A bright yellow glimmer caught Charlie "Digger Chuck" Ward's eye as he panned. His eyes had fooled him in the past, so he reached in the pan to feel the weight of the clump. Ward handed it to his prospecting partner, Byron Janis, and asked "Is this what I think it is?"

The 2-¼ inch by 1-1/2 inch by 1 inch rock was exactly what Ward thought it was: gold.

It turned out to be the largest undisputed gold nugget found in the Black Hills in the past 120 years.

Ward and his partner, who call themselves the "Ice Box Mining Company," sold the precious nugget for an undisclosed amount to Chris Johnson, owner of the Clock Shop in downtown Rapid City, which often buys gold from prospectors. It is now on display at:

PRESIDENTIAL PAWN AND GUN ‘s “Pawnseum”
629 Saint Joseph St.
Rapid City, SD 57701

Chubby Chipmunk has been given permission to replicate the nugget and now carries the exact replica made with Fortunato #4 Chocolate. The pure Nacional chocolate thought to be extinct but rediscovered in 2007.

We are proud to be able to offer corporate gift giving with the sweet taste of chocolate to treat the customer while reminding them of your company. These are great for your employees, customers or can be used to really make a statement at conferences and gatherings.

We have developed the logo chocolate bar.

We can make them in milk or dark chocolate and each comes in a clear plastic case with a bow, all ready to gift.

There is an initial tooling fee to create the custom molds. Minimum order is 25 bars plus shipping and we do need a 3 week window for first order.

You can then order with only a one week window whenever you need them after the initial one.

To get your own Corporate Gifts just let us know by filling out our Contact Form.

This privacy policy discloses the privacy practices for chubbychipmunk.com. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected by this web site. It will notify you of the following:

1. What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the web site, how it is used and with whom it may be shared.
2. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data.
3. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information.
4. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

Information Collection, Use, and Sharing

We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone.

We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. to ship an order.

Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.

Your Access to and Control Over Information

You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website:

• See what data we have about you, if any.
• Change/correct any data we have about you.
• Have us delete any data we have about you.
• Express any concern you have about our use of your data.

Security

We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline.

Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a closed lock icon at the bottom of your web browser, or looking for "https" at the beginning of the address of the web page.

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

Orders

We request information from you on our order form. To buy from us, you must provide contact information (like name and shipping address) and financial information (like credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to fill your orders. If we have trouble processing an order, we'll use this information to contact you.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information.

Updates

Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time and all updates will be posted on this page.

If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at 605.722.2447 or via email.

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A Little Ditty About the Team at Leones’ Creamery

We are so excited to carry this amazing local, handmade ice cream in our shop.

Leones' CreameryLeones' Creamery is owned and operated by sisters, Hannah Leone and Rebecca Leone Williams, along with Rebecca's husband, John Leone Williams.

Ice cream is more than just our job, it's our absolute passion! Made with love in small batches, our flavors range from the classic to the absurd, but never fall short of delicious. We love putting our heads together to create unique and delicious hand-crafted, creamy goodness. Our team is over-the-moon about our community and customers, so we strive to produce only the tastiest and highest quality product to please their palates. As often as possible, we utilize and feature local ingredients that highlight our sweet little corner of the Earth. From our Crow Peak's Pile-O-Dirt Porter to our Spearfish Valley Rhubarb ice creams, we've got a fierce pride for the Black Hills, and love that we can showcase that through our tantalizing creations. Our flavors rotate and switch on the daily, so you're always bound to discover a new favorite!

These are some of the flavors we carry, and plan to rotate some seasonal flavors as they are created.

