California’s Sweet Tooth: 11 Places for Tasty Treats that your Kids will Love

When you think of California, you typically picture blue skies, sandy beaches, outdoor activities and healthy-looking people. And you wouldn’t be wrong. No matter where I go in California, it seems that I can’t blink without seeing at least one person either running, walking, roller blading, biking, surfing or skiing. Who can blame them? California is a state that is essentially one giant outdoor playground; there to be enjoyed by both pint-sized humans and big kids alike. But that doesn’t mean that Californians don’t enjoy their food. The Golden State is home to some of the best restaurants in the country. And, lucky for me, California has a secret sweet tooth as well.

You see I don’t think I would be able to survive without chocolate. That may seem like a rather dramatic statement, but it’s seriously how I feel. Chocolate is my guilty pleasure. There is rarely a day that goes by when I don’t treat myself to a tiny nibble. Although, when I moved from England, I quickly realized that chocolate in America is very different from what I was used to.

That didn’t stop me from sampling whatever I found. In fact, my journey of discovery has been nothing short of delicious. Along the way, my kids have got to enjoy the ride. They also helped open my taste buds to other sweet treats as we traveled the state.

Here are 11 of our favorite places in California to satisfy a sweet tooth – starting in the mountains to the north, and moving down to LA in the south.

Northern California

Sweets Handmade Candies, Truckee

Fudge is a weakness of mine. In fact, as I write this, I’m savoring a delicious piece of walnut fudge from Nelson’s Columbia Candy Kitchen. I bought it last weekend when I was in Columbia, soaking up California’s gold country.

But I digress. Set high in the Northern Sierra Nevada, in the historic town of Truckee, is my absolute favorite fudge shop. Unlike a lot of candy shops, Sweets Handmade Candies, not only makes their own fudge onsite, but they also do it right in front of their store window. The process is fascinating to watch for kids and adults, and you’ll regularly find spectators peering in from the sidewalk. The store also makes amazing truffles and chocolates. And kids can’t go wrong with their caramel apples or chocolate covered honeycomb.   

Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield

Have you ever wondered how jelly beans are made? Then look no further than the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. For just $5 for adults, and $2 for kids, you can take a self-guided tour along a ¼ mile of catwalk above the factory floor. From this vantage point, you have a birds-eye view of everything happening below you. And, as you navigate your way, you’ll encounter various interactive exhibits and games, as well as plenty of free samples. At the end of your tour, you can let your kids go nuts in the jelly belly shop. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many different varieties of jelly beans.

Danville Chocolates, Danville

There is nothing better than having a great chocolate shop just down the road from where you live. Especially if you are a California girl with an out-of-control sweet tooth. And boy did I get lucky with Danville Chocolates. The curb appeal of this chocolate shop is just as pretty as the delicious treats inside. Plus, there is so much chocolate to choose from, you’re almost certain to want to come back.

Aside from traditional chocolates and truffles, Danville Chocolates dips almost anything imaginable in chocolate. My personal favorite is their white chocolate raspberries. Although my youngest child swears by their Oreos.

If you need more of an excuse to visit, the staff are extremely creative with decorating confectionary to sync up with important moments like graduation, Christmas, Valentines and Mother’s Day. And did I mention that their ice cream is amazing as well?

Kara’s Cupcakes, San Francisco, Emeryville, Napa, Palo Alto

I first discovered Kara’s Cupcakes when a Kara’s Cupcake food truck came to a corporate holiday tree lighting event at my husband’s work. From my very first bite I was a believer and I think I went back for thirds, not just seconds. I quickly became a regular customer at the Walnut Creek location, stopping in whenever I was in town, as well as placing special orders for birthdays.

Today, Kara’s Cupcakes has grown to not only include San Francisco (where it originated), but also locations in the East Bay, South Bay and wine country. Best of all, the cupcakes remain just as delicious as the day I discovered them. My kids favorites are the chocolate velvet and the sweet smores.

San Francisco Chocolate Store, San Francisco

I know that the first thing that comes to mind when you think of San Francisco and chocolate is Ghirardelli and the iconic Ghirardelli Square, but I’m going to give you a twofer here. While, Ghirardelli Chocolate Marketplace is a great place to grab one of Ghirardelli’s signature sundaes or shakes, consider walking an extra few blocks toward Pier 45 afterward. This is where, on Jefferson Street, you will find the San Francisco Chocolate Store.

