This North Dakota Candy Shop Covers Potato Chips In Chocolate And Ships Them Around The World
Somebody took a rippled potato chip, dunked it in homemade chocolate, and gave it a name that sounds like a cartoon sidekick. Chippers.
Honestly, that’s a surprising amount of confidence for a potato chip.
The same candy kitchen also dips pickles, green olives, and jalapeños in chocolate. Yes, on purpose.
Most people draw the line somewhere between sweet and savory, but this place seems determined to erase it entirely.
What started as a sweet-and-salty curiosity in North Dakota now ships to over a dozen countries. Somewhere out there, someone is opening a box of chocolate-covered potato chips for the first time, wondering whether to say thank you or call a friend as a witness.
Either way, there’s no forgetting your first Chipper.
And if chocolate-covered pickles sound like a step too far, well, nobody’s forcing you to try one. But the potato chips?
Those might disappear before you even get the box closed.
Chippers Are The Reason Your Snack Drawer Will Never Feel Complete Again
Salty met sweet in a little North Dakota kitchen, and nobody has looked back since. At Widman’s Candy Shop in Grand Forks, the star of the show is the Chipper, a rippled potato chip hand-dipped in homemade chocolate.
The chips come from the Red River Valley, which makes this treat feel extra local. That region grows a lot of potatoes, so the snack basically has hometown pride baked right in.
You get choices, too. Chippers come in milk chocolate and semi-sweet dark chocolate.
There’s also a white chocolate bark version for folks who march to their own sweet drummer.
Peanut butter fans haven’t been left out either. Peanut butter covered chips show up on the shelves, and they’ve earned a loyal following of their own.
The magic comes down to balance. Too much chocolate buries the crunch, while too little leaves you with a sad, naked chip.
Widman’s has spent decades working out that ratio.
My advice is simple. Grab a box of milk chocolate first, then branch out once you trust the process.
You will probably buy a second box before leaving town anyway.
Brave Snackers Can Try Chocolate On Pickles, Olives, And Jalapenos
Chocolate-covered pickles. Read that again, slowly, and let your brain catch up.
Widman’s Candy Shop does not stop at potato chips. The candy makers here also dip green olives, pickles, and jalapenos in chocolate.
Bacon has made the list as well, which feels like breakfast took a wrong turn into dessert.
Sound like a dare from a sleepover? Maybe.
But these unusual savories have become part of the shop’s playful personality. They give curious eaters a story to tell the minute they get home.
The jalapeno version brings a little heat under all that sweetness. Olives and pickles add a tangy, salty bite that plays off the chocolate in surprising ways.
Your taste buds may need a moment to file a report.
Here’s a smart move for nervous first-timers. Buy one or two pieces instead of a whole box.
That way, you can test the waters without committing your entire road trip snack budget.
Bring a friend along for the experiment. Watching someone else bite into a chocolate pickle first is half the fun.
Plus, you’ll have a witness when you admit it was actually pretty good.
The Family Recipe Book Goes Back Further Than Your Great-Grandpa
Way back in 1885, William Widman I was making handmade candies and baked goods in Dubuque, Iowa. That’s the starting point of a sweet family line that’s still going strong.
The next chapter moved north. In 1911, George I and Clara Widman opened a shop in Crookston, Minnesota.
Candy, it turns out, runs in the bloodline.
Grand Forks got its turn in 1949. That’s when George II and Betty Widman opened the shop that North Dakota knows and loves today.
Few businesses can point to that kind of staying power.
Today, Shawn Widman owns and runs the Grand Forks store. He keeps the family tradition moving forward, one batch of chocolate at a time.
Think about how much the world has changed since 1885. Cars, phones, and the internet all showed up along the way.
Meanwhile, this family just kept dipping things in chocolate, which honestly sounds like the wisest plan of all.
Knowing the backstory makes a visit feel richer. You’re not just buying candy.
You’re tasting a recipe trail that has crossed three states and well over a century.
Hand-Dipped Means Real People Make Every Single Piece
Factories crank out candy by the truckload. Widman’s Candy Shop prefers the slow road, and that choice shows in every bite.
Everything here gets made right on site. Candy is hand-dipped in the shop’s own kitchen, which keeps an old-fashioned craft alive.
Some folks call it a lost art, and they’re not wrong.
The scale is pretty wild for a hands-on operation. The shop makes hundreds of different kinds of candy.
That’s a lot of dipping, stirring, and careful finishing work for one family kitchen.
Why does handmade matter? For one thing, small batches let candy makers pay attention to details.
Each piece reflects choices made by a person, not a timer on a machine.
The homemade chocolate is the backbone of it all. Every Chipper, cherry, and cream starts with the same family approach that has guided Widman’s for generations.
When you pick up a box, take a second to appreciate the work behind it. Somebody stood over that chocolate and made sure it came out right.
