Philadelphia, PA – America’s oldest candy shop asked Philadelphians to share their real ghost stories, and the city answered. Now Shane Confectionery in Old City has turned those paranormal encounters into its limited-edition Haunted Philadelphia Halloween box. Only 125 boxes are being made. Each eerie black-and-silver box holds 14 chocolates and confections, two each of seven pieces inspired by local hauntings and legends, and their flavors stay under wraps until the collection is revealed on October 5. Every box also includes an illustrated zine telling the stories and history behind each haunting, plus a beeswax ghost candle from Philadelphia Bee Co. Pre-orders are open now, with pick-up starting October 5.
For those that don’t want to commit to the full experience, the individual pieces from the assortment will also be available in Shane’s chocolate case, and can be added to in store custom assortments. This is one of the most anticipated candy drops at Shane Confectionery of the entire year.
Other spooky season treats include Mr. Pumpkin Chocolate Figure, Galvani’s Electric Frogs, Cinnamon and Chili Ghost Bon Bons, Chocolate Septa Rats, Memento Mori Chocolate Medallion, Honey Sesame Bon Bons, Spicy Cinnamon Chili Drinking Chocolate Mix, Chocolate dipped Honeycomb Candy and more. Next door at Franklin Fountain, pair your Haunted chocolates with Apple Pie Ice Cream, Great Pumpkin Sundae, Hot Cider, Caramel Apple Float, Caramel Apple Pie Shake and more. Visit Shane Confectionery on Philadelphia’s famous Confectionery Row at 110 Market Street and Franklin Fountain at 116 Market Street – and place your pre-order online at shanecandies dot com.
The highly anticipated, limited edition Shane Confectionery Halloween Box has risen from its slumber and is available for pre-order on their website. With the excitement around last year’s Pine Barrens theme, the folks at Shane decided to bring the spooky even closer to home, this year’s box is Haunted Philadelphia. Earlier this year in preparation, Shane put out a request for Philadelphians to submit their personal paranormal experiences.
“Shane Confectionery received a range of experiences from funny to horrifying,” said Shane Confectionery Director of Design Pavia Burroughs. “We were really excited when we started getting replies with people’s ghost stories.
“The entries that weren’t selected were either too short and too hard to make candy around, or a fictional short story – which is not what we were looking for,” Burroughs clarified. The box will represent real experiences, as well as some favorite legends.”
Like their previous Halloween assortments, in addition to a box of confections, patrons will receive an illustrated zine and beeswax ghost shaped candle from Philadelphia Bee Co. The zine covers the ins and outs of both the hauntings and the histories, and becauseShane Confectionery takes history seriously, even when its a legend about a ghost, they have included a bibliography for those wanting to dig even deeper.
Each confection in the box is inspired by one of the ghost stories; there are two of each per box, perfect for sharing. Shane suggests you turn off the lights, light the candle, grab a friend, and read the stories while eating the confections to get the full experience.
Shane always keeps the specific pieces hush hush, allowing the mystery to add to the experience. However one of the most exciting pieces in the box is a Sparkling Champagne Pate de Fruit in honor of a phantom party in a former hotel.
“Its made with prosecco and popping sugar – like pop rocks – and it has a delightful kind of sticky texture, somewhere between fruit based pate de fruit and a Turkish delight,” says Shane Confectionery Manager Laurel Burmeister. “Its a piece we have been wanting to do for a long time, I think our Head Chocolate Maker Kevin Paschall came up with the idea initially, and he was the one to create it. We’re thinking of bringing it back for New Year’s.”
Shane Confectionery hopes the theme is a hit and would love to make more assortments in the future inspired by locals’ spooky experiences. For anyone that has lived a paranormal experience that took place in Philadelphia, their submission form is now open for 2027 for submissions for next year’s box.
To submit your personal experience: forms INSERTDOT gle/woA1KbPofaNJG2kZ8
Only 125 Haunted Philadelphia box assortments were made, and online pre-orders have already begun. If you don’t want to commit to the full experience, the individual pieces from the assortment will also be available in Shane’s chocolate case, and can be added to in store custom assortments. All are while supplies last, first come first served. Assortment contains nuts, dairy and alcohol.
To place a pre-order visit: shanecandies dot com/shop/chocolate/boxed-chocolates/halloween_artisan/
OTHER SPOOKY SEASON SWEETS
Shane Confectionery announces other seasonal favorites for Trick-or-Treat season, including Mr. Pumpkin Chocolate Figure, Galvani’s Electric Frogs, Chocolate Septa Rats, Memento Mori Chocolate Medallion, Honey Sesame Bon Bons, Spicy Cinnamon Chili Drinking Chocolate Mix, Chocolate dipped Honeycomb Candy and more.
Next door at Franklin Fountain, pair your Haunted chocolates with Apple Pie Ice Cream, Great Pumpkin Sundae, Hot Cider, Caramel Apple Float, Caramel Apple Pie Shake and more.
Visit Shane Confectionery on Philadelphia’s famous Confectionery Row at 110 Market Street – and place your pre-order online at shanecandies dot com.
ABOUT SHANE CONFECTIONERY
Shane Confectionery is the oldest continuously-run confectionery and candy shop in the United States, established in 1863. The Shane family took over the business in 1911, installing elaborately carved woodwork, stained glass and curved windows to showcase the chocolates and confections made onsite. Ninety-nine years later, in 2010, the business transitioned to the Berley Brothers who own the nearby Franklin Fountain and whom embarked on a meticulous restoration of the building and business. Candies and chocolate continue to be made on-site, with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients, seasonal specialties and old-fashioned quality.
Shane Chocolate Works strives to craft the best Chocolate using techniques that both innovate and honor the storied confectionery traditions of the past. They are committed to the sustainability of cacao agriculture through sourcing only ethically traded cocoa which demands a premium paid to farmers.