Kilwins Chocolates and Ice Cream

Kilwins Chocolates and Ice Cream

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Handcrafted chocolate, small-batch fudge made on marble slabs, and super-premium ice cream, on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg.

Kilwins started in Petoskey, Michigan in 1947 and has spent more than seventy-five years doing the same three things well. The Gatlinburg store brings the full lineup — Heritage Chocolates, Mackinac Island Fudge made on site, hand-dipped caramel apples, kettle-made caramel corn, and original-recipe ice cream — in a shop that smells the way a candy store should.

Staying nearby? Browse our Gatlinburg cabin rentals, minutes from the Parkway.

The tradition

Founded in 1947 by Don and Katy Kilwin with one commitment: high-quality handmade confections using time-honored recipes and good ingredients. Seventy-five years later that still defines the product line.

The exclusive Heritage Chocolate — Milk, Dark, White, and 72% Cacao Dark — is the base for everything from truffles to caramels. The fudge is made in copper kettles and cooled on marble. The ice cream is Kosher-certified and sold only in Kilwins stores.

What's in the Gatlinburg store

Heritage Chocolates

The house chocolate in four varieties, forming the base for truffles with ganache centers, Katy Ann Creams, TUTTLE Nut Caramels, Sea-Salt Caramels, barks and bars, and chocolate-covered pretzels, marshmallows, and seasonal specialties.

Mackinac Island Fudge

Made on site in small batches — cooked in copper kettles, hand-paddled, and cooled on marble slabs. Smooth and creamy, in classic and rotating seasonal flavors. When production is running you can watch the whole process, which is the best thing happening in the shop on any given day.

Original Recipe Ice Cream

Super-premium and Kosher-certified, available by the scoop, in sundaes and milkshakes, and as ice cream cakes for occasions. Seasonal and limited-edition flavors rotate through the year.

Caramel apples

Fresh Granny Smith apples hand-dipped in caramel made in store — plain, coated in Heritage Chocolate, or finished with nuts and toppings. A Kilwins signature and the item most likely to end up photographed.

Caramel corn and brittle

Made in store in traditional copper kettles, including Nutcracker Sweets and buttery salted brittle.

Pistachio collection

Truffles, Buckeyes, Du'lights, and an ice cream sundae built around a pistachio-kataifi crunch — a genuinely different texture from anything else in the case, and currently one of the most talked-about things in the store.

Sorbetto

Lemon, raspberry, and mango, for anyone wanting something lighter.

Full current menu and ice cream flavors at kilwins.com.

Ship it home or order for an event

Hours and location

Open daily from mid-morning until late evening. Hours vary seasonally — confirm at kilwins.com before a late visit.

Tips for visiting

• Time it for fudge production. The copper kettle and marble slab process is worth pausing for, and it's the most authentic part of a Kilwins visit
• Try the pistachio collection. The kataifi crunch is different from anything else in the case, and worth ordering even if you're skeptical
• Ask what's seasonal in the ice cream. The rotating flavors are where the interesting things happen, and fall looks nothing like summer
• The caramel apple is a full dessert. Granny Smith base, hand-dipped caramel, and a chocolate or topping coating — considerably more than a standard caramel apple
• Gift cards solve the last-minute problem. Available in-store and online

Nearby

645 Parkway puts the shop in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of everything on the strip. See our things to do guide for more.

• Aunt Mahalia's Candies — Gatlinburg's oldest candy shop, just steps away; a useful comparison of two handmade traditions
• Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen — taffy and Taffylogs since 1950
• Fudge Shoppe of the Smokies — the fudge specialist, if you want to compare directly
• Sweet! Candy Company — thousands of curated varieties from every decade
• The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar — over-the-top Mason jar milkshakes
• Fannie Farkle's — Ogle Dogs and a long-running arcade
• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies — a short walk down the Parkway
• Anakeesta — mountaintop gondola and adventure park
• Downtown Gatlinburg — the full guide to the strip

Frequently asked questions

What is Mackinac Island Fudge?

A fudge style associated with the confectionery tradition of Mackinac Island, Michigan — Kilwins' home state. Cooked in copper kettles, hand-paddled, and cooled on marble slabs for a smooth, creamy result.

Is the ice cream exclusive to Kilwins?

Yes — Original Recipe Ice Cream is super-premium, Kosher-certified, and sold only in Kilwins stores.

Can I place a special order for an event?

Yes — contact the Gatlinburg store at (865) 436-3720 or gatlinburg@kilwins.com for party favors, gift baskets, and custom arrangements.

Can I shop online?

Yes — chocolates, fudge, caramel apples, and gift cards are available at kilwins.com.

Can I watch the fudge being made?

When production is running, yes. Timing isn't fixed, so it's worth asking when you arrive.

Is it a franchise or locally run?

Kilwins is a national brand founded in Michigan in 1947, with the Gatlinburg store operating under that name. The fudge, caramel corn, and caramel apples are made on site.

How does it compare to the other Gatlinburg candy shops?

Kilwins is the ice cream and chocolate option — the only one of the group with a full ice cream counter. Aunt Mahalia's and Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen are the long-running local makers, Fudge Shoppe specializes in fudge alone, and Sweet! curates rather than makes. All within a few blocks.