• Chipmunk Treasure: Our ode to the delicious Chipmunk Treasure truffle! We start with a creamy milk chocolate base and stir in toasted coconut, Chubby Chipmunk's toffee and our house-made hot fudge...too delicious for words.
• Leones' Creamery TeamLondon Fog: This is the most-requested flavor. We infuse Earl Grey tea into our milk/cream mixture and add vanilla beans.
• Butter Pecan: A dreamy, creamy concoction with hints of caramel and vanilla – studded with butter-drenched-pecans. Heaven!
• Death by Chocolate: A creamy chocolate base with a hot fudge swirl and a variety of chocolate pieces mixed in: white chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, semisweet chips. What doesn't kill you...
• Peanut Butter Oreo: A delicious take on the classic peanut butter-chocolate combo, this flavor is a clear favorite amongst customers!
• Sweet Cream: The most basic of all ice cream flavors. Cream, milk, eggs, sugar – nothing else added. A very delicious “old-fashioned” ice cream flavor, reminiscent of the home-churned stuff!
• Double Dark: We get a deep dark chocolate flavor using heaps of unsweetened cocoa powder and just a smidge of strong coffee.

A Delicious, Dream Wedding

Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates loves to create special wedding memories. We offer personalized tasting sessions where you will sample the truffle options you are considering. We offer custom decorations to correspond with your wedding theme.

There is no wedding too small nor too large. We pride ourselves on giving each and every order our utmost attention to detail.

The size of your truffles can be whatever your heart desires. We create the truffles in party size, our "golf-ball" size we are best known for, and full size made to order.

Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates

Wedding Price List for Individual Truffles

Please call for pricing.

*Boxed: white, or brown, label and gold bow

Custom Wedding Tins

These wedding tins hold three assorted truffles and are a wonderful wedding or anniversary gift, gift for bridesmaids or for parting guests. They are a custom creation that has Ms Chubby in wedding finery including the blue garter. A keepsake for that special day.

Larger than Life Size Truffles

Please call  605.722.2447 for your private consultation. Consultations include your truffle tasting to choose your favorites.

Shipping Information

• We ship from October thru May using the US Postal Service Priority Mail.
• If you would like a faster mail delivery... Please call. We have other options available and prices vary depending on the carrier.
• During the summer months (May 15 th thru end of Sept) we only offer Fedex overnight (Next Day Air) to ensure product quality.
• The following applies to our shipping.
• All assortments will be shipped within a day or two of receipt when possible. If you wish a particular date, please let us know. We will try our best to ship by requested date!
• We want your order to arrive in the best condition so we do reserve the right to wait to ship until the best favorable conditions.
• If temperature en route to destination is over 70° we recommend you order 2 ice packs and a quicker delivery method.
• Sometimes we will contact you if the shipping method will be inadequate.
• As much as we would like to hand deliver the chocolates all the way to you sometimes truffles may be damaged enroute, and this is out of our control. Please tell us, and we will see what can be done to contact the people responsible.

Ordering Information

• Due to any holiday rush we may have to substitute flavors if we run out but rest assured they will be very similar and just as delicious and addictive.
• Orders received after Dec 18 may not make it by Christmas. We will try but remember all chocolates are hand-dipped and made in small quantities to insure freshness. Thanks for understanding.
• Sorry, no returns, but contact us if there are any problems and we will do what we can to put a smile back on your face
• Included with each order are instructions on the care of your Truffles.

Please let us know if there is any problem with an order. This is how we learn and grow up to be the best chipmunks we can be. We also like good reviews and will share them on this site – with your permission, of course.

Enjoy, and remember they are best eaten with a loved one, but it is also OK not to share!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Have other questions for us? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Q: How should I store my chocolates? Can I refrigerate them?
A: Ideally, our truffles prefer to be eaten as soon as possible. However, if you can resist the urge to eat them immediately, they will taste fresh for up to 2 weeks if they’re kept out of the sun at room temperature (not exceeding 70°F, and 60% humidity). For more extended storage:

• Up to 2 months: place package in 2 plastic bags, close tight, and refrigerate.
• Up to 6 months: use same method and freeze.
• To thaw: keep chocolates in the plastic bags until the entire package has reached room temperature. From the refrigerator, this takes about 2 hours; from the freezer, about 6 hours.

