19 Valentine's Day Candies That Go Beyond The Standard

Europeans have celebrated Valentine's Day since the 16th century, but it took until the 1800s before it really took off in the U.S. Like Christmas, Valentine's Day comes but once a year and we Americans love splashing the cash to show we care: We actually spent $25.8 billion in 2024, according to Abigail Bosze at doofinder.com.

Lots of people buy chocolate for Valentine's Day for their friends, family, and significant other, but gummies, candy and baked goods are tasty treats, too. One way to avoid stuffing ourselves silly and getting a stomach ache is by giving really special candies to help us say those three little words.

There is a treasure trove of these goodies to be found on the internet. From jaw-droppingly luxurious chocolates, and novelty items that send a unique message, to sweets with romance baked in, these are some Valentine's Day candies that go beyond the standard. Prices may vary.

All that glitters may not be gold but if you want bling, the Luxury 24K Gold Chocolate Box from Compartés will tick all the right boxes. It's a limited edition, so right off the bat it's exclusive.

Inside the gorgeous, vibrant green gift box, which is covered with a crocodile skin design, are 15 of Compartés' incredible, signature vegan dark chocolates. It's worth noting that if your other half has food allergies, be aware the chocolates are produced in a facility where peanuts, wheat, tree nuts, sesame, dairy, soy, and eggs are in use. Each chocolate has a decadent, Moët Champagne-infused filling and, as if that wasn't enough to win you over, they are hand-brushed with 24-karat gold. One box costs $79.95, or you can go for a two-pack bundle for $149.95.

Nothing says "ready to woo" like a wicker basket, and this $144.59 bad boy is packed with an array of sweet treats. Fortnum & Mason's The Love Struck Hamper contains chocolate-covered raspberries — a tangy taste of autumn in the dead of winter.

The mini box of chocolate hearts and the chocolate Valentine Roses are perfect for sharing, and you can wash them all down like a Brit with loose leaf tea and Piccadilly macadamia nut biscuits, dotted with Fortnum's Strawberry Preserve (that's jelly to you and me).

If you really want to push the boat out, you could also choose the $216.89 Be My Valentine Hamper, which includes a bottle of red wine and a jar of maple caramelized pecans among its contents. Or go all out with the Fortnum's Valentine's Hamper: For $361.48 it includes Champagne, caviar and — the symbol of true love — a pork pie.

It's back to Los Angeles-based chocolatier Compartés we go for a box of Sparkling Veuve Rosé & Champagne Chocolates. At just $69.95, this is an understated yet pretty way of saying "I love you." For anyone with allergies including peanuts, wheat or eggs, please note these chocolates are made at a facility where those ingredients and more are in use.

Lifting the lid on the limited-edition Palms gift box, which comes in a sumptuous shade of scarlet, reveals 20 perfect chocolate squares. Ten are flavored with Veuve sparkling rosé wine, while the other 10 are imbued with the delicious taste of Champagne.

Each has been carefully stamped with a hot pink or gold heart, so you know which boozy bonbon you're chomping. If you would prefer a similar style chocolate but in a non-alcoholic version, the $74.95 Vegan Valentines Chocolates could be just the thing.

Finding the perfect blend of grown-up chic with something a bit different for Valentine's Day has never been easier, thanks to Sugarfina. One of the best offerings is the Champagne and Caviar gift set, and at $24, it's proof that luxury can be affordable, too.

Inside the pink bento box is a sweet twist on this romantic food pairing, with pearls of delightful pink chocolate standing in for the caviar in a limited-edition tin. Next to them is a box of Sugarfina's best-selling and utterly moreish Champagne Bubbles.

If your other half loves the taste of bubbly but isn't a fan of chocolate, why not say cheers with Sugarfina's celebration bottle, filled with Strawberry Champagne Bears? Each cute gummy bear is made with Dom Pérignon vintage champagne, and at $22, this Valentine's gift costs a fraction of the price of a real bottle.

Many of us want to give the people we love a taste of the finer things in life, especially on Valentine's Day. It's nice when the gifts we give have the potential to last beyond February 14th, and Sugarfina's charming Valentine's Day 2025 Mini Trunk fits the bill.

It's a little more expensive than other products in the range at $135, but it more than delivers. The pink trunk has a sturdy handle and gold clasp, and inside are nine sets of delicious candy. 

They include Champagne Bears, sour strawberries, lips candy cubes and Martini olive almonds, all sitting in individual boxes. The labels on them include: 'Cheers to Love', 'Pucker Up' and 'Olive You'. When the gummies and jellies have been devoured, the box remains as a lasting token of your love: Perfect for jewelry, keepsakes or romantic letters from your significant other.

"Say it with flowers" we're told, but anyone who has ever bought a dozen red roses for Valentine's Day knows they can cost a small fortune. If you're on a budget, there are other ways to get your hands on this floral symbol of romance.

Amanda's Own Confections has come up with its own twist on the rose bouquet: chocolate versions. The $17.25 Rose Box features a gold tray with embossed stems and leaves, topped with foil-wrapped roses. It's happy to buck the red rose trend and cover them in any color you want, and the chocolates are free from a laundry list of ingredients, including nuts, dairy and shellfish.

