Sanders is a Detroit classic, and their chocolate and ice cream shop is a must-visit for any serious sweet tooth. The self-guided tour lets you peek inside their chocolate kitchen anytime during store hours if the factory is running.

If you’ve ever had a Kilwins caramel apple, you know they don’t play around when it comes to sweets. While the Chocolate Kitchen tours are on pause for now, you can still swing by their Petoskey store and watch the magic happen. Their kitchen is up and running, so you’ll see fresh caramel apples, handmade chocolates, truffles, brittle, and more being made right in front of you.

Even without a formal tour, this is one of the best places to get a front-row seat to old-school chocolate-making, and of course, you can buy fresh treats straight from the source.

Dum Dums suckers are the candy of childhood, and Spangler Candy is the brand behind them. While they don’t offer traditional factory tours anymore, they do have a big-screen factory experience that gives you an up-close look at how their famous lollipops and candy canes are made. Bonus:

Their Candy Museum has hands-on activity stations, interactive games, and historical displays that make it more than just a walk-through.

Pro Tip: check out their Sweethearts Chapel, where you can snap photos and create custom messages on conversation hearts.

While you won’t be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour at Albanese Candy anymore, their Factory Store is still worth a stop if you’re a gummy fanatic. This spot is the only place in the world where you can see exclusive footage of their gummy and chocolate production while shopping for their big bags of gummy goof-ups or their bulk gummy area where you can mix and match all of your favorite flavors, plus limited-edition products you won’t find in regular stores.

With over 500 different chocolate and candy creations, South Bend Chocolate Company is basically a sugar paradise. The tour takes you through the entire process, from cocoa bean to chocolate bar. And the best part – it ends with samples!

The real hidden gem here is the Chocolate Museum, which holds one of the largest collections of chocolate memorabilia in the world. The South Bend Chocolate Company’s chocolate museum is a deep dive into chocolate history, featuring a Mayan temple entrance, vintage chocolate tins, and a peek into the art and science of candy-making.

If you’re into fancy chocolate, DeBrand is the place to be. Their tour kicks off with a little chocolate history (don’t worry, it’s the fun kind), followed by a behind-the-scenes look at how they craft high-end truffles, gourmet bars, and hand-dipped delights. And yes, there are samples.

Public tours typically run Tuesdays at 10 AM, Thursdays at 1 PM, and Saturdays at 10:30 AM. There’s no production on Saturdays, and weekday production varies, but you’ll still get to watch video presentations and enjoy plenty of chocolate if you’re there on Saturday. The price of the tour gets you a discounted purchase in the shop. No reservations needed, just show up a little early.

Private tours are also available for groups of 10 or more (or smaller groups for a flat fee). They’re offered Monday through Sunday, but if you want to catch the chocolate-making action, aim for a weekday visit. (Public tours may be canceled around holidays, so call ahead if you’re planning a visit.)

See how real bean-to-bar chocolate is made at Mindo Chocolate Makers in Ann Arbor Their Chocolate Factory Tour is a 60-minute, behind-the-scenes look at every step of the chocolate-making process in Dexter, MI.

You’ll walk right through the working kitchen, learn about chocolate’s 5,000-year-old roots, and smell that rich cocoa scent from start to finish. Tours are family-friendly (recommended for ages 5+) and capped at just 16 people, so it feels personal and interactive.

If you’re hungry for even more chocolate fun, Mindo also offers hands-on truffle-making and chocolate-bar workshops where you can craft your own sweet creations. Snag your tickets online ahead of time – they fill up fast!