Cha-Cha Chocolate!

Chocolate is beautiful. When it's made correctly with pure, quality ingredients it shines on the outside and provides a satisfying snap between your teeth. As we enter these cooler months it's time to reignite our appreciation for chocolate; the aesthetic, the tactile, the olfactory, and most importantly, the flavor.

Mini truffles make a wonderful gift... Their snappy shells and smooth interior are sure to impress and please! Each truffle is one ounce of gourmet chocolate whipping cream, in a variety of over twenty flavors. Pictured here are Black Forest (gotta love the pink shavings!), Grand Marnier (look at that glistening shell!), and Tiramisu (rolled in spiced sugar.. sinful!).
These mini truffles are part of our designer collection. Not only are they flavorful masterpieces, they're little works of art! Amaretto and Citrus Orange are pictured above, along with Tart Lemon and Key Lime at the shop!
Crowns are part of our gourmet chocolate selection, of which there are close to 100 varieties to choose from, giving us the most extensive collection in the city. Crowns also have a truffle filling, but they're just a little too small to be included in the truffle case. They're great for wedding favors and party platters for their interesting shape and splash of color. Pictured are dark chocolate, mint, and espresso crowns. These happen to be sugar-free, but they come in the real thing, too!

(Yes, I said sugar-free... Mostly sweetened with Maltitol, we have close to 50 varieties of sugar-free chocolate!)
Mmm... No one can resist Bare Paws! No, that isn't a typo, we call them "Bare" because the nuts and caramels are exposed under the chocolate. We're always toying with the idea of changing the name to Bear Paws to eliminate speculation that we're illiterate, but no matter what they're called, they come in these choices:

Cashew: Milk or White Chocolate

Almond: Milk or Dark Chocolate

Pecan: Milk, White or Dark Chocolate

Peanut: Milk Chocolate only
Do you like your chocolate straight-up? You can still try it with a twist... Chocolate Truffle Cuts (left) are like a firmer fudge with alternating dark and milk chocolate. Liquid Smoothie (right) is dark chocolate with a white cap, but be careful when you take a bite... The chocolate in the middle is gooey!
Our dessert-sized truffles will certainly leave an impression! Almost cupcake-sized, they're two ounces of rich chocolate whipping cream, and come in at least 50 flavors. With that kind of variety, again, we have the largest selection of dessert-sized truffles in the city! Pictured here are Dark Chocolate Tiramisu (a top-seller) and White Chocolate Ganache. Pronounced guh-nosh, it's really just a fancy word for whipped chocolate. There ya go, impress your friends!
A Kentucky-Proud favorite, this is a Rebecca Ruth Bourbon Ball. Though Rebecca Ruth originated the bourbon ball, Dundee Candy Shop has perfected our own recipe with dark chocolate and a smooth white fondant center that boasts enough bourbon and vanilla to be just right without a pecan. For a third option, try the butterscotch nuance of Buffalo Trace Bourbon Balls.
Salted Caramel is a hot trend in desserts... Plain caramels, suckers, cakes, and chocolates are going sea salt crazy! Our sea salt caramels have a generous sprinkle on top of dark chocolate, and a smooth, slightly chewy caramel in the middle.

Another hot (literally) trend, not pictured, is the use of pepper in chocolate. Come try a Hot Chocolate Meltaway, if you dare... Cayenne Pepper blended in to silky milk chocolate. They're great for wine tastings as the pepper opens the sinuses to take in every subtlety!
If you go nuts for nuts you'll go nuts for us! We carry chocolate covered nuts both in clusters and individually dipped (cashews, almonds, peanuts, pecans, and macadamia), as well as gourmet roasted and salted nuts (gourmet mix of Brazil, Pistachio, Blanched Almond, Cashew, and Pecan, as well as Almonds, Pecans, and Cashews). We also have a great selection of turtles, peanut butter, and toffee. Pictured are Almond Buttercrunch toffee and a Peanut Butter Peanut (PB flavored chocolate with a PB center).
It's the salty-sweet combo again... Chocolate covered pretzels come in Milk, White, Dark, Toffee covered, Jimmie covered, and peanut butter filled.
And lastly, a little autumn preview... These guys will hit the shelves soon! Up top is a peanut butter filled Halloween minutette, which also come bat and tombstone shaped. Below are Pumpkin Pie Minuettes.