If you want something even more floral, Dylan's Candy Bar offers Picked Just for You. Six chocolate roses have been cleverly attached to plastic stems that also have fabric leaves, so they look more like the real thing.

For millions of people, Valentine's Day is a chance to show they care in a variety of ways. There's room for a little fun, too, as one product in Harry & David's range shows. The Break a Heart Gift is made up of six mouthwatering Belgian chocolate hearts, decorated with colored icing and glitter.

So far, so cute. But, hidden within each heart are chocolate chips and coated chocolate candies, and it's how you get to them that makes this Valentine's gift so cool. The set also includes a mini wooden hammer, so you can smash those hearts to bits before gorging on the delicious treats inside. It's great for kids of all ages, and if you or a friend has had their heart broken or are going through a break-up, a little bashing of $54.99-worth of Belgian chocolate hearts could make for some very tasty therapy.

The ideas and concepts behind some Valentine's Day candies and chocolates are so overdone or complicated, the whole point of them gets lost in translation. A big tip of the hat goes to Trader Joe's for keeping romance real with the Chocolate Passport.

What could possibly be more swoon-some than heading somewhere exotic with your lover? If real life makes that dream impossible, then this box of eight divine, single-origin chocolates will do the next best thing: It whisks you to those foreign shores with every bite.

The boxed set includes amazing chocolate from Ecuador, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, São Tomé, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Ghana, and Tanzania. The concept is super-romantic, but it's more than just an idea. The whole thing is beautifully packaged, with the vintage-style wrappers including details of how each one tastes and suggestions of what to drink with each 45-gram bar.

Valentine's Day brings to mind many things: bottles of chilled Champagne, red roses, heart-shaped chocolates, and pink candies in heart-shaped boxes. While many moms, wives and girlfriends might appreciate the gesture, it is the 21st century: Guys need romancing, too. Thankfully the clever folks at Elmer Chocolate have come up strong.

The range of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates includes several that are for men. Whether your other half is a handyman or all fingers and thumbs with a screwdriver, the $3.96 Elmer Chocolate Assorted Chocolate Man Duct Tape Heart is the perfect Valentine's gift. It's not just the name that's a mouthful: It contains 15 sumptuous milk and dark truffles, caramels and creams.

If your man's a sucker for sports, there are boxes with American football, basketball, soccer ball and baseball designs too. As for all outdoorsmen, Elmer's got you covered with the Chocolate Assorted Chocolate Man Outdoor Heart.

Nicholas Bonamico, head chocolatier at Dandelion Chocolate, is the brains behind this romantic gift box. The resulting Love Notes Collection costs $148 but is worth every cent.

Inside the three-level box are 23 chocolates, inspired by everything from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to Ina Coolbrith's poem "Longing." The flavors include bay laurel ganache and passion fruit, sherry-vinegar caramel and sour cherry jam, and a voluptuous caramel that combines cashew-violet praline and quince. Submerge the ganache tablet in warm milk for an indulgent hot chocolate.

As if all that wasn't tempting enough, Bonamico has taken the romance theme and run with it. The box also holds a beautiful little notebook, which features excerpts from the works that inspired the chocolates, and notes from Bonamico. There's even a pencil so you can jot down your own sweet nothings.

Aldi's exclusive Choceur brand celebrates the lasting love affair of donuts with a Valentine's Day selection of chocolates. The Choceur Donut Shaped Chocolates has "I'm do-nuts for you" written on the front, and the packaging isn't the only thing that's cute as a button. The mini-donuts inside are made with delicious Belgian chocolate, while their creamy, almost truffle-like centers have natural flavorings.

Of the nine mini donuts in the pack, four have a dark chocolate glaze, while two are milk and two are white, and they are decorated on top with cinnamon-flavor sprinkles, lines of pink and red icing, or tiny pink and red sprinkles. Many people choose February 14th to pop the question: This combination of mini donut shape and chocolate goodness is a marriage made in heaven.

Peak Valentine's Day romance is clinking glasses of Champagne for some. For others, it's about curling up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. If your bag is more the latter than the former, Harry & David have got you covered.

This year's Valentine's Day range includes the $39.99 Hot Cocoa Bombs. They're like bath bombs but for your tastebuds. Each box contains four 2-ounce chocolate hearts, decorated with white and red stripes and either white sprinkles or tiny sugar hearts.

The aim of the game is to drop them into a mug, pour over some warm milk and watch as the heart slowly melts. Not only do you infuse the milk with delicious chocolate, the secret mini marshmallows that are hidden inside start to float around, too. They're great fun for kids who want a sweet treat, as well as loved-up couples gettin' cosy on the couch.

When it comes to Valentine's Day candy that goes beyond the standard, it's hard to beat these crystal candy gems from Silky Gem. Dubbed the Love at First Bite Collection, it's got nothing to do with vampires. But if your other half is a fan of ASMR, these will be right up their street.

