Sweet Success At Betty Jane Candies

Let’s see a show of hands for all of our candy lovers out there. You can bet that Crystal and I each have our hands raised. Not every destination we visit gives us a chance to sample some new confectionery. Of course, I am always scoping out the landscape to see if one is available and within striking distance. Dubuque, Iowa offered a perfect opportunity to sample the sweet success at Betty Jane Candies. While we were unfamiliar with this particular chocolatier, we would soon discover that they have an immense following worldwide.

We want to thank Travel Dubuque and Betty Jane Candies for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Colorful Displays

Betty Jane Candies isn’t exactly located in the downtown, so it wasn’t initially on our radar. When we decided to add the Dubuque Arboretum to our itinerary, it meant that we would have to venture outside of our home base space closer to the river. (We will add a link to the arboretum here when the article is released.) Now we would be passing directly by the candy store, so we obviously had to make a stop. When we entered the store, we were greeted by brightly colored candies arranged in eye-pleasing displays.

Under Wraps

We don’t know if it is a fact, but we will toss it out and see if it sticks. It is impossible to be sad in a candy store. With so many shiny bags filled with sweet treats, our taste buds were kicking into gear. The intoxicating aroma of chocolate filled the air, drawing us in closer. I jumped into action and began taking photos of the beautiful displays. There is something magical about a candy shop that brings cheer to your heart.

Sweet Presence

We were greeted by Andrew Siegert, who is the new-ish president of the company. Betty Jane Candies has been serving up delicious treats since 1938. For over 70 years, one family managed the business. In 2011 this changed, as the family handed the reins over to the new owners. While we are sure the founding family was concerned with the tradition continuing, those fears were unwarranted. Andrew, and his staff, are diligent about maintaining the highest level of quality and preserving the time-proven recipes.

Sampling the Sweets

Now that we knew the back story, it was time to get down to business. The reason for the sweet success at Betty Jane Candies is their strict adherence to providing a consistently high-quality product. Their candies are deliciously decadent and are concentrated between milk and dark chocolates. We found that they offer nuts, toffee, creams, and caramels encased in silky chocolate coatings. As we became intoxicated with the chocolate, we would soon discover our favorite, the Gremlins! This delicate blend of caramel, pecans, and milk chocolate is sinfully delicious.

Sweet Success at Betty Jane

Now it may sound like we are exaggerating the goodness of the candies at Betty Jane, so let’s let the facts speak for themselves. This small Iowa chocolatier has risen to fame in the past few years. Under Andrew’s direction, they have moved from being an Iowa favorite to becoming a sweet success on a worldwide scale. In 2013, they appeared in the “swag bags” at the Emmy Awards. In 2014 it was the Academy Awards ceremony. They repeated this feat with an appearance in the bags at the 2017 Grammy Awards. This exposure has propelled Betty Jane Candies to fame but has not changed the love that they put into each step of production.

Midwest Hospitality

With so much going right for them, we are confident that this Iowa confectioner will continue to receive accolades for many years to come. After all, to them it is more than just a business, it is a chance to share their passion with the rest of the world. Before we departed, Andrew loaded us up with an assortment of their products. These were well received by all of our friends and family, but we kept the Gremlins for ourselves. After all, we wanted to share in the sweet success at Betty Jane Candies, as well. Have you ever sampled their sweet treats?