One candy shop in this state makes about 20,000 pounds of cinnamon Red Hots every single year. That is a lot of tiny red candies, and it still uses century-old equipment to do it.
That fact sent me down a sweet rabbit hole. I found a pie shop serving 36 kinds of pie daily and a parlor where a self-playing organ from 1908 fills the dining room.
One small-town spot lists 100 shakes and 100 sundaes, which feels like a dare.
Indiana takes dessert more seriously than I ever expected. It even has an official state pie, and I love that detail.
These stops cover chocolate, donuts, candy, cake, and plenty of pie.
Some sit in Amish country. Others hide near the Ohio River or in quiet farm towns.
So how far would you drive for the perfect slice?
Mrs. Wick’s Restaurant & Pie Shop
Thirty-six kinds of pie every day sounds like a typo. In Winchester, it’s simply the daily lineup.
Indiana named sugar cream its official state pie in 2009. Winchester earned the title of State Pie Capital, largely thanks to the Wick’s Pies name.
The story starts in 1944, when the founder opened a factory cafe. He baked from his grandmother’s recipes, and sugar cream led the way.
Mrs. Wick’s opened in 1986, right next to the pie factory. He named it after his wife, which is about as sweet as a tribute gets.
So what should you order? Start with the sugar cream, a farmhouse recipe made with cream, sugar, and nutmeg.
After that, the case gets tempting fast. You’ll spot butterscotch, chocolate peanut butter, Southern pecan, coconut cream, and strawberry rhubarb.
Want a real meal before dessert? The grill serves breakfast and lunch, including chicken pot pie and breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches.
A retail corner sells unbaked frozen pies, pot pies, noodles, and pie shells. That means you can carry a little Winchester home in a cooler.
Timing matters here, since the place keeps early hours. The pie counter opens at 6 AM Tuesday through Saturday and closes on Sundays and Mondays.
Grab one slice for the table and a whole pie for the ride. Honestly, nobody will judge you for buying three.
Address: 100 N Cherry St, Winchester, IN 47394
Zaharakos
A mechanical orchestra from 1908 plays while you eat your sundae. Columbus really knows how to set a dessert mood.
Three Greek immigrant brothers opened Zaharakos as a candy store in October 1900. Soda water and ice cream joined the menu a few years later.
The family ran it for three generations before it closed in 2006. A local businessman then restored it, and the doors reopened in June 2009.
Look around and you’ll see why people linger. There’s a 50-foot mahogany backbar, marble counters, stained glass, and Tiffany-style lamps.
That 1908 Welte Orchestrion is the showstopper. It’s a self-playing organ built to sound like a full orchestra.
Next door, the museum holds one of the largest public collections of pre-1900 soda fountains. You’ll also find antique syrup dispensers and other musical machines.
Now, the important part: ice cream. It’s churned right on site, with classics like butter pecan and mint chocolate chip plus a flavor of the month.
Hand-pulled sodas are a must here. Try Green River, a Midwest favorite, or the frothy Orangeade.
Hungry for lunch first? The GOM sloppy joe and the breaded tenderloin both make strong cases.
Plan around the schedule, because it’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Street parking can get tight, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
Address: 329 Washington St, Columbus, IN 47201
Ivanhoes
One hundred shakes. One hundred sundaes.
Decision fatigue has never tasted this good.
Ivanhoes sits in Upland, a small town in rural Grant County. Its giant flavor list is the main reason people point their cars this way.
Here’s a friendly tip before you reach the counter. Pick two or three backup choices, because the menu board is a lot to process.
Not sure where to start? The Hot Fudge Deluxe and the banana split are both menu highlights.
Strawberry shortcake also gets plenty of love. And the milkshakes come in enough versions to fill a season of road trips.
You can eat real food too, which helps justify round two. Burgers like the Cowabunga Burger, grilled tenderloins, onion rings, and tater tots fill out the menu.
Ordering happens at the counter, so there’s no table service. It’s casual, quick, and friendly to families and college students alike.
Expect company on weekend afternoons and evenings, since those are the busiest times. There’s often a wait, so patience becomes part of the dessert.
Got kids along? There’s a kids’ menu and high chairs, plus outdoor seating for nice days.
The hours run late most nights, until 10 PM and 11 PM on weekends. Sundays start at 2 PM, so don’t show up for breakfast sundaes.
Address: 979 S Main St, Upland, IN 46989
Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery
Fried chicken for dinner, pie for dessert, and cinnamon rolls for tomorrow. Shipshewana makes planning ahead feel like a smart life choice.
Blue Gate is a family-owned country kitchen and bakery in northern Indiana’s Amish country. It sits right alongside an Amish crafts marketplace.
Start in the dining room if you have time. Fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, and noodles come from the menu or the buffet.
There’s also a salad bar, so someone at your table can claim they ate a vegetable. That’s a fair trade before pie.
Then head to the bakery, which is the real reason this spot made the list. Pies, cinnamon rolls, and zucchini bread are the standouts.
The pie selection includes blueberry, lemon meringue, and pumpkin. Pecan and banana cream also show up as strong favorites.
Need something for the road? Cookies and apple butter travel well and make easy gifts for anyone who stayed home.
The restaurant opens at 10:30 AM and closes at 7 PM. It’s closed on Sundays, so plan your Amish country trip for another day.
Waits are common, especially Saturday afternoons and evenings. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter if you’d rather skip the line.
Bring an empty back seat. You might be tempted to fill it with bread and pie boxes.
Address: 195 N Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565
Rise’n Roll Bakery & Deli – Middlebury
A donut with a nickname this bold had better deliver. In Middlebury, the Cinnamon Caramel Donut earns its fame.
