If you grew up in Ohio, you already know what a buckeye is: a round peanut butter center dipped in chocolate, made to look like the shiny nut from the state tree. Sure, you can find them in grocery stores, but the best ones come from small chocolate shops where folks have been hand-dipping candy for years.
Some of these shops have been part of their towns for decades, and people plan whole road trips around them. From the northeast hills to little downtown squares, Ohio is loaded with candy makers who take their buckeyes seriously.
Here are eight beloved chocolate shops worth pointing your car toward the next time your sweet tooth needs a real reason to travel.
1. Coblentz Chocolate Company, Walnut Creek, Ohio
Right in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, Coblentz Chocolate Company sits along a stretch of rolling farmland in Holmes County. The setting alone makes it a natural stop on a Walnut Creek day trip.
The shop is known for hand-dipped chocolates, and buckeyes are one of the classics you can watch being made through viewing windows. Seeing the candy dipped in person is part of the draw here.
Beyond buckeyes, the cases hold truffles, caramels, and other confections, so it works well for anyone traveling with a group that can never agree on one treat. The location makes it easy to pair with other Amish Country stops nearby.
2. Winans Chocolates and Coffees, Piqua, Ohio
Western Ohio has its own chocolate name worth knowing, and Winans is it. What started in Piqua has grown into a shop that pairs handmade chocolates with coffee, giving you two good reasons to pull off the road.
Buckeyes here fit right alongside a lineup of truffles, creams, and other candies made in the tradition of a classic chocolate shop.
The coffee side means you can grab a drink while you shop, which makes it a comfortable break during a longer drive. It is a solid stop for anyone who likes to sip while they browse the candy counter.
3. Marie’s Candies, West Liberty, Ohio
Family-run candy making has deep roots in West Liberty, and Marie’s Candies is a longtime part of that story. The shop has built its name on hand-dipped chocolates made in small batches.
Buckeyes are a staple of the counter, sitting among chocolate-covered cherries, creams, and other traditional favorites.
West Liberty is a quiet town in Logan County, which makes the shop an easy add-on if you are exploring the region’s caves and scenic spots. For candy lovers who appreciate a shop that still does things by hand, it is a rewarding place to stop.
4. Malley’s Chocolates, Cleveland Area, Ohio
Northeast Ohio has a chocolate name that locals recognize instantly, and Malley’s is that shop. Started in the Cleveland area, it has grown into a beloved regional favorite with several locations around the region.
Buckeyes are a signature item, and the shop sells them by the box for anyone stocking up for family gatherings.
Some locations include ice cream parlors, so you can turn a candy run into a full dessert stop. If you are traveling through the Cleveland area and want a name you can trust for buckeyes, this is an easy call.
The shop’s long history in the region has made it a go-to for gift boxes and holiday treats.
5. Esther Price Candies, Dayton, Ohio
Dayton claims one of Ohio’s most recognizable candy brands, and Esther Price has been part of the area for generations. The name is a fixture across the Miami Valley.
Handmade chocolates fill the cases, and buckeyes take their place among the caramels, creams, and assorted boxes that made the shop famous.
The candy is still made in Dayton, which means a stop here connects you to a local tradition rather than a mass-market label. For anyone driving through southwest Ohio, it is a dependable place to grab buckeyes and a mixed box for the road.
Gift boxes here are a common pick for birthdays and holidays around the region.
6. Anthony-Thomas Candy Company, Columbus, Ohio
Central Ohio’s best-known chocolate maker calls Columbus home, and Anthony-Thomas has been turning out candy for decades. The company is a major name in the state’s chocolate scene.
Buckeyes are a headline product, and you can find them boxed in a range of sizes for gifting or snacking.
The company runs a candy factory in Columbus along with retail shops, so serious fans can get closer to how the chocolate is made. For a road trip through central Ohio, it is one of the most reliable places to load up on buckeyes.
The scale of the operation means you will find plenty of other chocolate options too.
7. Wagner’s Ravenna Chocolate Shoppe, Ravenna, Ohio
Downtown Ravenna holds a candy shop that has served the Portage County area for a long time. Wagner’s is the kind of small-town spot that regulars fold into their weekly errands.
Hand-dipped chocolates are the specialty, and buckeyes sit comfortably alongside the shop’s other classic confections.
The downtown location makes it an easy walk-in during a stroll through Ravenna, and the small scale keeps things personal. If you like supporting neighborhood candy makers rather than big chains, this is a good one to seek out on a northeast Ohio drive.
8. Sweet Designs Chocolatier, Lakewood, Ohio
Just west of Cleveland, the walkable town of Lakewood is home to a chocolatier that draws candy fans from around the region. Sweet Designs has made a name with handmade chocolates crafted on site.
Buckeyes join a lineup of truffles, dipped fruits, and specialty pieces that give the shop a wide range for browsers.
The Lakewood setting means you can pair a candy visit with a walk down a lively main street full of small businesses. For anyone exploring the west side of the Cleveland area, it rounds out this buckeye road trip on a sweet note.
It is a fitting last stop for a candy tour built around Ohio’s most famous treat.
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