Amélie’s French Bakery & Café is offering Valentine’s Day gift boxes with a selection of their most popular desserts and treats. Photo courtesy

This Valentine’s Day, show your love not only to those closest to you but also to the small businesses within your community. Opting to purchase a gift from a local business supports our community during these hard times and adds more sentiment to the recipient. Here are a few ideas for your Valentine this year from some of Charlotte’s local businesses.

Naughty & Nice Pastry Boxes, Wentworth & Fenn
The Naughty Box includes chocolate handcuffs, black heart chocolates, and macarons, while Nice Boxes include white chocolate and gold bars, and pink heart macarons. Both boxes come with a few extra surprises. Boxes are first come, first serve at Wentworth & Fenn’s Camp North End location, Feb. 12-14. 

Valentine Heart Bonbon Boxes, Twenty Degrees Chocolates
Three choices of bonbons: Hello, I Love You includes 35 heart shaped caramels and ganaches; Valentine Caramel Heart collection includes 16 pieces featuring two of each flavor including cabernet, raspberry-rose, and sorghum-bourbon; and Valentine Heart Bonbon collection includes 9 hand-painted bonbons with flavors like capulet, black forest, and chai vanilla. 

Cocktail Ice, The Ice Trade
Crystal clear, hand cut ice for home bars. Purchase your choice of three core cube sizes or gift a year membership for fresh cubes each month. 

Charlotte Moscow Mule Sampler Kit, Unpretentious Palate
Eight of the city’s best bartenders bring their signature Moscow Mule recipes to your home bar. Each kit includes simple syrup, garnishes, and instructions to make eight Moscow Mules, which serve two people each. Pre-order your kit for $89.99.

Valentine Cookie Grams, Sweet Spot Studio
Order a dozen mini cookie grams to give to friends and family. Messages include “I’m stuck on you” with a cactus sugar cookie, “You melt my heart” with an ice cream cone sugar cookie, “I like you a hole lot” with a donut sugar cookie, or a multi-pack. Order by Feb. 7, $36. Sweet Spot Studio also has a February Cookie Club box and breakable chocolate heart and mousse cake. 

Gift Boxes, Amélie’s French Bakery & Café
Amélie’s is offering a variety of Valentine’s Day gift boxes: 12-pack French Macaron box, Berry Lover gift box, and Chocolate Lover gift box. Boxes include Amélie’s most popular flavored desserts and treats. You can also include a personalized éclair with a 1-12 character message on a vanilla or chocolate éclair. Pre-orders start Jan. 28, available in store Feb. 8-14. 

Heart Shape Donut Packs, Your Mom’s Donuts
Two 4-pack donut options: “Matchmaker” flavors include raspberry white chocolate conversation heart, chocolate covered strawberry, lemon passion fruit with lemon herb sugar, and espresso cheesecake with cocoa cookie crumble filled donut; “Heartbreaker” flavors include whiskey crème brûlée, midori sour conversation heart, beer and bacon, and bellini. Available for pre-order for pick-up on Feb. 14, $16. 

Heartbreaker Box, Off the Block Charcuterie Co.
A selection of N.C.-sourced meats and cheeses encased in a dark chocolate shell. Boxes also include pastries from Wentworth & Fenn and complementary side items. Boxes are available for delivery Feb. 12-14, $45 while supplies last. Gluten-free and vegan options available. 

Heart Shaped Ice Cream Cake, Two Scoops Creamery
Order one or two heart shaped ice cream cakes. Flavors include: red velvet, shipwrecked, cookies by the sea, Cookie Monster, chocolate chip cookie dough, and double fudge brownie. $9.95-$15.

Gifts made by local chefs, Crafting with Cocktails (Free Range Brewing)
A group of local chefs are hosting a craft fair at Free Range Brewing in NoDa called Crafting with Cocktails on Jan. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. Items include bath bombs, leather goods, and woodwork. All of the items being sold are handmade by a local restaurant industry professional.