Discover the Sweetest of Treats
In LaPorte County Shops
What’s a vacation, celebration, or even a day of shopping without a little indulgence? Surveys show Americans love their sweets, with ice cream, chocolates, cupcakes, cookies, pies, and cheesecake topping most lists. LaPorte County has a fine assortment to satisfy every desire, with handcrafted local treats in both the communities of Michigan City and LaPorte. You’ll also find spots selling national brand-name ice cream, candy, and snacks that everyone knows and loves. Give into those cravings and treat yourself today!
Lucious Local Legends
Michigan City
Bowler Man Confections – The owner does occasionally wear a bowler and, along with his wife, creates amazing confections in their tiny alleyway store in the Uptown Arts District. Their cupcakes were voted Number 1 in a Readers’ Choice poll, but you’ll find so much more to love, indulge in, and definitely take home. Chocolate bars such as cherry-pistachio and toffee-nut, bonbon bars including key lime-macadamia-coconut, pound cakes, pies, cookies, croissants, pastries, and fabulous lunchtime sandwich specials highlight a handcrafted, changing menu, always filled with delicious surprises.
Bubble’s Ice Cream Parlor – “Serving Smiles by the Scoopful” is the logo of this old-fashioned ice cream shop. Ask any longtime customer, and they’ll definitely smile and tell you the treats here can’t be beat. Premium ice cream flavors range from Caramel Chaos to Rocky Road to Fat Elvis, an ode to the singer that contains his favorite flavors – banana and peanut butter. Numerous sundaes (try the S’mores or Pineapple Upside Down Cake), floats, shakes, and sodas fill the menu, along with cheesecake and scrumptious pies. Open spring through fall.
Cabo’s Ice Cream Shop – This colorful shop in the Uptown Arts District won a voters’ choice award for its delicious Mexican food. But regulars know that the best way to top off those savory dishes is to indulge in the homemade ice cream and other frozen treats. In fact, the shop has also received Chamber of Commerce kudos for best ice cream. Homemade blue chip, strawberry butter, coconut, and numerous other ice cream flavors draw raves from customers at this family-owned business. They also serve a variety of fruity popsicles and ice cream bars. Open spring through fall.
South Bend Chocolate Company – The word has spread throughout Indiana and adjoining states – South Bend Chocolate is primo! The company has opened numerous stores and cafes throughout the Midwest, including the Chocolate Café at Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City. Choose from delicious, boxed chocolates, crunches, bars, cookies, covered pretzels and more. Don’t miss out on their seasonal items, such as pumpkin pretzels in the fall. Enjoy freshly made sandwiches, soups, and salads at the café, where you can order warm South Bend chocolate sauce over desserts or indulge in chocolate flavored coffees.
Truffle’s Cake & Pastry Shoppe – Looking for a morning pastry, croissant, or scone and coffee? How about the perfect match – a slice of crusty baguette topped with this shop’s signature French feta spread? Perhaps cookies for dessert or an elegantly decorated layer cake to note a special celebration? This Uptown shop, where handcrafted delicacies are beautifully displayed, has it all. Individual petit fours, tortes, and numerous other sweets round out the offerings. When holidays roll around, patrons love the decorated cookies, specialty pies, and other items, many reflecting traditional European flavors.
LaPorte
Deluxe Tastee Cream – Oh what this cute little place with a walk-up window can do with their yummy soft-serve ice cream! Think banana splits, shakes, slushies, floats, and traditional cones. Can’t decide on a flavor? Order multiple kinds, perhaps strawberry on the bottom, topped with orange, green apple, and blue goo. The seasons bring specialties, such as pink cotton candy-flavored ice cream in the summer and caramel-apple sundaes in the fall. They use real fruit in their smoothies, too. The shop also serves hot dogs and nachos. Open April-September.
Downtown Delights – Three generations of women established this self-serve frozen yogurt shop in a historic downtown LaPorte building. Tempting flavors include Butter Brickle, Death by Chocolate (a double dose of everyone’s favorite!), Tropical Banana, and many more. Choose from a host of toppings too. Enjoy a specialty each month, such as pumpkin pie yogurt with caramel topping in the fall. You also might choose one of their fruit-filled smoothies, from Green Goddess to Tropical Sun. The yogurt is gluten-free, with dairy-free and vegan options available. All of the smoothies are dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
Little Chocolates – Calling all chocolate lovers and caramel connoisseurs too! This family-owned business started off a dozen years ago when the group created their scrumptious confections at home before they decided to open this popular store. They now offer more than 40 kinds of candy, from all types of chocolate cremes to their signature pecan patties covered in chocolate to specialties such as buckeyes, a variety of truffles, and cake pops. Don’t miss trying the sea salt caramels, chocolate-covered caramels, and caramel pretzels. Mail order is available.
National Favorites
Companies that have made their name across the country bring additional options to LaPorte County, including ice cream, candy, popcorn, and several health-inspired choices.
Outlet Picks – Shop for delicious fare at Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City.
Candy Junction – Talk about a kid in a candy store! That’s what you’ll be in this colorful, fun shop, filled to the brim with every kind of treat imaginable. Taffy, candy sticks, jelly beans, bagged treats, lollipops, and so much more are irresistible.
Lindt Chocolates – Love those Lindt Chocolates! At this great store, you’ll find all your favorites, including boxed chocolates, bars, balls, truffles, exclusive European specialties, and seasonal varieties. They also serve hot and frozen coffee drinks.
Popcorn World – Their slogan is “Doing the World a Flavor,” and are they ever! If caramel is your thing, there are eight different options, some nutty, some not. Candy, gourmet, and cheese flavors add to the choices. Available in both tins and bags.
Around Town
Fannie Mae Chocolates, Michigan City – That familiar red-and-white striped awning lures you in for some of the best-loved chocolates ever. Boxed chocolates, meltaways, bonbons, bars, and buckeyes are just some of the tempting creations you’ll find.
Dairy Queen, Michigan City, LaPorte, Wanatah, and Westville – Not only does everyone love that soft-serve confection in cones, dipped, and in blizzards or sundaes, but you can grab a burger or hot dog at the same time at the Dairy Queen Grill and Chill locations.
Baskin-Robbins, Michigan City – Longtime faves like Jamoca Almond Fudge, Pralines and Cream, and Cherries Jubilee grace a menu filled with flavors, including seasonal offerings such as Spicy and Spooky or Pumpkin Cheesecake in the fall. Celebrate special occasions (or no occasion at all!) with their ice cream cakes or Polar Pizza, featuring ice cream and toppings on a cookie or brownie crust.
Health-Conscious Choices
Smoothie King, LaPorte – Healthy smoothies made of blended whole fruits and organic veggies are the star attraction at this new LaPorte Shop in the Newporte Landing development. It’s one of more than 1,000 Smoothie Kings across the country. Choose from coffee flavors and fruity delights such as pineapple or strawberry.
Healthy Life, LaPorte – This store offers smoothies, coffee blends, teas, and juices, along with foods aimed at healthy lifestyles. The store sells nutrition products, and now makes delicious protein donuts you can buy on weekends.