*Did You Know? Dundee Candy Shop brings chocolate in from all over the country. We travel to national candy shows and network with independent chocolatiers to amass a selection of only the finest gourmet chocolates available in the country. Every chocolate you purchase from us comes from small chocolate companies, most of which are family-owned and handmade.

Not only does your purchase support a local business and keep money in the city, it supports small business communities nation-wide, so other cities can enjoy having the same candy shop luxury!

We're always looking for local candy makers as well! We currently carry Cellar Door mini truffles and chocolate/caramel pretzel rods by local lady Mainely Pretzels. Contact us if we should carry your confection!

Dundee Candy Falls for Malted Milk Balls

As Louisvillians, we have suffered through an intolerably hot summer. However, the last few days have graced us with milder temperatures and autumnal breezes. We're in that strange, hopeful limbo between Summer and Fall when it's too early for pumpkins and sweaters, but we're all itching to abandon citrus and sunglasses.

Our selection of malted milk balls are perfect for this time of year; warm pink Neapolitan and harvest colored Peanut Butter, light milk chocolate and rich espresso. Young and old, everyone loves malted milk balls, and with eight varieties to choose from, they never go out of season!

Did you know that malted milk originated in the late 1800's as a nutritional supplement for infants? It was later adopted by explorers for its high caloric value, and was used for energy in early expeditions to the Antarctic region. Eventually malt made its way to the soda shop, and then eventually blended with ice cream for the iconic American malt.

Where will malted milk balls take you? Stop in the candy shop for a handful of these little gems to take on a summer's end adventure of your own!

You have to love the way the colors mingle in a box... Like the gentle petals of summer flowers or the palette of autumnal hues in a pile of fall leaves. An everyday gathering or occasion is instantly more festive with this arrangement of colors and flavors!

*Neapolitan *Peanut Butter *Dark Chocolate *Milk Chocolate *Double Dipped *Espresso *Mint Cookie *Ultimate (milk/white swirl)*
All of them, waiting for you!

We hope these last official weeks of summer find you well... Challenge yourself to indulge in both sides of this season; sunbathe one last time one day, take a stroll in a sweater with a cinnamon latte the next! And if you need anything for that sweet tooth, you know where to find us.....

I Spy: Licorice at Dundee Candy Shop!

Ok, I know... When it comes to licorice, ya either love it or ya hate it.
If you love it, you're going to love this I Spy entry! We pride ourselves on an extensive collection of imported and unusual licorices. Even the most seasoned licorice connoisseur will find a new exotic treat from one of our little plastic bins.
If you (think you) hate licorice, bear with us... You may just change your mind! The colors, textures, and combination of flavors are enough to lure even the biggest skeptic in to popping a little black button with a smile. With over 15 varieties, we'll start you out slow and let you work up to the real stuff.

Confession: We are licorice snobs. As such, you are hard pressed to find American licorice or red licorice in our collection. These varieties tend to be waxy and flavorless, full of artificial flavoring and gummy fillers. Still, Jelly Belly and Gimbals have churned out a few that are near and dear to our bellies.
Gimbals' Licorice Scottie Dogs are mild and sweet, just gummy enough to make you feel like a kid again. The flavor is a as subtle as they come, but still rich and fragrant. For a slightly more sugary licorice, Jelly Belly offers gummi licorice bears, black jelly beans, pastels (which are akin to Good N' Plenty), and licorice bridge mix. The pastels and bridge mix are so colorful, it's hard to pass them up!