Fans call it Amish Crack, and it’s easy to see why. A caramel glaze meets a coat of cinnamon sugar, and suddenly one feels like too few.
The donut even won Fan Favorite in America’s Greatest Donut Contest. That’s a big trophy for a treat born from Amish family recipes.
Rise’n Roll began in 2001 in Shipshewana. A young Amish couple sold baked goods from their front porch.
The first storefront opened in Middlebury in 2004. At first it ran without electricity, and everything was made by hand.
Today the case runs deep. Look for apple fritters, Crunch Delight donuts, big cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing, and fry pies.
Don’t skip the shelves either. Crunch Candy, Amish noodles, jams, local honey, and Amish peanut butter are all waiting.
Free coffee and samples help you make tough choices. Let’s be honest, though, the cinnamon caramel box is probably coming home anyway.
Open Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM. It’s closed on Sundays.
Saturdays get the busiest, so arrive early if you want the best selection. A weekday morning makes for an easier stop.
Address: 1065 N 1150 W, Middlebury, IN 46540
DeBrand Fine Chocolates
Vietnamese cinnamon and pear in a chocolate square? Fort Wayne clearly isn’t playing it safe with candy.
DeBrand Fine Chocolates got its start in October 1987. The founder launched it in her hometown, and it’s still a family business today.
Curious about the name? It blends the French word De, meaning from, with her last name, Brand.
The chocolate list could keep you busy for a while. Truffles, caramels, fruit creams, toffee, almond bark, and peanut butter cups lead the way.
Tasting bars get creative too. Flavors include Piña Colada, Dark Red Raspberry, and even Indiana Popcorn.
Not in a nibbling mood? Order an ice cream sundae and pile on the toppings.
Cold weather calls for gourmet hot chocolate instead. Options range from Classic and Dark to S’mores and Unicorn.
Want to see how it’s made? Public tours run at the company headquarters, with a video, samples, and a look at the chocolate kitchens.
Tours happen Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Weekday tours are your best bet, since chocolatiers don’t produce on Saturdays.
The Auburn Park shop stays open late most nights, until 9 PM or 10 PM. Sundays run from noon to 6 PM.
Address: 10105 Auburn Park Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Mary Lou Donuts
Early birds win big in Lafayette. Mary Lou Donuts closes at 1 PM, so sleeping in can cost you a fritter.
The shop has a truck stop style and a real hometown following. Many folks consider it a Lafayette icon.
What should you grab first? Apple fritters and blueberry cake donuts top the wish list.
Cinnamon rolls come in two-packs, which feels thoughtful. One for now and one for later, or both for now.
These donuts are big, soft, and made fresh. The bakery is also known for imaginative creations, so keep an eye on the case.
Don’t overlook the coffee. It’s a surprisingly strong partner for all that sugar.
There’s a drive-through, and lines can form on busy mornings. Saturday mornings get the most traffic.
Online ordering helps you skip the car line. Just know you won’t get to pick your exact donuts that way.
Inside, the space is small, and there’s no restroom. It works best as a quick stop on your way somewhere else.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 6 AM to 1 PM. It’s closed Sundays and Mondays, so plan your donut run carefully.
Address: 1830 S 4th St, Lafayette, IN 47905
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, Carmel City Center
Crystal chandeliers and sky-high layer cakes in the same room? Carmel went full fairy tale and didn’t look back.
The shop is known for towering signature layer cakes made from scratch daily. Slices arrive tall enough to make your fork nervous.
The Earls Court Chocolate Cake is the award winner. Raspberry Champagne Cake, Southern Caramel, Millionaire, and S’mores are also on the list.
Look up and around while you wait. Swarovski crystal chandeliers, antiqued mirrors, and French-inspired furniture set the scene.
The first Cake Bake Shop opened in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis. This Carmel City Center spot is much larger and sits on the upper plaza level.
Planning something special? Afternoon Tea comes with Dammann Frères tea, seasonal scones, finger sandwiches, and desserts.
It’s also a full restaurant, from breakfast to dinner. Quiches, salads, chicken piccata, and truffle pommes frites keep things savory before cake.
Macarons, cookies, and dessert bars fill the pastry case too. A gift shop helps if you need a souvenir that isn’t edible.
Reservations are recommended for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Without one, expect a wait, especially on Friday evenings.
Hours run late on most days, but Wednesday closes at 6 PM. Check before you go so your cake plans stay on track.
Address: Upper Deck, 799 Hanover Place Ste 260, Carmel, IN 46032
Schimpff’s Confectionery
Twenty thousand pounds of cinnamon Red Hots leave this Jeffersonville shop each year. Your tongue may tingle just reading that.
Schimpff’s has stood at its current spot since 1891. It’s Indiana’s oldest candy store and Jeffersonville’s oldest retail business.
The family’s candy history in the Louisville area goes back even further, to the 1850s. The fifth generation runs the business today.
Step inside and you’ll notice an original tin ceiling and heavy wood display cases. It looks like a candy shop from a storybook, because it mostly is one.
Candy makers still use century-old equipment for live demonstrations. Red Hots are often the star of the show.
Beyond those cinnamon candies, look for hard candy fish in 18 flavors. Modjeskas, caramel-covered marshmallows named after a Polish actress, are a local classic.
Chocolate turtles, lemon drops, and horehound drops also fill the cases. Hand-dipped candies are a big part of the draw.
Thirsty? The 1950s-era soda fountain serves sundaes, floats, and cherry coke, and the deli handles lunch on weekdays and Saturdays.
The candy museum next door shows off vintage candy memorabilia. In 2026, USA Today named Schimpff’s the Best Candy Store in America.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. It’s closed on Sundays, so save your Red Hot run for Saturday.
Address: 347 Spring St, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
