Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates

Never tasted better chocolate! We enjoyed every piece. Sad to say we live too far away to get them often but I have a feeling we will have some shipped to us. The staff was super wonderful too!

When I talk about Donaldson’s, most Hoosiers have no idea what I’m talking about. HELLOOO, have you never driven on I-​65 before?
The shop is located just off of Exit 139 in a small building. Upon opening the door, you’re surrounded by cases and boxes of Butter Creams, Pecan-​Carmel Delights, Caramels, Butter Mints, Chews, Barks, Nut Clusters, Truffles, Toffee, Coconut Haystacks, Peanut Butter/​Honeycomb Crunches… did I mention they have both dark chocolate and milk chocolate varieties of these delectables? You have all the right problems at Donaldson’s. If I were you, I would just do an assortment box so that you get a little bit of everything. I haven’t had anything that I didn’t like. The ingredients are high quality, the chocolates are made the old-​fashioned way, and the taste is superb. You MUST stop in/​order online soon.

So delicious!!!
I was driving an 8 hour day with my mom and convinced her, after coming thru a storm in Indy, that this should be my ‘reward’ :) We stopped and I ran in to survey the place. I bought some chocolates as a gift, admired their maps and enjoyed chatting with the sweet lady behind the counter.
I ran back out to the car and ate our picnic lunch in the parking lot with mom, only to find that in my excitement to go in, I left out car lights on! :(We would still be there if it weren’t for the helpful staff and the younger Mr. Donaldson! They were lifesavers…
But Dad thought his chocolate gift was worth it :) We’ll be back I’m sure!
(No pictures because we ate it all before that came to mind!)

Amazing chocolates! They ship all over the world but make their chocolates in a small town in IN. I was given a free caramel to try while I picked out my box of chocolates. They even donate chocolates to the local library for a children’s program! The people are nice, helpful and attentive… while the chocolates are flavorful and handmade. what more could you ask for?!

Great chocolates. Friendly and helpful staff! Worth the stop on your way down the interstate!

This the THE.BEST.CHOCOLATE.EVER. True chocolate flavor balanced well with butter and pure sugar. An older gentlemen working there, who I shall call olé man Donaldson, was so warm and welcoming that I truly enjoyed spending my money with him. There is a little kitchen where you can see the chocolate being made as well. I go to Lebanon semi-​frequently for biz and will make a stop every dam time. All in all, this is the real deal.

C’mon Unilocal!Ad on the last page is for Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae this ain’t.
Found this place during family visit, on strength of Unilocal reviews. You won’t be disappointed. Enormous selection of dark & milk varieties. Favorites of the variety I got are the peanut butter meltaways (really good bite-​size Reese’s). And the salt water caramels, as well as the dark chocolate coconut haystack.
Sweet grey — haired gal works the counter. They’re right beside truck stop; I told her I was there for business; she asked if I was a trucker. Reasonably priced. Ship worldwide, so the brochure says.

As a Lebonite, Donaldson’s was a tradition. Makes me think of home, and my grandma’s house! You could go in and watch them make the chocolate. Standard boxed chocolates but they prepare them with love. The peppermint bark! yum.
They also used to have a map with pins all the places in the world visitors had come from.
A great local place. Just because it’s right off the highway don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s no good.

I firmly believe that some of the places advertised while driving on the interstates have the best quality!
I have seen the signs for Donaldson’s many times on my drives to and from Indianapolis, and finally decided to stop there. I LOVE chocolate, and it was a hot Saturday mid-​morning full of cars (due to construction). I decided I could use a little break.
I stepped inside and it smelled like chocolate heaven. The lady behind the counter was insanely nice, and she told me about the different kinds of chocolate, how they are made, and even let me have a sample piece.
Let me just say that all chocolate is not the same folks: the quality here is immensely good! The white chocolate turtles I got for a friend were awesome (his words), and the dark chocolate graham crackers I got were very good.
I-​65 is a construction-​filled obstacle right now. Treat yourself to some chocolate (Exit 139) for braving this drive, and support a very deserving family run business!!!

If you find yourself driving down this otherwise boring stretch of 65 make sure you plan your stop accordingly for a trip here. Best chocolates and caramels ever! I pass by here several times a month and need to stop eating it so much! The staff is so friendly. Stop in and bring a beautiful box of their chocolates to your destination.

Donaldson’s rocks. Saw the sign from the highway and had to stop and try it. So glad we did. The owner is a hoot and will tell you all about his chocolate making and formulas. He also allows some sampling. The creams in dark chocolate are fabulous as are the covered nuts and orange peel. Selections are placed in delicate little boxes that you just want to tear open in the car so you can devour the chocolate immediately. My advice: get it home and enjoy it slowly savoring each morsel.

Oh I’m so glad someone else just reviewed Donaldson’s, otherwise I wouldn’t have thought to do it as well! But they so deserve it. It’s a locally-​owned, family-​run business in a little house near a truck stop, and it’s better than just about any other chocolate I’ve ever had. If we’re in the area, we always stop by. At Christmas, I make a special run and buy a ton of their assorted boxes as gifts/​party favors. Well worth the drive!

There isn’t a lot more to say about Donaldson’s than «damn good chocolate.»
My wife and I travel to Indy from Lafayette quite often, and often stop at the «Trick Stop,» Flying J @ MM 139, which is across from Donaldson’s. Sometimes we also go to Donaldson’s for a couple of chocolates for the road.
I’m a toffee *freak* and theirs is kick-​ass. Everything else is good too. I don’t think there’s any way they could improve their product or service at the shop, so… 5 starring this. Good chocolate, great selection, and friendly staff.

I’ve stumbled across Donaldson’s twice while traveling to somewhere else, and they’re well worth a stop. Good selection, and the folks at the counter are quite happy to accommodate you if you want to, say, get a custom truffle box made up.
The toffee in dark chocolate is particularly notable; many chocolate stores don’t do it in dark, and this is a nice brittle toffee, which means it’s fresh. The caramels are the softer kind. I find the creams a bit more subtle than I prefer, but this place is definitely a cut above most chocolatiers.
Closed Sundays. Watch for the signs as you’re driving along the I-​65.

Besdies DeBrand’s Chocolates (which is probably the best in the country) Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates are the best in Indiana. You would never picture the little house/​shack off of I-​65 and Indiana State Road 39 as the place where some of the finest confections in the state are made, but the handmade treats, made the old-​fashioned way, are some of the best I’ve ever eaten — and I consider myself to be a distinguished connesseur of chocolates and truffles.
Their website is cheesy and quite 1996-​ish, their store décor is old-​school and so is their display case, but so what! It’s the product that counts and it never fails to dissappoint.
Every time I make a trip to Northwest Indiana or Chicago I make a stop here for this best kept Indiana secret. However, if you see their shipping map in their store, you will see that they ship there chocolates all over the world on a very regular basis. Not much of secret to those that have tried it and spread the news. I hope everyone that makes the journey to Indy stops at Exit 139 off of Interstate 65. Right next to the Flying J it will be worth your while. And all of you Indianapolis people, it’s less than twenty minutes away from the northside. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! (Hint, hint) Enjoy!