I’ve lived in Columbus, Ohio, for more than 30 years. As a peanut butter fanatic, I’ve enjoyed plenty of chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls affectionately known here as “buckeyes.”
Whether homemade or store-bought, buckeyes never fail to satisfy my sweet tooth. Think of a Reese’s cup with an artsy edge, as they resemble the nut of Ohio’s state tree.
Around here, they’re more than just a sugary indulgence — they’re part of the Buckeye State’s identity. You’ll often find them at tailgates for Ohio State University football games, where they’ve become a fan favorite, and in countless homes across the state.
It’s no surprise, then, that there’s a trail devoted to the beloved candy. Experience Columbus, the city’s visitor bureau, has launched the Columbus Buckeye Treat Trail, giving locals and visitors a fun way to explore buckeyes and their various iterations.
The trail features 17 stops, including local gems like Anthony-Thomas Chocolates and Schmidt’s Fudge Haus, offering everything from traditional buckeyes to creative desserts such as buckeye-flavored milkshakes, doughnuts, cookies, and cream puffs. Participants can not only enjoy some fantastic treats but also meet local business owners and earn rewards like a custom Buckeye Trail candle or a free T-shirt.
Here are six tasty stops that I visited along the trail.
Anthony-Thomas Candy Co.
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
At this venerable Columbus confectionary business, buckeye candies are crafted with 100% real milk chocolate, including chocolate liqueur and cocoa butter. This formula provides a contrast to the darker chocolate or compound chocolates often used in other buckeyes.
These candies also feature double-roasted peanut butter, developed specifically for Anthony-Thomas, which offers a deep, creamy flavor. Each buckeye is topped with a white chocolate cap, colored to look like peanut butter, which helps extend the candy’s shelf life.
Buckeyes are the No. 1 selling item at Anthony-Thomas, with more than 14 million sold each year.
Nick Trifelos, a fifth-generation member of the original founding family, oversees the sales and distributor division. He works alongside his mother, Candi Trifelos, and grandfather, Joseph Zanetos, continuing the family tradition. “We’ve refined our recipe to ensure each piece not only looks good but delivers a robust peanut butter flavor wrapped in smooth milk chocolate – our family’s legacy in every bite,” Trifelos says.
Schmidt’s Sausage Haus
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
Schmidt’s Sausage Haus in Columbus’ German Village has been a family-operated mainstay since its transition from a meat packing house to a restaurant in 1967. The Schmidt family legacy dates back even further, to 1886, when J. Fred Schmidt, a German immigrant, opened a meat packing business in south Columbus. His grandson, George F. Schmidt, later established the restaurant, known for its signature Bahama Mama spicy sausages and oversized cream puffs.
Fifth-generation co-owner Matt Schmidt continues to honor this rich history, which includes the luscious cream puffs. Among them is the Buckeye cream puff, which I found to be a treat trail standout. This indulgent dessert’s lightly dusted pastry shell is overstuffed with vanilla pudding and whipped cream, enriched with a distinct peanut butter base, and topped with a generous layer of chocolate fudge and chopped peanuts.
“Everyone in Columbus knows and loves the buckeye flavor,” Schmidt says. “It was a no-brainer to create this cream puff that resonates so well with our local Buckeye football fans.”
Schmidt’s Fudge Haus
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
Next door to the Sausage Haus is Schmidt’s Fudge Haus, which Tim Dick, a partner with the Schmidt family, has owned for 24 years. The shop, tucked away on a brick-lined street, specializes in fudge and, for the trail, offers rich peanut butter and chocolate fudge. It’s made the traditional way, in copper kettles using fresh cream, Belgian cocoa, and a creamy peanut butter base.
“We’ve started merging our peanut butter fudge with Buckeyes, and it’s been a hit,” Dick says.
In addition to fudge, Schmidt’s offers milk chocolate and peanut butter football-shaped candies, and a variation on the classic turtle candy, known as the Schmurtle. The Schmurtle is made with homemade butter caramel infused with roasted salted pecans, followed by a layer of chocolate, a scoop of peanut butter, and then another layer of chocolate.
Krema Nut Company
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
Founded in 1898, Krema Nut Co. in the Columbus neighborhood of Grandview Heights is celebrated for its hand-rolled buckeyes and the delectable Buckeye Crunch. The buckeyes are meticulously crafted with stabilized peanut butter and dipped in chocolate. The Buckeye Crunch features caramel corn enrobed in a peanut butter confection, then drizzled with chocolate, striking the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Walk in, and the first thing you’ll notice is the warm, inviting aroma of roasting nuts. Behind the retail space lies a small factory where the magic happens. Krema Nut Co. not only sells nuts, nut butters, and snacks but also operates as the oldest peanut butter company still in business in America.
At the heart of the company are the nuts and their renowned peanut butter. “We’re making all-natural peanut butter. We take the number one fancy grade Spanish peanut, put them in a dry roaster. Once they’ve cooked and cooled, our blanching machine takes off the skin, takes out the heart, and then it goes into this giant bin waiting to be ground into peanut butter,” explains owner Brian Guinta, who works alongside his father, Mike; his sister, Lisa Sayre; and his wife, Jacquie Guinta.
Donna’s Delicious Dozen
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
From the name, it’s easy to guess what this small shop is all about – doughnuts. At Donna’s Delicious Dozen, each doughnut is made fresh to order, ensuring minimal waste and maximum flavor. You don’t have to arrive at the crack of dawn or stand in long lines to get a warm, moist doughnut with a slightly crunchy exterior.
The PB Dream Cup doughnut, for instance, features a base of chocolate icing, topped with crushed peanut butter cups and a sweet peanut butter drizzle. For those craving more, the PB Dream S’more combines chocolate icing with toasted marshmallow and toasted Reese’s Pieces.
Gluten-free options are available, prepared in a separate fryer with a dedicated topping station for safety.
“We don’t have cases of doughnuts. You order, we fry it right on the spot,” says owner Traci Lukemire, who named the shop after her late grandmother, Donna Mitchell.
Opened in June 2019 in a former swimsuit store, the shop faced the challenges of the pandemic but never closed. It recently expanded its operations to include a food truck, taking its fresh doughnuts on the road.
C. Krueger’s Finest
Courtesy of Wendy Pramik
The buckeye-inspired offering at C. Krueger’s Finest in the Columbus suburb of Blacklick is a peanut butter cookie topped with hand-spread fudge icing.
Founded by Cheryl Kruger, who previously established Cheryl’s Cookies in the early ’80s and sold it in 2005, C. Krueger’s was born from her desire to elevate the cookie experience to a new level of craftsmanship.
The cookies are soft, made with natural ingredients, and feature a creamy peanut butter base topped with smooth fudge icing. Workers are specially trained in a hand-icing technique, applying the fudge in a swirl using a sandwich spreader-style spatula.
Packaged individually for freshness – an approach that started pre-pandemic and became essential for shipping – the cookies come with a five-day freshness guarantee and are perfect for freezing.
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