Q: Do you have any gluten-free products?
A: With the exception of our cheesecake truffles and Peanut Crunch truffle, all of our truffles are gluten-free!

Q: Do you sell sugar-free chocolates?
A: We offer Milk and Dark Chocolate sugar-free wafers.

Q: Can I ship internationally?
A: Yes! We’re happy to ship to countries outside the United States.

Q: Do you offer gift certificates?
A: Yes, they can be purchased online, by phone, or at our shop.

Q: Is Chubby Chipmunk a franchise?
A: No, we’re a single, privately owned store in Deadwood, SD with an outlet also at the Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City.

Q: Can you send me a catalog?
A: Unfortunately, we aren’t able to offer print catalogs yet. However, both our year-round and seasonal product lines are available at www.chubbychipmunk.com.

Q: Where can I find descriptions of your truffles?
A: Stop by our Truffles page for a detailed list of all our truffle flavors.

Q: Are all of your chocolates handmade?
A: Absolutely!

Q: Where are the truffles made?
A: All of our chocolates are created and hand-dipped at our shop in Deadwood, SD.

Q: Do you offer tours of your factory?
A: Unfortunately, we don’t offer tours at this time.

Q: What do I do if I have a nut allergy?
A: Avoid our products that feature nuts; if you’re unsure about a truffle’s ingredients, you can always check with us.

However, please be aware that our chocolates are manufactured in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, and macadamia nuts), milk, and wheat products, so there may always be a risk of ingesting traces of these products.

Q: Does your chocolate contain soy lecithin?
A: Soy lecithin is an important all-natural emulsifier in chocolate products that keeps the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating, so yes, our chocolate does contain it. Our suppliers are in process of converting this ingredient to sunflower lecithin.

That being said, our Fortunato #4 does not contain soy lecithin. Find out more about this rare chocolate discovery by clicking on the Fortunato #4 tab.

Q: Do you make charitable donations? How can I make a donation request?
A: Please read our policies on donations under About Us.

Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates Supports the Community!

Chubby Chipmunk takes pride in supporting a number of charitable organizations in our local community, As a Deadwood-based, privately owned business; we are honored to be able to give back to the community through local donations. We focus our giving to causes that tug at our heartstrings and promote healthy youth activities.

If you would like us to consider a request to support your organization’s efforts, please complete and submit the application included below.

For your request to be processed, we require a written request be submitted. The form is downloadable, so you can print it, complete it and either bring it into the shop, or mail it to us. The address is found at the bottom of our homepage. Due to the high volume of requests, we must receive your request no later than one month prior to your event or activity. Applications are processed on first-come, first-served basis. We are not able to fulfill emergency requests.

Thank you for supporting Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates!

Before completing the application, review the following guidelines to determine if your organization qualifies:

• The prevention of animal cruelty is very important to us and is sponsored.
• Local non-profit school sponsored activities are promoted.
• Donations for individuals, religious organizations, and sports teams are typically not granted.
• Organizations located in the Black Hills area are offered top priority.
• All requests must be made online – no phone calls please.
• Only one donation request per year, per organization is accepted.

Guidelines and Restrictions:

• All requests must be received no later than 30 days prior to your event.
• Requests must benefit residents in the Black Hills communities.
• Requests for organizations that discriminate by gender, national origin, race, creed or color are not supported.
• Grants or sponsorship for individuals are not supported.

Donation Form Request

The Story of the Chubby Chipmunk

It all started with dreams of chocolate, as Chip scampered about her mom’s kitchen as a little girl. Even at this early age, she was already busy concocting mouth-watering treats and desserts—as long as they included chocolate.

Since then, time has only improved her delicacies. Her sunny kitchen, located in historic Deadwood, South Dakota, is alive with treats you will forever dream about. Only now, truffles have become the main event—and rightfully so! Each is an original creation, and each promises to make you swoon and sway with delight.

