Sweet Turkey Joints: A Beloved New York Holiday Tradition

Most New Yorkers may not realize it but the "Turkey Joints" were invented in the Empire State decades before chicken wings made their debut.

Despite the name, Turkey Joints contain no meat. They're a delicious chocolate candy that's become a holiday tradition over the past century.

The treats are manufactured at Nora's Candy Shop in the Oneida County community of Rome.

The label on a jar of "Original Candy Turkey Joints" from Nora's Candy Shop in Rome, New York. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

According to published accounts, a man named Harry Haritatos made the first Turkey Joints in Syracuse in 1919. When family members moved to Rome, they started to produce and sell the candy there.

Turkey Joints are a unique handmade candy that likely could never be manufactured on a large scale.

Turkey Joints in a traditional glass jar from Nora's Candy Shop. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Nora's Candy Shop describes them as a "silvery sugar coating with a center filled with chocolate and hazelnuts." A few other varieties are available.

The name Turkey Joints is based on the appearance of the short, crunchy sticks.

A close-up of the chocolate- and hazelnut-filled center of a Turkey Joint. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The people at the candy shop have managed to keep the exact recipe and process behind Turkey Joints a secret. They can't be produced during hot-weather months.

Turkey Joints have been especially popular around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Some fans make a special trip to Nora's Candy Shop to buy 12-ounce glass jars filled with Turkey Joints. Those who can't visit the store place an order online.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A gift jar of Turkey Joints was opened during a radio program on December 19, 2025.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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