COEUR d'ALENE - Hands down, the top seller at Coeur d'Alene Chocolates has long been seasalt caramels.

"We sell more of those than any other piece here," said owner Tim Yeager.

But, if Yeager is calling it right, that's about to change.

A new creation, from the mind and imagination of son-in-law Dave Davey, is the bacon caramel.

That's right. Bacon.

"Bacon, bacon, bacon," Yeager said Thursday afternoon as he worked at the shop at 412 Sherman Ave. "Everybody loves bacon these days."

He believes once folks taste it, they'll have no qualms paying $1.75 for a small square of the dark-chocolate delight.

Bacon, he says again, gives it that boost, especially in combination with caramel that "melts in your mouth."

"That makes it a clear winner," he added with a smile. "We're going to sell a lot of these,"

Coeur d'Alene Chocolates opened at its downtown site in April 2010. The family operation offers about 60 different types of handmade, hand-decorated, hand-dipped chocolates.

For St. Patrick's Day, Coeur d'Alene Chocolates has specials like "Irish Pub," made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, "Guinness Truffle," and Bailey's Irish Cream.

Truffles go for $2 each, which Yeager said is worth it.

"Because of our ingredients, you pay a premium for this," he said.

Sales have been strong. They produced around 30,000 individual chocolates through the holidays. Yeager is the perfect pitch man, enticing customers to satisfy their craving for sweets.

"Everybody loves chocolates. Especially if you make really good chocolates, which is what we try to do," he said.

Yeager and wife Edena bought the business in September 2009. They operate a kitchen where the chocolates are made at 3650 N. Government Way.

He said chocolates have some health benefits, but added, "everything in moderation."

"These are all made with blended dark chocolate. Of course, dark chocolate, to be the really good chocolate, has got to be about 72 percent cacao bean. It's only about 57 percent," he said.

The downtown store, which features the artwork of Edena Yeager, is all about chocolate.

Books with titles like "Chocolate!" "The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook," and "Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor," are displayed on shelves. Hundreds of chocolates sit temptingly inside a glass case just inside the front door.

Yeager, whose personal favorite is the lemon butter bing, avoids trying too much chocolate.

"If I indulged every day, I would gain 30 or 40 pounds," he said, laughing.

He admits, though, he must sample the merchandise from time to time. One of the perks of being the owner.

"I am in charge of quality control," he said.

Coeur d'Alene Chocolates employs six. The downtown location hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The 3650 N. Government Way location is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.