There’s no need to pilfer M&Ms and Snickers from the kids’ Halloween bounty when local confectioners are creating such delicious—and grown-up—sweets. Chicago’s critics taste-tested dozens; see below for the best.
Saigon Cinnamon PB Cup
Every kid’s favorite candy tastes refined when there’s a dash of spice involved.
Chocolate Twist, chocolate-twist.com.
Truffles
BEST CHOCOLATE IN TOWN! Ingredients so weird they work (such as banana pudding and balsamic vinegar), enveloped in the best chocolate in town.
Vosges, multiple locations, vosgeschocolate.com.
OMG candy bars
Silky sea salt caramel, crisp hazelnut praline, and sweet milk chocolate ganache hand-dipped in Belgian dark chocolate: Yep, the name is accurate.
Amy’s Candy Bar, 4704 N. Damen Ave.
Chocolate stout caramel
The stout flavor is far from subtle—and no one’s complaining.
Salted Caramel, saltedcaramel.net.
La-Dee-Dahs
What’s not to love about these cute, feel-good swirls of nougat and caramel dunked in chocolate?
Whimsical Candy, 175 N. Franklin St.
English toffee
Each pecan-studded, chocolate-covered bite delivers maximum snap, crackle, and crunch.
Cora Lee Candies, 1844 Waukegan Rd., Glenview.
Spicy Caramel Skulls
The very Halloween-appropriate treat greets your taste buds with dark chocolate and bids them adieu with the slow burn of chili peppers.
Veruca Chocolates, 2409 N. Western Ave.
Chocolate walnut and rosemary sea salt caramels
Katherine Duncan churns out 70 flavors, but it’s hard to stray from these delicious standbys.
Katherine Anne Confections, 2745 W. Armitage Ave.
Pâtes de fruits
These delightfully gummy morsels taste like sugar-flecked spoonfuls of jam.
Vanille Patisserie, 2108 N. Clark St. and 131 N. Clinton St. (in the French Market).
Peppermint Pistachio Crunch toffee
Cool mint and massive crunch inside a dark chocolate blanket make this a winner.
Terry’s Toffee, 1117 W. Grand Ave. and 5247 N. Clark St. (inside the Galleria).