Chocolate heavens

Granted, we’re not swimming in the same size vat of chocolate as Hershey’s, Ghirardelli or Willie Wonka, but Spokane is rich in tradition regarding candy makers.

Successful family-owned candy companies such as Halletts Chocolates on the North Side, Spokandy downtown and Bruttles Candy Shoppe and Factory in the Spokane Valley are sure to be busy with Valentine’s Day less than a week away.

Halletts, 1419 E. Holyoke Ave., is known for its Huckleberry Bliss creation, the blending of fresh huckleberries into smooth butter cream and dipped in milk or dark chocolate.

Around the shop, owners Patty Kane and daughters Kitty, 40, Kari, 36, and Kristy, 28, refer to their hot seller as “Huck Bliss.” Halletts chocolates have been made in Spokane for more than 20 years, and the Kanes are the company’s third owners.

Mention Spokandy, 1412 W. Third Ave., and visions of a mouth-watering Murphy comes dancing in customers’ heads. Original owner Terrence J. Riley created the treat, which is a whipped vanilla center hand-dipped in chocolate and rolled in fresh toasted coconut.

The candy still is handmade.

“We have the potential of making 500 extra pounds of Murphys over Valentine’s Day,” said Todd Davis, president of business that also has shops at NorthTown Mall, in Spokane Valley and in Coeur d’Alene.

Carol Measel, owner of Bruttles, 11400 E. Sprague Ave., said the signature soft peanut brittle has in-house competition.

Measel, who founded Bruttles three years ago, recently introduced the S’more Bruttle to the company’s world of irresistible candies. It is made with a layer of soft peanut brittle and graham cracker crumbs and homemade toasted marshmallow and drizzled with homemade soft caramel and chocolate.

The S’more has been a diet-smashing success at both the Valley and Davenport Hotel shops.