Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and what better way to win your sweetie’s heart than with food?? Sweets in particular. I, for one, am a sucker for fancy cookies and gourmet dark chocolates (hint hint, hubby). Here are some of our favorite spots in town to pick up something sweet for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day.
Sweet By Holly – The “Queen of Cupcakes” Hollis Wilder bakes up some of the best cupcakes you will ever eat. These are quite possibly our favorite cupcakes in Jacksonville. Check out her special Valentine’s Day Collection of cupcakes, a sampling of a dozen very decadent flavors. Or drop in and handpick a few flavors just for your sweetie. The mini cupcakes are especially adorable, and just as tasty as the full size. You can find these amazing cupcake creations at the St. John’s Town Center at 4624 Town Crossing Drive #137.
Sweet by Holly
Peterbrooke – Who doesn’t like chocolate? This locally owned chain of chocolatiers offers a huge variety of wonderful chocolates and chocolate-covered goodies. Chocolate-covered popcorn? They’ve got it…and it is so good. Pick up an assortment of chocolates, chocolate-covered strawberries, or chocolate roses for your sweetheart. Peterbrooke has something for all the chocolate lovers out there! You can order online or stop by any one of their locations. Peterbrooke has locations all over town, so take a look at their website to find the one nearest you.
Motion Sweets – While they are known far and wide for their amazing macarons, Motion Sweets also offers a lot of other treats for your sweetie, like chocolate bark, cupcakes, and candied apples. But their macarons really are simply amazing. Ask anyone in town where to find the best macarons and you will hear time and time again “Motion Sweets.” Their flavors range from the traditional (pistachio and chocolate) to the adventurous (Fruity Pebbles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or rose). And they sell out QUICK every day. So plan ahead or call ahead to make sure you can get the macarons your sweetheart will love. Motion Sweets is located at 1020 Park Street.
Motion Sweets – Macarons
Sweet Pete’s – Want to wow your sweetheart with some seriously unique treats? Stop by Sweet Pete’s and pick up some gourmet chocolates, fancy candies, or hand pulled taffy. A solid choice would be the Ultimate Valentine’s Collection, an assortment of nine Valentine-inspired goodies all packaged up and ready for gift-giving. Better yet, bring your sweetie along with you and wander through this magical candy wonderland together. See what kind of fun and interesting goodies you and your Valentine can discover. Sweet Pete’s is downtown at 400 N Hogan Street.
Sweet Petes – Chocolate Bacon Pretzels
Gastronome – This cozy hole-in-the-wall grocer/café is the perfect place to pick up some unique Eastern European treats for your sweetie. They have lots of quirky, hard-to-find Russian and Bulgarian candies as well as a ton of fancy cookies and pastries to choose from. From rich baklava to dainty macarons to their adorable “sweet peach” cookies, there are lots of fun and foreign finds at Gastronome – all perfect to box up and give as a Valentine gift. Gastronome is at 10230 Atlantic Boulevard, where Atlantic intersects St. John’s Bluff.
Gastronome – Peach
Aster’s French Macarons – Again with the macarons. We love us some fancy French cookies and we’re sure your beau or boo will too. Aster Marji Price creates some luscious and beautiful macarons, all available at a ridiculously good price. She is offering a special Valentine’s Day package with an assortment of four flavors for between $15-$20 per dozen. That’s a crazy good deal for some crazy good macarons! You can order through her Facebook page or by emailing her at astersfrenchmacarons@gmail.com.
Asters Macaroons – Stack
Pecan Roll Bakery – If you’re looking for some classic, timeless sweets for your sweetheart, the Pecan Roll Bakery is the place for you. They are probably best known for their signature treat – the pecan roll. I mean, really…who wouldn’t want a dozen or so sticky sweet pecan rolls as a gift? Just me? Really? Well, they also offer cakes, pies, scones, and a slew of cookie flavors to choose from. Stop by their adorable little shop at 122 South 8th Street in Fernandina Beach and see what you can find for your Valentine.
Pecan Roll Bakery – Pecan Roll
Backyard Pops – Get your Valentine the coolest gift ever – popsicles! Backyard Pops has some of the tastiest gourmet popsicles around. They offer all sorts of yummy flavors, so they’re sure to have something your sweetie will like. And right now they are offering a special Valentine’s Day pop package including four scrumptious flavors – and they will even deliver it right to your sweetheart’s doorstep! Checkout their Facebook page or email backyardpops@gmail.com for all the details.
Backyard Pops Assortment – Blueberry Lemonade, Pineapple Papaya, Strawberry, PB&J and Raspberry Lime
(Photo Credit: Ashlee McCormick)
Earth Fare – If one-stop shopping is more your gift-buying style, then why not stop by Earth Fare and pick up groceries and sweets at the same time? While Earth Fare might seem like a surprise addition to our list, the treats from their bakery are delicious and upscale. From macarons to tiramisu, cookies to cupcakes, and even crème brûlée, Earth Fare is a great place to find some decadent sweets for your Valentine. They even have candy in bulk, just in case you want to get your sweetheart LOTS of candy. Earth Fare is located at 11901 Atlantic Boulevard.
Earth Fare – Creme Brûlée
Mocha Misk’i – Mocha Misk’i is a brand new brownie shop downtown specializing in customizable brownie messages. That means you can order a gift box of letter-shaped brownies that will spell out just about any message you can think of (including break-up messages if you are over your current sweetheart). They also have Misk’i Rolls (basically chocolate brownie sushi rolls) and a wide variety of decadent brownies. They also offer very tasty vegan and gluten-free treats. Mocha Misk’i is located at 209 North Laura Street.
Mocha Misk’i
Sweet Theory – Looking for a treat for your vegan sweetie? Look no further – Sweet Theory has you covered. They offer up some very tasty vegan baked goods that are 100% egg, dairy, soy, and peanut free. And they still taste good!! Their donuts are to die for and that is what they are most popular for. But they also bake up plenty of cookies, meringues, brownies, cupcakes, and other yummy (healthy!!) treats. Stop by and pick out something sweet for the guy or gal in your life. Sweet Theory can be found at 1243 King Street.
Sweet Theory – Maple Bacon
Hopefully this list will help you in your quest to find the perfect gift for your Valentine. Wishing you and yours a very sweet Valentine’s Day!
For this review we welcome a member of our own JRR family: Rhonda Kovar is a former call center manager turned stay-at-home mom. She grew up in the heart of North Carolina and moved to Florida after getting hitched in 2002. She is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University and a lover of all things crafty, musical, or edible. Rhonda loves finding new and delicious ways to turn her two tiny picky eaters into future foodies. You can follow her on Instagram.
Great guide, I love it. Thank you Rhonda Kovar.