One of our kosher colleagues was surprised that we chose to write about kosher Valentine’s Day candies: celebrations of St. Valentine date back to Christianization of pagan ritual. Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine’s Day around 498 A.D., when pairing off the single men and women by lottery was part of the celebration.
But the modern Valentine’s Day we celebrate, which began in post-Renaissance England, has always been a holiday about love, romance, friendship and affection. By the middle of the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange handwritten notes or poems. By the end of the century, thanks to improvements in printing technology, printed cards began to replace written letters. Small tokens of affection, sweetmeats or flowers followed. Elegant chocolates did not appear until the 20th century; so giving chocolate as a token of love or friendship on Valentine’s Day is a modern concept indeed.
Knowing many observant Jews who enjoy bestowing (and receiving) such sweet tokens, we created this selection of candy, cookies, and muffins—wonderful treats that happen to be kosher. We just couldn’t figure out how to title the article so that nonkosher readers would read it as well. But, whatever your dietary restrictions, as long as they include sweets, take a taste of these:
Eleni is the queen of hand-iced cookies, and has a broad selection for Valentine’s Day. Our favorites: For Him, “Sweethearts,” a sophisticated design with red and white patterns in stripes, dots and tattersalls, plus the all-important “message” cookies up front. For Her: “Love Letters,” loving notes and red envelopes sealed with a pink heart. For all: a good time eating these delicious sugar cookies. Read our full review of Eleni’s Cookies.
Miniature brownies, 1.5" square, are a twist on traditional Valentine chocolates. Four each of Original, Caramel, Chocolate Chip and Walnut. Read our full review of Fairytale Brownies.
Certified kosher (dairy) by Greater Phoenix Vaad Hakashruth
Valentine Magic Morsels
$26.95
Sugar-Free Magic Morsels
(All Original Chocolate)
$26.95
Godiva: Scarlet Suede and Crystal Heart Assortment
If your valentine is a Godiva fan, she’ll flip for this gorgeous suede-textured heart box, with a woven ribbon heart bow. Inside is a mixture of Godiva’s signature pieces: classic milk, dark, and white chocolate including creams, caramels, nuts, and ganaches.
If your valentine loves peanut butter and chocolate, introduce him or her to award-winning Jer’s: the IncrediBall has a center of all-natural peanut butter with rice crisps to add a slight crunch, enrobed in milk, dark, or white chocolate. Pretzo Change-O has crushed pretzels. Cara Mellas mixes in caramel.
Lake Champlain: Grand Valentine Chocolate Assortment
Twenty-two yummy pieces in a classic heart-shaped box include classic favorites like Chocolate Truffles, Caramel Hearts, Raspberry Creams, Maple Crunch, Evergreen Mint, Chocolate Hearts and Dark Mint Crunch Squares.
Eight large and luscious milk and dark truffles in Champagne, French Roast, Grande Valencia, Legendary Dark, Vanilla Malt, White Raspberry, All Milk and Amaretto Praline.
We can’t stop eating these foil-wrapped hearts: milk, dark, and mint dark chocolate. Fill a candy bowl, decorate the dining table, garnish a dessert plate or coffee cup, leave them on your loved one’s pillows. You can select single-flavor bags, or a bag of mixed flavors.
Max Brenner has a variety of gift boxes, and while none is dripping with valentines (they’re imported from Israel,) all have cute themes like the pink cupcake box at the right. Each box includes an assortment of treats: This one has Max’s delicious caramelized pecans, white chocolate thins, hazelnut praline Snowies, chocolate praline waffles, and 9 beautiful bonbons.
A dozen heart-shaped chocolate muffins in an exquisite red Japanese-paper box show your Valentine that you know he or she is health conscious and has an eye for beauty. Vitalicious’s healthy chocolate muffins are available year round, but only in this wonderful heart shape for Valentine’s Day. Buy a lot and freeze them—we eat them for breakfast, but also with frozen yogurt for dessert! The Valentine muffins are 100 calories.
Certified kosher (dairy) by Orthodox Union
One Dozen Deep Chocolate Muffins
in Red Gift Box
$32.00