The company said: "This unique collection captures the essence of kohakutou, a Japanese-inspired candy known for its stunning crystal appearance and satisfying crunch." These jewel-like sweets don't just look good, they come in a range of flavors, including passion fruit and a delightful cherry, as well as lychee and guava.

Because they are hand made using natural ingredients in a gluten and nut-free facility, each box is unique. The candies are suitable for vegans, and can even be used as baking decorations — if you don't eat them all in one sitting.

"Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes," according to the 1970 song by Edison Lighthouse, but California candymaker Amborella Organics want to do more than plant the seeds of romance. The brand claims to have created the world's first seed-bearing lollipops, a botanical candy whose natural flavors come from the plants their sweets help to grow. The company said: "seed-bearing lollipops is about forming a relationship with nature and sharing this experience with those you love." For Valentine's Day, it has developed a Champagne & Roses gift pack of three lollipops.

At just €7,95, they're the perfect gift for anyone on a budget, and are great for sharing. Even better, after enjoying the Champagne-flavored candy, take the biodegradable stick and plant it horizontally in the ground. Water it every day and in no time, you will be growing Rosetta cosmo. If your romance doesn't blossom, at least the plant will.

If you're looking for something out of left field this Valentine's Day, then this fruity treat could be just the ticket. First created over 150 years ago by a Flemish clergyman to mark the crowning of Léopold as the first King of the Belgians, the cuberdon is a cone-shaped burst of raspberry deliciousness.

The recipe is, according to Cuberdons Léopold, a guarded secret, and they take seven days to make. The brand did say: "A genuine cuberdon has a delicate crusted outer layer that gently bursts in the mouth to release an elegant sweet syrup."

For Valentine's Day 2025, Cuberdons Léopold has issued a Limited Moshi Moshi Edition cylinder, containing 21 cuberdons for just $29.32 (€28.50). These candies are made according to the original recipe and, because they contain natural raspberry flavorings, it is recommended they are eaten within eight weeks of their manufacture.

Red fruits, especially strawberries, are inextricably linked to Valentine's Day. But not everyone is sticking to the script. Dandelion Chocolate has teamed up with Håkan Mårtensson, of New York's HÅKAN Chocolatier, to create the Pearls of the Forest Bonbon Collection, candies that have a distinctly Nordic flavor.

The $88 price tag buys 25 incredible chocolates, including Havtorn liquid caramels, described as: "Sour, fruity, slightly sweet sea-buckthorn fluid caramel," and the Röda Körsbär Bonbon, a red chocolate shell filled with blend of "Marschino liqueur-spiked ganache of red-cherry purée, rich cream, and 70% Camino Verde, Ecuador chocolate."

Mårtensson draws on his childhood home in Sweden and the berries that grew nearby for inspiration with these Valentine's Day chocolates. If your significant other enjoys tastes that run from the sweet to the tart, this could be right on the money.

Millions see chocolate as a sweet treat, but it hasn't always been so. In the 16th century when cacao beans first hit Italy, chefs used them as a savory ingredient, and many still do.

The folk at Uncommon Goods have taken chocolate's ability to pair well with a range of spices and flavors, and come up with the Spices of the World Chocolate Truffle Collection. For $46, you get gorgeous, hand-decorated chocolates in three different shapes: a cube, a dome and a teardrop. But it's the tastes that set this box apart.

The cinnamon dark chocolate truffle kicks things off slowly, but the cayenne pepper, lime, ginger, rosemary, and mint take it all up a gear, while the sweet basil and Indian chai round off your tastebuds' trip around the world. It's fabulous for those who love flavor.

We all remember our first kiss, for good or not-so-good reasons, right? For the Valentine's Day range this year, London's Melt has zeroed in on the kiss for a unique and super-romantic gift set: The Book of the Kiss.

With a cover bearing a close-up of Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss," inside are 12 of Melt's chocolate bars, each bearing a hand-painted image of iconic kisses from the art world. They include Rene Magritte's 1928 canvas "The Lovers II," Picasso's 1969 painting "The Kiss," and Roy Lichtenstein's "Kiss V," created in 1964.

As if all that wasn't enough to sweep your other half off their feet, the Melt bars behind the images are some of their signature flavors and include dark, milk and blonde chocolate. If taking care of the environment is also your passion, the packaging for this gift set is 100% plastic-free and sustainable.

Even if your relationship has stood the test of time, Valentine's Day candy or chocolate gifts can be quite ephemeral. French company zChocolat aims to buck that trend this year, with the astonishing Romantic Ruby gift box.

Forget paper or plastic packaging: These chocolates come in a unique, numbered mahogany chest which zChocolat describes as "the quintessential gift for the princess or queen of your life, sure to fan the flames of love and devotion." And that's before we even get to the chocolates.

The first layer is 12 vibrant goodies from the Hearts Assortment that have ganache and praline fillings. The second layer has 15 milk, dark and white goodies, and includes three of their world-famous flavors. When ordering, you can mix up the assortments, have your other half's name or picture engraved on the box, and include a padlock, so nobody else can get to them.