Valentine’s Day is Saturday, and we’re all shopping local this month to try to help our friends and neighbors who’s small businesses make Minnesota special! Here are some of my favorite local chocolate-makers who have specials for Valentine’s Day.
CHOCOLAT CÉLESTE, St. Paul: Valentine’s Collection—huge variety of beautiful handmade chocolates in gorgeous boxes. I’m a big fan of Chocolate Celeste and owner Mary Leonard. She has been creating beautiful chocolates since 2001. I think the 12-piece Valentine’s box would be a killer gift ($56). If you want the heart-shaped box, this one is a stunner: 15-piece heart box ($86).
LEGACY CHOCOLATES, St. Paul: Valentine’s Day gift box, $38. Six-pack of Chocolate Truffles (request the Whole Cherry Old Fashioned truffle topped with orange zest), one Heart-Shaped Peanut Cluster, one Heart-Shaped Crunch Bar, one Chocolate Bark, one Chocolate-Covered Cranberries, and one Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans.
ST. CROIX CHOCOLATE CO., Marine-on-St. Croix: Clock is ticking on ordering these online, but the chocolates here have won awards all over the world! 16-piece box ($47) would be my pick.
Courtesy of St. Croix Chocolate Co.
CANDYLAND, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Stillwater: Great homemade chocolates here. You can get a Valentine’s gift box, too, and customize it with Toffees, Pecan Snappers, Nut Clusters, Cremes, Caramels, and Bark in a variety of rich milk chocolate, luscious dark chocolate, and white chocolate.
DANCING BEAR CHOCOLATE, Minneapolis: I love the chocolates here, plus great people in this North Minneapolis shop. 12 pieces from chocolatier Steven Howard ($54).
Courtesy of Dancing Bear Chocolate
