Story by MATILYN MORTENSEN • Photos by SARAH WELLIVER • Standard-Examiner staff
Whether you want something simple to satisfy a chocolate craving or a more adventurous test of your sweet tooth, Utah has plenty of local options.
Ruth Kendrick is a chocolatier and the owner of Chocolot in Ogden. Kendrick creates unique European-style chocolates with colorful designs.
The shells of her chocolates are thin — she uses a mold to create them — and filled with a ganache, similar to a truffle, Kendrick said.
Kendrick then adds some whimsy to her sweets by airbrushing delicate and elaborate cocoa butter designs onto the chocolates.
“Everybody says ‘They’re too pretty to eat,’ and I say, ‘But they’re too delicious not to,’ ” Kendrick said.
There’s a lot that goes into the texture and consistency of a chocolate. Some ingredients give the taster a waxy taste and feel. Others create a melty, silky effect.
Kendrick has seen old chocolate recipes that call for paraffin wax, but she is quick to explain today’s so-called waxy texture doesn’t actually come from wax.

One type of chocolate isn’t necessarily better than another, Kendrick said. The important thing is choosing the kind that will best fulfill the purpose of the project.
For instance, the kind of chocolate Kendrick uses to make her European-style chocolates would not work for hand-dipped chocolates because it is too thin.
Chocolate experts also say beans harvested from specific areas can lend various flavors.
Cary Black, a chocolatier and the owner of Food of the Gods Chocolatier in Kaysville, said a unique aspect of his creations is his use of single-sourced chocolate. That means he uses only cocoa beans harvested from a specific place.
Chocolate from Madagascar has traces of red fruit and citrus in the flavor. Ecuadorian chocolate has a more earthy flavor, and Peruvian chocolate carries a flowery flavor.
“I just love Madagascar chocolate,” Black said. “I like all the others, but that one’s probably my favorite, and I use it the most.”
Black strives to combine unique ingredients and make chocolates that are more than just a sweet treat.
“We try to not just satisfy a sweet tooth,” Black said. “We make an experience.”
Here are some of the places to find local chocolates throughout Utah:
Chocolate, candy, snacks and Vegan premium dark chocolates.
Location: Orem
Where to buy: Harmon’s grocery stores
Specializes in sugar free chocolates, truffles and candy.
Location: Sandy
Where to buy: Amber Lyn's factory location at 9075 South in Sandy, various retailers and the store's website.
Chocolate, candy, snacks and gourmet fudge in a variety of flavors.
Location: West Valley City
Where to buy: Harmon’s grocery stores
Producing gourmet hand-dipped candies and chocolates in Logan since 1914.
Location: Logan
Where to buy: Their downtown Logan store and online
Small-batch toffees and truffles with pretty designs.
Location: Ogden
Where to buy: The Queen Bee in Ogden and Simply Eden in Ogden Valley
Handmade specialty chocolates.
Location: Kaysville
Where to buy: Available at The Queen Bee in Ogden and Studio K in Kaysville
A Brigham City institution since 1921, this candymaker offers a large variety of old-fashioned fudge, nut brittles and chocolates.
Location: Brigham City
Where to buy: Available at select Northern Utah grocery stores, The Queen Bee in Ogden and the business’s original candy shop in downtown Brigham City
Making handmade candies and chocolates for a handful of specialty shops.
Location: Orem
Where to buy: Morgan Drug & Gift and Front Street Gifts in Morgan; Whisperwood & Co. in Bountiful; Island Splash Soda in Pleasant View
Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates and Ice Cream
Maker of boxed gift chocolates and other treats.
Location: North Salt Lake
Where to buy: Available at multiple store locations, including Bountiful, Layton, North Ogden and North Salt Lake
Makers of artisan chocolate from “bean-to-bar.” Products include drinking chocolate, nibs and bars.
Location: Salt Lake City
Where to buy: Harmon’s grocery stores and The Queen Bee in Ogden
One of Utah’s oldest businesses, Sweet’s has been peddling saltwater taffy, chocolate, cinnamon bears and more since 1900.
Location: Salt Lake City
Where to buy: Candy available at company’s factory store in Salt Lake City, select grocery stores or online
Chocolate bars sweetened with local honey. Products are free of refined sugar, diary and artificial ingredients.
Location: Salt Lake City
Where to buy: Harmon’s, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, New World Distillery in Ogden Valley, The Queen Bee in Ogden
Matilyn Mortensen can be reached at mmortensen@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @MatilynKay.