Candy lovers in the Hillsboro area now have a new option to soothe their sweet tooth.
Winking Owl Creations, which sells freeze-dried candy, ice cream, baked goods and more, has opened at 10314 Business Hwy. 21 in Hillsboro.
A ribbon cutting was held May 31.
Owner Wanda Sasenger, 50, of Pevely describes the business as a “sweetshop marketplace.”
In addition to the sweet treats, the shop sells snacks, pickles, jellies, jams and vendor items, like candles, pet care items, jewelry, honey and home decor.
Sasenger and her husband and co-owner, Jeff, 52, have been selling craft items at weekend craft shows for the past five years, but added freeze dried items to their operation in November 2022.
She said the freeze-drying process completely changes the texture of many foods, including candy.
“Anything that was chewy before, when it comes out of the machine is not chewy anymore. It’s going to be like a cheese puff texture,” said Sasenger. “When you take a bite, it crystallizes, almost like cotton candy.”
The business uses a wide assortment of candy to make the freeze-dried treats, including Gummy bears, Jolly Ranchers, Snickers, Sweet Tarts, Fruit Roll-Ups, Starburst, taffy and Lemonheads and more.
Sasenger said there has been one major standout.
“The go-to for most people is Skittles,” she said.
Sasenger said some candies freeze-dry better than others.
“You don’t really know what something is going to do until you try it. Peanut butter doesn’t do well in there because it has oils, and you can’t remove oils out of stuff like you can water. It’s kind of a no-go for that.”
Sasenger said eating freeze-dried candy is a unique experience.
“It’s really fun. It’s really addicting to eat. It’s good for people with braces and dentures and when they can’t have chewy stuff because it sticks to their teeth. And it’s just something different. It’s a conversation piece.”
Sasenger said she hopes in the future to sell freeze-dried fruits, vegetables and ice cream, but that is still in the approval process.
“I really want to do strawberries. They’re really amazing. They’re like eating candy. It’s almost the texture of a potato chip but it’s a strawberry.”
Sasenger, a mother of six, said she chose to open her shop in Hillsboro to be closer to where her two youngest children, a set of 13-year-old twin boys, go to school.
“We had been looking all over and we found something open here that was just the size we needed it to be. Plus, we like this little town.”
The Infused Salon used to be housed in the space the Sasengers found for their business.
Sasenger said the space required a small amount of remodeling, including adding a wall and installing a commercial kitchen.
She said her store brings new items to the area.
“There’s not another sweet shop in town,” Sasenger said. “We try to have stuff in here that’s unique that they don’t have at the other shops. We have more food stuff than craft stuff.”
Winking Owl Creations’ freeze-dried candies also may be purchased at four other businesses: Creations on Main in Festus, Two Chicks Vintage Marketplace in Ellisville, Queen Ann’s Lace in Park Hills and Fayelynn Beautique in Leddington.
Winking Owl Creations is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and can be reached at 636-524-3885.
