Every Ohio family seems to have that one relative who spent December rolling peanut butter balls and dipping them in chocolate, leaving a little circle on top so they looked just like the nut from our state tree. Buckeyes are simple, a little messy to make, and somehow impossible to stop eating, which is exactly why so many of us still crave the homemade kind.
The good news is that you do not need a family recipe card to get them, because shops from Perrysburg to Circleville are still hand-making buckeyes and old-fashioned chocolates the patient way. Here are seven Ohio candy stops worth saving for your next road trip, holiday gift run, or sweet-tooth emergency.
1. Marsha’s Homemade Buckeyes, Perrysburg, OH
Some shops try to do a little bit of everything. Marsha’s picked one job and stuck with it: peanut butter and chocolate buckeyes.
That focus is the whole appeal here. This long-standing Perrysburg confectionery built its name on the classic Ohio treat, and the buckeye is the star rather than a side item in a crowded display case.
You will find the shop at 25631 Fort Meigs Rd, Suite H, in the Perrysburg area just south of Toledo. The production space is known for being clean and well kept, which is exactly what you want from a place making candy by hand.
Timing matters with this one. Marsha’s keeps weekday hours only, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is closed on weekends.
That schedule makes it a smart stop for a lunch break errand or a weekday drive rather than a lazy Saturday outing. If you are planning a holiday order, calling ahead at 419-872-7666 is a good idea.
Out-of-state fans are part of the story, too. Buckeyes from Marsha’s get shipped to transplanted Ohioans and curious friends in other states, which makes this a handy option when you want to send a taste of home to someone who moved away.
I would save this stop for gift shopping. A box of buckeyes from a shop that does nothing else is an easy way to introduce a non-Ohioan to our favorite candy.
2. Schmidt’s Fudge Haus, Columbus, OH
German Village already has brick streets and old brick homes going for it. Add a fudge shop on East Kossuth Street and the neighborhood walk gets a lot sweeter.
Schmidt’s Fudge Haus is a small, homey store packed with homemade fudge, chocolates, candies, and treats. The handmade buckeyes are a big reason people seek it out, and they regularly end up in tote bags headed back to other states.
The selection goes well beyond peanut butter and chocolate. Yogurt covered nuts, chocolate samplers, and a wide lineup of chocolate make it easy to build a mixed box for a host gift or a holiday party.
Staff here have a friendly, helpful reputation, which helps if you are staring at the case trying to decide between fudge flavors. Think of it as a quick visit rather than a sit-down stop, since there is no dine-in seating.
A few practical notes:
The shop opens at noon every day, staying open until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Free street parking is available nearby, and curbside pickup is an option if you would rather call ahead at 614-444-2222.
There is no public restroom, so plan accordingly if you are making a day of German Village. The shop is also known as an LGBTQ+ friendly space, which adds to the welcoming neighborhood feel.
If you are visiting Columbus for a game weekend, this is the kind of place I would hit before heading home. Buckeyes from a German Village fudge shop make a much better souvenir than another T-shirt.
3. Sweet Designs Chocolatier, Lakewood, OH
Hand painted chocolates and classic buckeyes do not usually share a counter. At Sweet Designs Chocolatier in Lakewood, they sit side by side.
The shop has a European-style approach, with chocolate bars, truffles, and vegan options on the shelves. Even so, it has not forgotten its Ohio roots, and the dark chocolate buckeyes are a standout for anyone who likes a richer, less sugary shell.
The artsy side of the menu is hard to miss. The shop’s hand painted chocolates, sold under the Chokolatine name, lean into the idea of chocolate as small edible art.
Beyond that, the variety gets playful. Caramels, chocolate orange slices, chocolate covered gummy bears, chocolate covered cherries and blueberries, gummy fish, and chocolate drizzled popcorn all show up here, along with seasonal holiday pops and foil wrapped hearts around Valentine’s Day.
Sweet Designs sits at 16100 Detroit Ave, an easy stop on one of Lakewood’s main corridors west of Cleveland. Hours run 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, with Sundays closed.
Saturday afternoon tends to be the busiest stretch. Weekday mornings are usually calmer if you want time to browse without a line behind you.
This is the stop I would pick for a buckeye fan who also appreciates fancy chocolate. You can grab a box of the classics and still leave with something that looks almost too pretty to eat.
4. the Buckeye co., Findlay, OH
Plenty of family businesses start at the kitchen table. The Buckeye co. started on a takeout menu.
