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Business & Tech

Sweet Treats to Please All Your Valentines

There are plenty of ideas for sweet gifts to give to all of your loved ones this Valentine's Day while supporting local businesses.

No other holiday is quite so loved for its chocolates, sweets, and other decadent desserts as Valentine's Day. Come early February, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, packages of conversation hearts, and rose-shaped chocolate lollipops aren't hard to find.

This holiday, whether you're looking for a dessert to share, a gift basket to give, or just some really good chocolate to enjoy all by yourself, we have some suggestions.

We've compiled a list of candies, chocolates, and other dessert items that can be found at local stores and gift shops near you so that you can take full advantage of this season of sweets.

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If you're seeking chocolate this Feb. 14, The Chocolate Rose Shoppe (7 Waverly Place) has something for you.

The store's selection of chocolates is seemingly endless with varieties that not only include the traditional milk, dark, and white, but also coffee-filled, alcohol-filled, sugar-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and organic, which means you shouldn't have a problem finding something to please all of the people you love!

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The Madison shop is also selling chocolate Valentine's Day hearts which can be purchased in different sizes and in both solid and hollow varieties. Chocolate gift boxes and namesake chocolate red rose lollipops can also be found at the shop.

Although they currently have a limited supply of Valentine's Day themed gift baskets, the staff at The Chocolate Rose Shoppe is willing to work with customers to make personalized ones.

Custom-made holiday "treat bags," are a great option for parties. The customer can choose items from the store to be wrapped in rose bags with matching bows and given as favors at a party or gathering.

In Summit, Sweet Nothings also has its share of festive goodies, starting with its chocolate-dipped strawberries, covered in your choice of dark, milk, or white chocolate.

The store also features a handmade Valentine's Day collection of chocolate truffles from Moonstruck Chocolate Company. The assortment of truffles includes crème brûlée, pink champagne, a heart-shaped "molten" variety, and truffles that are shaped like love bugs and teddy bears.

The staff at Sweet Nothings can offer wine or champagne suggestions to accompany any of their truffles, a unique service that you may want to take advantage of this holiday.

And if that's not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, check out the chocolate-covered Valentine's Day pretzels, heart-shaped cookies, chocolate roses, conversation hearts, and nut-free and vegan options that are among the other treats that fill the store's shelves this season.

But Valentine's Day isn't just for adults. Sweet Nothings has something for the kids you love, too. Pink and white candy corn, known as Cupid Corn, is a fun candy option for the little ones, as are Valentine's Day ring pops and classic red wax lips.

Heart-shaped boxes decorated with trendy Valentine's Day phrases and filled with small candies are another nice children's gift idea available at the Summit store.

Candy and chocolates are always crowd-pleasers, but don't forget the baked goods and indulgent desserts that are unique to the upcoming holiday.

At Brownie Points Bakery in Summit, you'll find that their traditional cupcakes have been dressed in a Valentine's Day motif. The cupcakes can be served at a party, shared by a couple, or enjoyed by a child.

Heart-shaped Linzer cookies, chocolate heart cookies filled with chocolate ganache, and chilled brownies with pink mint frosting are also sweet options for you and your Valentine from Brownie Points Bakery.

In Chatham, the staff at Woodland Bakery is also busy making their annual Valentine's Day cupcakes, donned with classic phrases like "I Love You" and "Be Mine."

You can also purchase heart-shaped red velvet cakes (one cake serves 6-7 people) at the bakery, or work with the staff to design a custom cake for someone special.

If you're looking for something warm to go with your cake and cookies, head over to TM Ward Coffee and browse the store's selection of coffees and teas.

TM Ward Coffee carries both caffeinated and decaffeinated choices of the drink, perfect if your sweetheart is a coffee-lover. The shop's coffees can make great gifts on their own or can be added to a gift basket with other gourmet treats like biscotti, nuts, cookies, or chocolates.

Valentine's Day comes only once a year so celebrate with something sweet!

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