Valentine’s Day, Hold (Some of) the Chocolate: Cookies, Marshmallows, and Caramel

So we saved the best for last – a compilation of the non-chocolate-focused goodies for Valentine’s Day, for those of us who aren’t chocolate fans, or want more adventurous options with chocolate as a side note, not the main feature. The best part? None of these are over $20, so you could get a lot of treats without taking too large a toll on your budget.

TREATnik Bakereee
SPICY Gingersnaps, Chocolate Chip Panettone, $12/dozen + shipping

TREATnik’s cookies are seriously lovely dipping cookies  – the chocolate chip panettone has cherries and chocolate for a perfect pairing, and the gingersnaps are heady with shredded ginger. They mysteriously vanished shortly after the shoot, along with a half gallon of milk and two of the assistants. Share carefully.

Sweet Miscellany
A dozen thumbprints for $6.50

Sweet Miscellany sent us cardamom shortbread clouds, blood orange thumbprints, grapefruit macaroons, and a dewberry bourbon jam that will be showing up in its own article shortly. The thumbprints are hearty cookies, with a bright blood orange jam, and the shortbread is crumbly and nicely spiced, but we loved the citrus-coconut brightness of the macaroons the best out of all her offerings.

Grab a dozen when she offers them next; the dainty bites are perfect for a morning tea.

Skydottir
$16 for a dozen

The infamous cookies return in their vegan, gluten-free glory. If we haven’t told you how much we like them enough, go check out the previous article.

Sugar Plus Spice
Starting at $13.50 for three dozen butter cookies

These are what you’d want to hand out to friends and lovers if you want to make it look like you know how to bake but really have no business being in a kitchen. They’re all old school butter cookies, with sanding sugars and flavors like lime basil and coconut rum. The chocolate butter cookies are stellar, with that nice hint of crumbly cocoa, and they’re addictive.

Bee Brothers
$8 for ¼ lb. gift box

The Bees Brothers team is simply adorable. What started as a beekeeping hobby to teach their children about bee ecology has turned into a home-based honey operation, with lip balms, honey, and these amazing caramels. The original honey caramel is fantastic, with a strong honey taste and buttery notes. All the other flavors, from raspberry to chocolate, also have honey as the primary flavor, so get them for your friend with the massive sweet tooth.

Guimauve Confections
Three “giant puffs” for $6.50

I may have put giant puffs in quotations, but they really are huge marshmallows – in fact, that’s why they were made into reverse s’mores for this article. And it worked quite well, especially with dark chocolate, but these are amazing when warmed or grilled, so I’d try heating them for your sundaes. At about three inches in height each, and with seriously perfect flavors like neopolitan and java chip, I’d tuck a few bags into a birthday present or a camping trip soon. (I really want to see how well the roasted pineapple marshmallows work in s’mores.)