The secret? She makes all her truffles, toffee, and caramel with “Butter and Love,” the ingredients of chocolates that are truly to “Sigh For.”

So when Deadwood is in your travel plans, make sure to stop by the Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolate Shop. This magical little confectionary promises to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth – grown-ups and little kids alike.

And if you aren’t visiting South Dakota in the near future, be sure to check out our online store. It’s the next best thing! Chubby Chipmunk is proud to provide decadent truffles to customers all over the country, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to indulge in her wonderful creations!

My goal is to provide the most decadent truffles you will ever experience. I love creating them and watching the joy in young and old alike as they bite into one. When someone closes their eyes, swoons, sighs, and sways, I know that they are in chocolate heaven... that's what I strive for. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. My truffles are truly like no others! 
- Chip

Meet Our Staff

When Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates started in Deadwood,SD in 2005 there was only one full time employee (Chip). As we have grown we have added a wonderful collection of talented and diverse employees who give their all so you will have the best chocolates. They are passionate about Chubby Chipmunk and we have become a tight knit family of our own making. You have spoke to them on the phone and via email...now is the time to meet them...Hurrah to the Chipmunks!

Rare chocolate is sweet discovery

Pure Nacional, a variety of cacao plant thought to be extinct, has been rediscovered in Peru. That's sweet news for chocolate lovers worldwide, and especially sweet for South Dakota chocolate lovers. This one-of-a-kind chocolate is now available at Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates in Deadwood.

Chubby Chipmunk now sells a variety of bars made from pure Nacional beans under the Fortunato No. 4 brand, named for the Peruvian farmer on whose farm the beans were found. Chubby Chipmunk is South Dakota’s exclusive retailer of this prized chocolate.

"This is such an unbelievable discovery. I’m so excited," said Mary “Chip” Tautkus, chocolatier and owner of Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates. “It’s such a beautiful flavor. I've tasted some of the best chocolates in the world, but Fortunato No. 4 is by far the richest-tasting chocolate I’ve ever experienced; if you can imagine a chocolate rush. This is it! I feel like I have been allowed to go on a journey of epic proportion.”

With its complex fruity flavors and its unadorned smoothness, chocolate from the pure Nacional bean once dominated fine chocolate markets worldwide. But beginning in 1916, pure Nacional trees were killed off by disease in Ecuador, the only known place where this genetically unique cacao grew. Chocolatiers shifted to other varieties, hybrids and blends. The pure form of this prized cacao was believed to be lost forever.

However, in late 2007 Dan Pearson and Brian Horsley discovered cacao trees growing on isolated farms in Peru's Marañón Canyon. The trees' football-shaped fruit contained an unusual mix of white and purple beans -- in some cases, all white beans. Pearson and Horsley sent leaf samples to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for genetic testing.

The USDA Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., analyzed the genetic structure of the leaves and found that they were indeed from pure Nacional plants. Tests of more leaves confirmed that pure Nacional plants were growing throughout Marañón Canyon.

The 6,000-foot canyon walls created a unique, high-altitude microclimate for the trees. Pearson and Horsley spent two years developing the right fermenting-and-drying process to bring out the flavor of pure Nacional. They founded Marañón Chocolate, the company that makes Fortunato No. 4 chocolate from the pure Nacional beans.

“The chocolate is intense, with a floral aroma and a persistent mellow richness," New York Times writer Florence Fabricant wrote in a 2011 story about the discovery. "Its lack of bitterness is remarkable."

In February 2013 and April of 2016 Tautkus had the opportunity to see the pure Nacional cacao first hand. Marañón’s Dan Pearson invited her to travel to Peru to see the trees, help harvest the prized cacao beans and see them processed into chocolate. “What an adventure it was to see where it all began, and to meet the actual 'Raiders of the Lost Chocolate!’”