Before it had its own name, this Findlay candy business was known as Butler Buckeyes, a small snack sold at Jack-B’s Takeout. The buckeyes got so popular that the family’s daughter turned them into a business of their own.
That backstory fits this list nicely. It is a real Grandma-style success story, just with a younger generation doing the rolling and dipping.
Today the shop makes homemade gourmet buckeyes along with specialty buckeyes designed for events. Baby showers, birthdays, Christmas, or no reason at all are all fair game for a custom order.
The classic peanut butter version remains the go-to. One fun twist worth trying at home is tucking a buckeye into a s’more in place of the usual chocolate square.
You will find the Buckeye co. at 517 W Trenton Ave in Findlay. Hours run Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the shop is closed on weekends.
Those late weekday hours are a nice perk for anyone picking up an order after work. For party trays or special occasions, calling 419-957-2258 ahead of time is the easiest way to plan.
5. Wittich’s Candy Shop, Circleville, OH
Few candy shops can say their soda fountain came from somewhere else. At Wittich’s in downtown Circleville, the fountain counter once served customers at a busy pharmacy in the Beechwold neighborhood of Columbus.
That counter is only part of the history here. Wittich’s has been making chocolates and candies for generations, and it carries a reputation as one of the oldest family-owned candy shops in the country.
The shop specializes in homemade chocolates and hand-dipped treats. Chocolate covered peanuts, maple creams, and the shop’s caramel nut clusters, known as Wittich’s turtles, are all part of the lineup.
Ice cream and sodas round things out, so it works as a treat stop even if you are not buying a box to take home.
For anyone chasing the old-fashioned, hand-dipped approach that defines a good buckeye, this is the most history-rich stop on the list. It is the kind of place where the building and the candy counter are as much of the draw as the chocolate itself.
Wittich’s sits at 117 W High St and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
Parking is simple, with a free lot and free street parking. Wednesday and Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings tend to be the busiest times.
If you are in town for the famous Circleville Pumpkin Show in October, expect downtown to be packed. A quieter weekday visit gives you more time to take in the soda fountain.
6. The Buckeye Lady, Columbus, OH
Red velvet, orange cream, carrot cake, brownie. Those are not cake flavors at a bakery, they are buckeye flavors at a shop on North High Street.
The Buckeye Lady takes Grandma’s recipe as a starting point and then has some fun with it. The original peanut butter and chocolate version is here, along with a crunchy style and a rotating mix of creative flavors.
The real headline, though, is the Stuffed Buckeye. These come with fillings tucked inside, such as red velvet or salted caramel, which makes them a completely different bite from the classic.
There is a feel-good angle too. The shop supports dog rescue efforts, so your candy habit helps out four-legged friends in the Columbus area.
Prices are considered fair for handmade candy, and the team is friendly about explaining flavors if you are new to the lineup. That helps when the case has more options than you expected.
You will find the shop at 4493 N High St in the Clintonville area. Hours run 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, which makes it one of the easier weekend stops on this list.
Parking is available on site and on the street, both free. Delivery is also offered if you want a box sent to your door.
I would bring a picky eater here. Between the classics and the stuffed versions, there is a good chance someone in your group finds a new favorite.
7. Goumas Candyland, Heath, OH
Family-owned since 1911, Goumas Candyland has been around longer than most of our grandmothers.
That kind of staying power is rare in the candy business. More than a century later, the family is still focused on the old-school basics, especially hand-dipped chocolates.
Truffles and caramel apples are also part of the lineup, which makes this a strong stop in the fall and around the holidays. Valentine’s Day is a big season here, and a box of Goumas chocolates has long been a go-to gift in Licking County.
The shop sits at 19 Claren Dr in Heath, right next to Newark. It is a quick detour if you are heading out to explore the Newark Earthworks or driving through on State Route 79.
Plan your timing carefully, since hours are shorter than at some other shops. Goumas is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, with Sundays closed.
Monday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons tend to draw the biggest crowds. Tuesday morning is usually the quietest window.
There is no public restroom, so treat it as a grab-and-go visit. You can reach the shop at 740-522-6294 before a holiday rush.
I like ending this list here because Goumas ties it all together. Whether you are hunting for buckeyes or a box of hand-dipped chocolates, Ohio’s candy makers are still doing it the patient, handmade way, and that is a tradition worth keeping in the family.
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