Kilwins in Traverse City is an established chocolate and ice cream store that earned a spot on the to-do lists of both locals and visitors alike. Our city might hold the title of the “Cherry Capital of the World,” but are just as well-known for our chocolate, fudge, and ice cream selection!
When you visit our Traverse City chocolate store, you’re welcomed with the warm, inviting smell of fresh fudge, ice cream, and other delights.
At Kilwins, we have something for every taste bud. We offer a selection of boxed chocolates, toffees, caramels, and more. Beyond those, our candy apples and Mackinac Island Fudge are made traditionally with the highest-quality ingredients.
Kilwins’s quality and craftsmanship are unmatched. Kilwins founders, Don and Katy Kilwin, started their chocolate empire back in the 1940s using premier ingredients to produce high-quality, handmade chocolates.
To this day, we use Don’s original recipes. We are so committed to continuing Don’s legacy that we continue to use copper kettles in-store to produce caramel corn and brittle (made with top-of-the-line nuts).
Our chocolates are the ideal gift for loved ones—or yourself. You don’t need an occasion to spoil someone with a box of Kilwins chocolates from your local Traverse City chocolate store. But first, let’s talk about what to get.
One popular choice is our truffles. Although we’ve tweaked the original recipe to make it truly perfect, it still has the flavor we instantly recognize as Kilwins. We think Katy and Don would love it.
Another must-try at this Traverse City chocolate store is the TUTTLE™ selection. Our long list of variations includes cashews, pecans, and macadamia nuts made sweet with generous coatings of milk, dark, and white chocolate or caramel.
If you prefer silky over nutty, try the Kilwins Creams and take a moment to savor smooth, creamy milk and dark chocolates (with fruit fillings and more). They’re made to melt in your mouth with one bite while the delicious memory lingers long after.
We have a strong community spirit that stems from Don and Katy’s commitment to providing superior products and unmatched service. Every staff member and customer is treated like family.
With roots in creativity and craftsmanship dating back decades, we carry our founders’ names proudly. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards and producing five-star ice cream and other dream-worthy desserts.
Our strong values and desire to put our customers first motivates us to do better every day. Each customer we meet is an opportunity to wow and win over with our exceptional product quality and service.
Our Traverse City Kilwins store serves ice cream that will change how you think about ice cream. With a combination of our Heritage and newer equipment and optimal temperature control and storage, we ensure that Kilwins ice cream is produced under the best conditions.
We can chat about our outstanding service and distinct ice cream flavors at length, but nothing comes close to experiencing it yourself. Traverse City neighbors visit us over and over again because they know their expectations are exceeded—not merely met—with each chocolate and ice cream waffle cone. Find out what they’re raving about when you walk through our East Front Street doors.
We are proud of our reputation in Michigan and the awards we’ve won. Among our achievements, our Traverse City ice cream store has won awards for Best Ice Cream and Best Chocolate Shoppe.
If you have a passion for ice cream, you'll appreciate the rich smoothness and creaminess available at Kilwins. A serving of Kilwins ice cream seems to stop time—it’s that delicious. What sets our Traverse City ice cream store apart is how we make our frozen treats with options for everyone on your list.
Kilwins ice cream can only start from milk and cream sourced from local farms; that way, we know the farmers care as much about their craft as we care about ours. Before being handed to you in a cup, waffle cone, or waffle bowl, our ice cream is watched closely. We even designed custom ice cream tubs and a fleet of Kilwins trucks so every flavor stays the ideal consistency and temperature throughout its entire journey.
The proof is in the pudding. Or, in this case, it’s in our delicious confectioneries. Taste the difference for yourself: Grab a waffle cone and stroll along the Boardman River to take a second to relax in our beautiful state.
In addition to our rich assortments of chocolate, we have an impressive ice cream selection with seasonal flavors— you might need to sample a few to make up your mind! We’re proud to say that thanks to our creative and careful recipes, we can bring you the greatest ice cream in the world.
At Kilwins in Traverse City, we are driven by our founders’ values: Treat others as you want to be treated, try your hardest, and have fun while doing it! Discover the homemade fudge, caramel apples, and sea-salt caramels to call your next favorite and a new place to form wonderful memories with family and friends.
Our friendly staff serves the most delicious ice cream in the world and we invite you to try our extensive selection at our Traverse City ice cream store today.
Our Traverse City ice cream store is unlike any other. What makes us the best isn’t just one or two things: It’s a combination of several factors.
For one, some of our equipment dates back to the 1940s when the Kilwins started their chocolate-making venture. Although we’ve upgraded much of our equipment over the years, we use some of the original machines or methods for that extra-special authentic touch. That’s why we still rely on copper kettles for caramel and marble countertops for fudge. Like the equipment, some recipes stick around in their original form while others are reworked and improved.
We cater to our Kosher and sugar-free customers and work closely with our local family farms for the freshest milk and cream available. Our in-store craftsmanship and products are second to none. We serve the most delicious ice cream in flavors you’ve never heard of. And we serve it with the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen!
At Kilwins in Traverse City, we have a vast selection of chocolate flavors and fillings. Our Heritage chocolates are available in milk, dark, and white chocolate. Our creams, toffees, sea-salt caramels, nut clusters, and chocolate bark also call in repeat customers. Many rave about our TUTTLE™ nut caramels, “the perfect” caramel apple, and other all-time favorites.
Yes. Kilwins in Traverse City goes above and beyond to make any occasion special with custom orders. Tell us what you need, how much, and when, and we can bring it to life. Whether you need party favors, a custom selection of boxed chocolates, gift baskets, or another blue-ribbon-worthy creation, we’re here to help. Your event will be one for the books with Kilwins chocolates.
Our Kilwins customers in Traverse City adore our creams, caramel apples, chocolate-coated strawberries, assorted boxed chocolates, truffles, TUTTLE™ nut caramels, Mackinac Island Fudge, and various other items made fresh daily. Since they’re truly all delicious, it depends on your chocolate craving on any given day.
Absolutely! Kilwins has seasonal and special edition items. Traverse City locals would probably tell you about how much they love our holiday-themed chocolates and gift baskets and how exciting it is when we share a new limited-edition ice cream. Step in during the different seasons to see what new sweets could be in stock.
Yes. Traverse City’s Kilwins store has gift cards to make anyone’s day. Whether you want to treat someone special, spoil a loved one, or offer a friend a sweet gesture, our gift cards are the perfect solution.
Kilwins in Traverse City runs specials and offers discounts occasionally. Join “My Kilwins” Club so you’ll never miss out on current promotions delivered to your email inbox. Make sure to follow us on social media, too!