7 North Carolina Candy Shops That Still Make Everything The Old-Fashioned Way

There’s something magical about watching candy being made by hand.

The sweet aroma filling the air, the rhythmic pulling of taffy, and the careful pouring of chocolate into molds – these traditions are alive and well in North Carolina.

I recently took a sugar-fueled road trip across the Tar Heel State to find shops where candy-making remains an art form rather than a factory process.

From coastal confections to mountain treats, here are seven spots where sweet dreams are still handcrafted the way grandma would approve.

1. River Street Sweets: Southern Charm Meets Sugary Delight

Honey, you haven’t lived until you’ve caught the praline performance at River Street Sweets! Originally from Savannah, this family-owned gem brought their Southern confectionery traditions to Charlotte, where they’ve been causing sweet tooth emergencies ever since.

The star of the show? Their world-famous pralines made right before your eyes on marble slabs. My mouth waters just remembering how they pour that bubbling copper kettle of buttery pecan goodness onto the cooling surface, then skillfully shape each praline with wooden paddles.

Last summer, I brought my nephew to watch them hand-dip strawberries in chocolate. His eyes grew wider than those bear claws they sell! Everything from their divinity to their glazed pecans follows time-honored recipes that would make any Southern grandmother nod in approval.

2. Wheeler’s Candy: Asheville’s Mountain-Made Marvels

Good gravy, the ribbon candy at Wheeler’s will knock your socks off! Tucked away in Asheville’s historic district, this pint-sized paradise has been pulling, twisting, and cutting candy the same way for over 80 years.

During my visit, I stood mesmerized as third-generation candy maker Sam Wheeler transformed a molten sugar blob into delicate, paper-thin ribbons using nothing but scissors and nimble fingers. The entire shop smelled like Christmas morning! Their cinnamon hard candy starts as a copper kettle of simple ingredients – sugar, water, and natural flavorings.

The absolute kicker is their signature mountain honey taffy. Using local sourwood honey from Appalachian beekeepers, they create a chewy delight that’s pulled on the same hook-and-pole system Sam’s grandfather installed in 1941. Talk about sticking to your roots (and your teeth)!

3. Candy Barrel: High Country Sweetness In Blowing Rock

Holy cow, I nearly lost my mind at Candy Barrel! Nestled in Blowing Rock’s charming Mast General Store, this barrel-shaped wonderland specializes in mountain-made treats that’ll transport you straight back to grandma’s kitchen.

The moment you walk in, your nose is assaulted by the heavenly scent of warm caramel and roasting nuts. I watched slack-jawed as they hand-stirred kettles of peanut brittle, cracking jokes while carefully monitoring the temperature without any fancy gadgets – just the old “drop a bit in water” test to check consistency.

Their stick candy comes in flavors I hadn’t thought about since childhood – horehound, sassafras, and teaberry! Each batch is hand-pulled and cut while still warm, then twisted into those perfect spirals. The friendly candy makers even let me try my hand at pulling some – let’s just say I won’t be quitting my day job anytime soon.

4. The Candy Factory: Lexington’s Sweet Time Capsule

Walking into The Candy Factory feels like stepping through a portal to 1978! The vintage candy store in uptown Lexington occupies a historic building that once housed a hardware store, and boy, do they know how to keep traditions alive.

I couldn’t help but giggle watching the candy makers dramatically flip and fold hot taffy on their century-old pulling machine – it’s dinner and a show, folks! Their chocolate-covered cherries are made using the same recipe from when they first opened, requiring three days to achieve that magical liquid center.

What really buttered my biscuit was discovering they still use copper kettles and wooden paddles for their brittles and fudge. No fancy machinery or preservatives here – just pure sugary craftsmanship that makes my dentist nervously check his calendar.

5. Old Fashioned Candy: Mount Airy’s Nostalgic Treasure Trove

Jumping jehoshaphat, this place is Mayberry magic in candy form! Located in Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy, Old Fashioned Candy embraces its nostalgic surroundings with a shop that feels plucked straight from a 1950s television set.

During my visit, I chuckled watching tourists gasp as candy makers hand-pulled massive globs of striped candy canes in July! Their signature “Sheriff Taylor Taffy” (named after Griffith’s famous character) comes in flavors like sassafras and butterscotch, each piece wrapped in wax paper and twisted by hand – not a machine in sight.

My personal weakness? Their hand-dipped chocolate clusters made with locally sourced nuts. The chocolate tempered in small batches in copper double boilers, just like they’ve done since opening in 1947. The owner, Betty, still uses her grandmother’s recipes, scribbled on yellowed index cards that hang framed behind the counter.

6. The Lollipop Shop: Black Mountain’s Whimsical Wonder

Great day in the morning – The Lollipop Shop is what candy dreams are made of! This whimsical little spot in Black Mountain’s historic downtown has floors that creak with character and shelves that bow under the weight of handcrafted treats.

I nearly fell over watching Mr. Wilson (who must be pushing 80) hand-pour lollipops into vintage metal molds from the 1930s. Each one takes almost 40 minutes to create! The rainbow of colors comes from natural ingredients – beet juice for red, turmeric for yellow – no artificial anything.

Their signature “Mountain Mist” rock candy starts as a simple syrup in copper pots, then gets hand-strung on cotton strings and suspended in glass jars for days until crystals form. I bought three jars and promptly devoured one on my drive home. The taste of pure cane sugar and mountain spring water makes store-bought candy seem like plastic by comparison!

7. Kilwins: Wilmington’s Waterfront Confectionery Classic

Sweet mother of maple, Kilwins on the Wilmington riverfront is a sensory overload! While it’s part of a small chain, don’t you dare call this place commercial – their Wilmington location makes everything the old-school way, right in the front window where passersby can drool accordingly.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time with my nose pressed against the glass watching their fudge-making show. The paddle-wielding confectioners work that creamy mixture on marble slabs using techniques unchanged since 1947. They flip and fold with the precision of gymnasts and the flair of Broadway performers!

Their sea salt caramels deserve a special mention – each piece hand-cut and dipped in chocolate tempered the traditional way. During my visit, I caught them making hand-paddled peanut brittle with North Carolina peanuts while explaining the process to wide-eyed children. The brittle shatters with a satisfying crack that simply can’t be replicated by mass production.