About Krause's
Three Generations of Good Taste Since 1929
For nearly a century, Krause's Homemade Candy has been Albany's beloved destination for exceptional handcrafted confections. Located at 1609 Central Avenue in the heart of Albany, our family-owned candy store has been delighting customers with the finest homemade chocolates and candy since 1929.
Step into our charming shop and be greeted by the heavenly aroma of freshly made confections. Our shelves are lined with an array of colorful treats, from classic chocolate truffles and creamy caramels to unique handcrafted candies that showcase our commitment to quality and creativity. Whether you're craving rich milk chocolate, decadent dark chocolate, or our famous seasonal specialties like Pumpkin fudge, we have something to satisfy every sweet tooth.
What sets us apart is our dedication to traditional candy-making techniques passed down through three generations. Our skilled chocolatiers hand-make every piece with care, ensuring that each bite delivers the exceptional taste that has made us a local institution. From our gourmet truffles and chocolate-covered treats to our extensive selection of over 150 self-serve candy varieties, every confection reflects our passion for excellence.
We take pride in offering personalized service with our friendly, knowledgeable staff who are always ready to help you find the perfect treat or create custom gift baskets for any occasion. Our store features sugar-free options and beautifully packaged gifts, making us your go-to destination for holidays, special celebrations, or simply treating yourself to something sweet.
With wheelchair accessibility and a warm, inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a classic candy shop, Krause's Homemade Candy continues to create sweet memories for all families throughout the Capital Region.
Visit us today and discover why we've been Albany's premier chocolatier for over 90 years.
Open Monday-Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM,
Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The History of
Krause's Homemade Candy in Albany, NY
Krause's - 622 Central Avenue - 1986-1996
A blast from the past, this is our store during the early years in Albany. We had a great time starting our business at 622 Central Avenue in Albany. We opened on May 10th 1996. Seems like yesterday!
Does anyone remember this store??
Moving to Colonie, New York
1996
Our store moved from Downtown Albany to Colonie in 1996.
Moving our Candy Factory to Colonie, NY 1999
We moved our candy making to Colonie in 1999.
Growing our Retail Area
2006
Our retail area grew in 2006!
A Family Tradition:
The Fine Art of Chocolate Making
For three generations, the Krause family has been dedicated to bringing a smile to the faces of people everywhere with their delicious homemade candies.
The secret behind those smiles - using the finest ingredients to make some of the most extraordinary chocolates and treats you'll ever enjoy! It all began in 1929, when Alfred Krause brought his knowledge of candy making with him to the United States from Germany. He opened candy stores on Long Island and in New Jersey, some of which are still in business today. The art of candy making, as well as his traditional recipes were passed on to Alfred's son Manfred. In 1972, Manfred and his wife Jean opened their own candy store in Saugerties, New York. Their son Tom, who at the time was just a young boy, began learning the trade while working along side his parents. Then, in 1986, Tom Krause opened Krause's Homemade Candy of Albany, New York.
Since then, Krause's Candy has become very popular in the Capital Region. People come from all over to enjoy Tom's specialties like old fashioned peanut brittle, chocolate covered almond butter toffee, rich dark chocolate fudge and hundreds of other handmade treats. In fact, Krause's had become so popular around Albany that Tom and his wife Ann decided to move to a bigger store in 1996.
They expanded even more in 1999 with the addition of a brand new factory to better serve their ever increasing amount of loyal customers. Tom Krause continues to follow in his Family's footsteps by always using the freshest ingredients and never, ever skimping on the good stuff that make Krause's Homemade Candies the best you will ever taste!
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CHECK OUT OUR SISTER STORE LOCATIONS
HAND DIPPING
Being hand-dipped is one of the most unique qualities of Krause’s Chocolates. We make the centers of each candy by hand in a copper cooking pot. They are transferred to a cream beater and then pressed by hand in an antique candy press. Now the candy is ready to be engulfed in the highest quality chocolate. Each center is dropped by hand into a dipping pot and scooped out by the “dipper” using hand-crafted tools; scoops, loops, forks depending on the shape of the center.
The temperature of the chocolate is constantly monitored to ensure a thick, lustrous coating on every piece. From the dipping pot, the candies are placed in individual paper cups. These are color-coded for easy identification. Full trays of warm candies are slid into temperature controlled cooling tunnels. At the end of the tunnel emerge unique, individual chocolates ready for hand packing. Mass produced candy can not compare. The unsurpassed quality makes Krause's Chocolates virtually fly out the door. Freshness is never an issue!
There are more than 50 varieties of unique, hand-dipped chocolates, several flavors of creamy homemade fudge and melt-in-your-mouth peanut brittle. Most varieties are available in milk or semi-sweet chocolate. The premium chocolate Karl uses originated with a Swiss formula and taste, above all else, is paramount.
The milk chocolate, as its name implies, contains more milk and is lighter and sweeter than the robust, stronger flavored semi-sweet chocolate. Unlike cheaper quality chocolates, which contain waxes or oils, Karl’s choice of chocolate has a rich flavor with no unpleasant after-taste. He uses only freshly roasted nuts and the finest imported dried fruits from around the world.
Savory favorites like caramel, butter crunch and peanut brittle contain only the freshest ninety-three score butter. Cream centers are made with pure cane sugar, egg-white frappe, real fruit and fruit oils. Karl strives to use natural flavors and colors whenever possible. Whether you prefer tender, light marshmallow, moist, exotic coconut or old-fashioned peanut butter, Krause’s Chocolates are the best you’ll ever taste.