Sugary not your thing? Kookaburra licorice comes all the way from Australia, and while it isn't mild or sugary,it's flavor is so complex that you may not recognize it as licorice at first. The first thing you'll notice is the texture, very sticky on the fingers, soft and just slightly chewy in your mouth. Along with real licorice extract you may detect molasses, which is one of the ingredients that gives it its texture. If you have a keen palate, you may even catch a hint of smokiness, which comes from the combination of flavors. This unique blend is traditional to Australian licorice, a perfect excuse to posture as an Aussie!

Kookaburra may be delicious, but it isn't nearly as fun as Haribo's licorice wheels. Haribo is a German confectionary that can easily be likened to America's Jelly Belly, but with a more European use of flavor that is far less sweet and more true to life. Licorice wheels have the purest flavor; slightly bitter, robust licorice, hold the sugar.
Even if you don't like licorice, wheels are useful in the kitchen! Each wheel peels out in to two strands of shoestring licorice, which is perfect for decorating cupcakes with cat whiskers, spider legs, mustaches and more! Kids love to peel them apart, and it takes so few to do some major decorating!

Alright... Now the real stuff. When it comes to licorice, Dutch varieties are the Holy Grail. What do you expect? The Dutch consume more licorice per capita than any other place in the world! They're bitter, they're harder in texture, and many of them incorporate a salty after taste. You have to be serious licorice person to appreciate these. While we have many types of Dutch licorice, I'll focus on the most intriguing; coins, sea salt, cubes, chalk, and rockies. Sound like a treasure hunt? It kind of is!
Coins (Muntdrop) are a great representation of a good plain Dutch licorice. The Dutch love to make their licorice in funny shapes, and in addition to the coins we have farm animals and buttons that fit in this category. They're hard, and require a little time in your mouth before they're pliable enough to chew. Yes, you have to spend time with them, you have to be willing to savor. Dutch licorice uses very little sugar and has a very bitter, organic flavor.
If you're brave enough to take it to the next level, try your hand at salmiak and zout, both Dutch words for salty flavors. Salmiak tends to be a salty/sweet combination, while Zout is the stuff that will make your taste buds swell. Licorice cubes are on the salmiak side, marshmallowy and sugar sanded, but with a distinct licorice flavor that is perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. Sea salt licorice is on the zout side, and cleverly shaped to look like sea creatures. They're hard like the coins, but contain and a concentration of salt so strong that the licorice flavor hits you second.

Rockies and Chalk are their own beasts all together. Rockies are like little licorice burritos; soft and chewy licorice outside, with a combination of strawberry, vanilla, and sometimes lemon creams on the inside. They're colorful and delicious, and the cream offsets the bitterness nicely. We also carry salmiak rockies which have a salty cream center.
So maybe you've had, or heard of, these Dutch treats. I promise, you have never known a licorice like licorice chalk. In one inch bites, the licorice is in a white, powdery candy shell that looks exactly like it belongs in a classroom. Bite in to it and your sense will go crazy. Licorice, salt, sugar, and menthol will come at you all at once, leaving a nasal-clearing cooling effect when you finish. If it sounds too crazy to fathom, just come in for a sample!

For those of us who love licorice, this candy is like quality chocolate, fine wine or a local microbrew; There are regional and ethnic specialities, endless complexities in flavor, scents, textures, and after tastes to consider and enjoy. It's meant to be really tasted, and unlike gummi bears or malted milk balls, just a few pieces should be a enough to satisfy a craving.

I Spy: Foil-Wrapped Chocolates

This is the inaugural entry of a new blog series called I Spy!

There are so many special confections in our tiny little shop, it's impossible to take it all in at once. From imported licorice to Kentucky Bourbon Balls, "penny" candy to chocolate pretzels, each week we'll take a closer look at one of the sugary items that makes us purveyors of the most unusual and extensive variety of candies in town!