The thing that makes the Chocolate Store so unique is that it offers a really large collection of candies, in addition to a wide array of handmade chocolates, fudge, and truffles, that will get any chocolate-lover excited. They even have English toffee! And their signature ice cream and sorbet is always a hit with the kids. You can’t help but feel like you’ve walked into a Willy Wonka shop every time you visit.

Southern California

Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo

It is a little strange to include a hotel in a California Sweet Tooth article, I know. But the iconic Madonna Inn is an exception. You see, this rather unusual hotel is also home to a bakery that will blow your mind, not to mention your taste buds.

Madonna Inn’s signature fresh baked cakes are a dream to look at and will remind you of more traditional times. An era when your grandmother baked cakes, using simple ingredients and decorative skills that did not include fondant. Similarly, Madonna Inn’s delicious fruit pies look like they’ve come straight out of a 1950’s cook book. And the cookies and pastries are so good that they are shipped all over the U.S.

Solvang Bakery, Solvang

Speaking of baked goods, as you move further south on the 101, toward Santa Barbara, you’ll come across the historic town of Solvang. Known for its Danish roots, the town oozes picturesque charm. In fact, some of the buildings look like they’ve been lifted straight out of a Hans Christian Anderson story.

However, you’d better bring your sweet tooth if you visit this quiet Californian gem. Solvang is home to several bakeries and confectionaries that specialize in Danish treats. My kids’ favorite dish is the Danish dessert known as aebleskiver. It looks like a doughnut hole but tastes like a pancake and, when you dip it in fruit sauce or sugar, you can’t help but say “Mmm.”

Robitaille’s Candy, Carpinteria

I’ll never forget the day my family discovered Robitaille’s Candies in Carpinteria. We were in Carpinteria on our first RV vacation, and had walked into town to explore. My kids immediately gravitated to this little candy shop. As they eagerly browsed all the goodies, I became fascinated by Robitaille’s back story. You see this family-owned store’s claim to fame is that it made the “Official Mint of the 50^th Presidential Inauguration”. Today it continues to make hand made mints in a variety of colors.

Like Sweets in Truckee, Robitaille’s also handmakes all of its chocolate on site – including, you guessed it, fudge. Over the years, I think I’ve tasted just about every fudge and chocolate they make. However, Robitaille’s also has a large collection of other candy, and this is where my eldest typically ends up.  

Sprinkles Cupcakes, Beverly Hills

When a product is loved by Oprah Winfrey, you know it going to be good. Oprah was first introduced to Sprinkles by Barbra Streisand. Apparently, a short time after tasting Sprinkles’ delicacies, Oprah ordered 300 cupcakes for her studio audience in Chicago. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, Sprinkles has expanded beyond its Beverly Hills store in Los Angeles to more than 30 locations across the country. It has also launched Sprinkles ice cream, cookies, and layer cakes.  Although I’m sticking with their Belgian dark chocolate cupcake!

Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop, Balboa Island, Newport Beach

Nobody knows how the first Balboa Bar came to be, but everyone who visits Newport Beach, and the harborside community of Balboa, has heard of the Balboa Bar. If you like ice cream and chocolate, this is a treat you’ll want to try. And there is no better place to do it than Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop.

In a nutshell, a Balboa Bar is a wedge of vanilla ice cream that is placed on a stick, and hand dipped into melted chocolate. It is then covered with toppings like nuts or sprinkles.

I’m told by my kids and husband that it is absolutely delicious. However, whenever I find myself in this part of California, my sweet tooth covets a chocolate-dipped frozen banana. So, so, good.  

JoJo’s Creamery, Encinitas

In some ways, I’m saving the best for last. As you know from my Italy posts, my kids are gelato fiends. They consider themselves true ice cream connoisseurs. You can therefore imagine their delight when we randomly happened upon a tiny little ice cream shop called JoJo’s Creamery, while vacationing in the San Diego area.

What makes JoJo’s so unique is that they make all of their ice cream, waffle cones, and sauces, from scratch. Then they serve your ice cream with a signature chocolate chip cookie on the side. To say that both the ice cream and cookie are delicious would be an understatement. In fact, my youngest said that it was the “best ice cream [he’d] ever tasted.”

Happy Travels!