwin’s
Kilwin’s is another one of the best Gatlinburg candy shops. With origins in Michigan, Kilwin’s specializes in Mackinac Island fudge, a style of fudge made on marble slabs that is especially sweet and creamy. In addition to its fantastic fudge and candies, Kilwin’s is also one of the most popular spots to enjoy ice cream in the Smokies. We recommend getting your ice cream in one of their warmed homemade waffle cones for a truly delectable treat.
4. Chocolate Monkey
If you’re craving a caramel apple, you can’t go wrong at Chocolate Monkey! This shop uses giant apples and scratch made caramel to create some of the tastiest caramel apples in Gatlinburg. Other highlights of Chocolate Monkey include the fudge, truffles, frozen bananas, chocolate covered cheesecakes, and Blue Bell ice cream.
5. The Caramel Candy Co.
Caramel lovers will be in paradise when they visit The Caramel Candy Co. Promising the world’s best caramel, this shop lives up to expectations with its delicious melt in your mouth candies. Popular varieties include the pecan caramel and the salted chocolate caramel. The Caramel Candy Co. is almost always giving out free samples, but be warned: once you try their caramels you may not want to leave the store!
When you stay with Amazing Views Cabin Rentals, you will be near all of these excellent Gatlinburg candy shops. Offering beautiful mountain views, relaxing hot tubs, fully furnished kitchens, fun theater rooms, and even more great amenities, our cabins have everything you need for an unforgettable vacation. To start planning your getaway, browse our selection of Gatlinburg cabin rentals!
