About Us

We are a small business located in central Minnesota. Our goal is to provide a product of exceptional quality with equally exceptional service.

In 1997 John and Connie Hammje, owners of Bayfields Bake Shop & Grill in Alexandria, developed a recipe for caramel candy and started making the product in their restaurant.  In 1999 they started promoting the product at wholesale gift shows and soon the caramel was sold in gift shops throughout the Midwest. During the summer of 2000, the Hammjes built a commercial kitchen in the basement of their home near Osakis, Minnesota. This kitchen, specifically designed to make caramel candy, was the start of Dutch House Confections.

In December 2006 Hammjes moved and built their second home-based commercial kitchen which was approximately twice the size of the first. In 2010 they closed Bayfields Bake Shop & Grill. Closing the restaurant was difficult and sad, but it allowed the couple to focus on expanding the caramel business. It soon became apparent the home-based commercial kitchen was too small for the growing business needs.

In 2013 a building was purchased 3 miles from their home. This building, which was vacant at the time, had been a restaurant for several decades. They added a loading dock and did some minor remodeling inside. The current location in Nelson, Minnesota, offers ample space for expansion.