Perhaps the most iconic corner of the shop is the one lined in wicker baskets of all shapes and sizes, each the vessel of shiny, whimsical foil-wrapped chocolates. Coins, animals, flowers, characters, sports balls, cars, and airplanes immediately elicit smiles and squeals from children and adults alike! Many generations of candy lovers were introduced to chocolate in this magical area of the store, and have grown to remember them as beloved foiled treasures!

What makes these chocolates even more special? They're gourmet!

The Madelaine Chocolate Company of Rockaway Beach, NY is a small, family owned company that is almost as old as we are! Founded in 1949, just three years after Dundee opened its doors, Madelaine is a great example of the caliber of chocolatiers that we bring to Louisville; they're a small operation that is passionate about continuing a legacy and making a quality product- No waxes or unnecessary fillers, just pure silky chocolate. Their crayons, sneakers, coins, and seasonal selections are full of charm.

"Ideas moulded in to chocolate..." That's the philosophy behind our second foiled chocolate supplier, Storz Chocolates of Germany. Established in 1884, this family-owned company knows their chocolate! These candies are truly objects of the old world, and their unusual shapes and German stamping will make you feel as though you're browsing from a European market! Pirates, dogs, butterflies, airplanes, and snails are just a few of the treats you can enjoy from across the pond!

Remember... Our candies don't just look special, each has a story to tell!

Though many of our sweets are not made in Louisville, they do come from small, independent confectioners and chocolatiers from around the world... By shopping with us, not only are you supporting local business at home, you're ensuring that communities around the world have a local alternative to Hershey and Brachs as well!

Next time you're in the shop, try ordering one of the Storz goodies by its name in Deutsch!

Pirate/Pirat

Snail/Schnecke

Airplane/Flugzeug

Penguin/Pinguin

Butterfly/Schmetterling

Summer Party and Relaxation with Confectionary Style

Unless you bring a spoon, summer is not the time to venture outdoors with a chocolate treat!
Luckily, warm weather and sunshine always seem to inspire picnics and cookouts. Our taste buds crave the refreshing flavor of citrus and berry to satiate the sweet tooth, am I right?
Boston Fruits Slices, tangy and tart gummi fruit salad, salt water taffy, plump marzipan made of almond paste, and chocolate covered dried fruits (if you keep them in the shade!) make great desserts, and look summer-chic on a plate or in a bowl.
Going hiking? Camping? Roasted and salted mixed nuts and a variety of snack mixes are sure to keep you energized!
Here's a little picnic love to inspire your next gathering....


Sometimes it's just too hot to venture outdoors. Summer is a great time for introspection; grab a truffle, or in this case, a chocolate crayon, and jot down some thoughts at your desk with the AC on full blast!


As a Cancerian, I'm all too familiar with the beach themed birthday party. Use our sweedish fish, sour trout, salt water taffy, chocolate foil wrapped fish, and chocolate foiled pirates to decorate a table, fill a goodie bag, or put the finished touches on your cakes and cupcakes! Looking for chocolate seashells? Give us a week's notice and we'll whip up a batch just for you!

GET CRAFTY WITH CANDY: You're at the beach and overcome with beachcomber's fever. You fill a bucket full of prized seashell finds and take them home with pride, only to find that they have no practical use here in Louisville, KY. For a beach themed dinner party or birthday, create a dynamite centerpiece, or adorable placeholders, using these directions:

1. Boil shells to remove bacteria.
2. Use a food-safe clear coat to seal the shell and give it some shine.
3. Place a dessert truffle or handful of colorful gummies in the concave underside of the shell and sit at each place setting for dessert, or make an arrangement in the middle of the table.
4. Wow your guests with your creativity and discerning candy palate!

Summer Gummies and Snacks

We've stocked a bunch of new gummies and snack mixes this summer and for a limited time you can try them at half price! Tell us your favorites and we'll keep them around all the time.

Here's a few choices:

Gummi Jet Fighters

Gummi Inch Worms

12-Flavor Wild Bears

Yogurt Cherries and Cranberries

Chocolate Cappuccino Biscotti

Chocolate Caramel Corn....... and more than 20 more!!!