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I am an avowed supporter of Valentine’s Day — not because I have a particularly rosy-eyed view of love and friendships, although I’m also pro those things. But I’m really here for the chocolate, which on Valentine’s Day, deservedly takes pride of place, conversation hearts and luxury vegetable bouquets notwithstanding. This is the time to request and give really fancy chocolate, the kind of chocolate that immediately telegraphs luxury and decadence. There’s nothing that fits that bill quite like a beautiful box of bonbons or truffles.
Traditionally, bonbons are made with molds and contain a wide variety of fillings, from fruits and nuts to caramel and marzipans, unlike truffles which generally contain ganache. Both can be a canvas for a chocolatier’s creativity, often painted to resemble glistening gemstones. And unlike the bar you pick up at grocery store checkout, these boxes of chocolates are always a celebration. Here, a list of confectioners from across the country with appropriately festive offerings (they all ship nationwide).
Stick With Me Sweets
This is the place that convinced me there’s absolutely nothing more delightful than sitting around and eating bonbons all day. At the New York City shop, Susanna Yoon manages to pack all the flavors of other elaborate desserts — like calamansi meringue pie or black forest cake — into a beautiful package. You can’t select individual flavors when you order to ship online, but trust, they won’t disappoint.
In Miami, bean-to-bonbon Exquisito Chocolates prides itself on ethical sourcing (you can see exactly how chocolate maker Carolina Quijano turns cacao into chocolate on this episode of Eater’s “Handmade.”) For Valentine’s Day, you can order both a gift and a date-night activity with its bonbon painting kid, which lets you decorate your own bonbons with edible paint.