That kind of care is getting harder to find, so enjoy it while you munch.
Save Room For Hot Air, Baby Spuds, And A Few Cowpies
Hot Air sounds like a weather report, but it’s actually candy. Elsewhere you might hear it called sea foam or fairy food.
At Widman’s, it’s crunchy spun molasses coated in chocolate.
The quirky names don’t end there. Baby Spud mixes peanut butter and marshmallow creme with crushed potato chips.
Yes, the potato theme keeps rolling. Cowpies are on the roster too, and they’re much tastier than their name suggests.
Classic fans have plenty to love. Caramels, toffee, and chocolate creams in flavors like lemon, maple, and mint fill out the cases.
Sunflower bark gives North Dakota’s famous seeds a sweet coat.
Dark chocolate coffee beans are another popular pick. So are chocolate-dipped cinnamon bears, licorice, peanut brittle, and candy apples.
There are even sugar-free choices for folks watching their sugar.
Build-your-own boxes make it easy to sample a little of everything. That’s the smartest way to explore, especially if decisions aren’t your strong suit.
Your Mailbox Can Get A Taste Of North Dakota Too
Over a dozen countries have received Chippers from Widman’s Candy Shop. Not bad for a snack born in a Grand Forks candy kitchen.
That global reach makes these chips a fun gift. Faraway friends can taste a little piece of North Dakota without buying a plane ticket.
Coworkers tend to appreciate a box landing on their desk, too.
There’s one catch, and it’s all about the weather. Chocolate melts, so mail-order shipping usually runs during cooler months.
The general window is roughly October 1 through May 1.
Plan around that schedule. Holiday gifts are a perfect fit since winter shipping keeps the chocolate happy.
Summer birthdays may call for a little creative timing.
Fame helped spread the word over the years. The shop’s chocolate-covered chips even earned a spot on The Tonight Show.
A national TV moment like that can turn a local favorite into a far-flung craving.
My tip? Order early when the cool season starts, especially around the holidays.
Popular treats from a hand-dipping kitchen can’t be rushed. A little patience pays off when that box shows up.
Ask For The Free Sample And Thank Us Later
Free candy is a beautiful thing. At Widman’s Candy Shop, a free sample from the case at checkout has become a cherished tradition.
It’s a small gesture with big charm. You might land a flavor you’d never pick on your own.
That’s how new favorites get discovered.
The tradition carries real history, too. Mr. Widman was known for handing out unique candies to sample.
Today, the habit keeps that personal touch alive for a new generation of sweet tooths.
Don’t be shy about speaking up. Ask what’s new, what’s seasonal, or what pairs well with a gift.
The staff can point you toward options that fit your taste or your event.
Holidays bring their own lineup of themed candies. Molded shapes and seasonal treats rotate through, so each visit can look a little different.
Here’s a practical idea. Browse the full case before you check out, then use your sample to test something new.
If it wins you over, grab a few more pieces on the spot. Smart shopping never tasted so good.
A Little Line By The Door Tells A Big Grand Forks Story
Grand Forks faced a massive flood in 1997. The Red River rose and swamped much of downtown, and businesses had to dig deep to come back.
Widman’s Candy Shop came back. Near the front door, a marker shows how high the floodwater reached inside the shop.
It’s a quiet, powerful reminder of what this community went through.
Take a moment to look at it before you start shopping. Standing next to that line puts the city’s comeback into perspective.
Then you get to celebrate with chocolate, which seems fitting.
The building itself has old-fashioned character. It suits a shop that has been serving North Dakota sweets since 1949.
Modern malls just can’t fake that kind of personality.
Resilience is part of the flavor here. A family business that rebuilds after a disaster earns a special place in its town.
Every box of Chippers carries a bit of that grit.
Kids especially might enjoy the marker. It turns a candy run into a mini history lesson.
Sneaky learning, sweetened with sugar. Parents everywhere approve.
Plan Your Downtown Candy Run Before The Doors Close
Mapping out the trip is easy. Widman’s Candy Shop sits at 106 S 3rd St, Grand Forks, ND 58201, right in the heart of downtown.
Hours are friendly for most schedules. The shop opens at 9 AM and closes at 5:30 PM Monday through Friday.
Saturday runs from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays are closed.
Parking is on the street, so give yourself a minute to find a spot. Bigger vehicles like RVs may need a little extra room and patience.
The shop also makes a great add-on to other plans. Lots of folks swing by when they’re in town for a UND hockey game.
Candy before or after the puck drops? Both work.
Gift shoppers should know about assortment platters and prepackaged sample bags. They’re handy for parties, office events, or holiday visits.
Call ahead for bigger orders and confirm pickup dates clearly.
One last tip. Bring a cooler bag in warm weather so your chocolate survives the drive.
Melted Chippers still taste fine, but they’re a lot less fun to share. Your car seats will thank you, too.