We’ve Spent Hours in the Kitchen to Find the Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Foodies, Chefs, and More

I’ve tested Sugarwish several times over the past couple of years, and the brand has never disappointed. A Sugarwish gift is a box of your recipient’s favorite snacks, selected by them after you send them an email invitation. You’ll choose the box size, and they can pick the snacks they want, such as brownies, cookies, and candies (over 75 options!).

I love how the box has a fun Valentine’s Day theme, meaning no wrapping on your end. Plus, the gift box includes a custom card so you can tell your recipient how much they mean to you.

Editor Olivia Campbell had nothing but great things to say about the Muzeo Treats Harmonie — an assortment of calissons, a traditional French candy. The set includes nine lemon calissons, three chocolate-hazelnut calissons, and eight blackcurrant calissons. We love how rich and intense the flavors are. “The citrus is so delightfully intense, the hazelnut is creamy, and the chocolate is rich and decadent,” said Campbell.

Netflix and Crunch, The Floor Is Lava, The Madonna — these are a few of the names of cookies included in the Last Crumb Core Collection. “The names of the cookies are priceless — each cookie flavor has its own name — and in the booklet, it has a story to go along with it,” shared health writer Raki Swanson. “Makes it really fun to try all the flavors.” Your recipient will love trying all 12 flavors, including chocolate lava, cinnamon toast crunch, lemon bar, and more.

Pro cookie eating tip: Heat the cookies in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3–5 minutes, or microwave them for 15–20 seconds for optimal deliciousness. (Oh, and grab a glass of milk for dipping if that’s your thing too).

If your loved one is a pescatarian or simply enjoys seafood, we highly recommend this Wild Alaskan Company gift box. It includes four sockeye salmon, two Pacific halibuts, two Pacific cods, two Coho salmon, and two wild Alaska pollock fillets. “The Coho salmon fillets were particularly lovely,” said editor Katie Tuttle. “I cooked them with a teriyaki glaze, and the fillets were fresh and firm, with no fishy smell. Even my husband, who is not a big fan of fish, enjoyed these.”

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the one you love by creating a taste-testing experience with this Harry and David gift basket. It includes crackers, pepper and onion relish, chocolate cake, a dried-fruit mix, and more. “Most of the snacks I’ve tried are all pretty good,” shared editorial director Simone Scully, adding that while she wasn’t a fan of the baked goods, the gift as a whole looked nice. Everything arrives in a beautiful — and reusable — fir wood crate with a chalkboard for personalization.

Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolate, and chocolate enthusiasts won’t be able to resist Bissinger’s Sea Salt Caramel Hearts. We enjoyed the smooth European milk chocolate, caramel, and pink Himalayan salt combination. “These are delicious,” raved editor Ashley Ziegler. “The chocolates are pretty big (about 2 x 2 inches), and I haven't found myself just overindulging in them.” We also appreciate the cute packaging that makes gift wrapping a thing of the past.

Grilling your favorite food indoors is a game-changer, especially when you can infuse it with smoke flavor in only 20 to 60 minutes. We appreciate the compact size that fits into a cabinet or on the kitchen counter. The best part is that this indoor grill is electric, and the food still tastes great. “When we cooked dinner with it, I thought it seared the chicken well that we cooked on it, and I liked that you can adjust the temperature easily,” said Alexandra Ginos, RD. “Another nice thing is that you can put all the grill parts (minus some of the smoker elements) in the dishwasher!”

Parents, rejoice! You can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less with this air fryer oven. Choose from five cooking modes and seven recipe presets, then watch your food cook through the large viewing window. “I love how versatile it is (it comes with wire trays and a basket for air frying), and how it crisped up my chicken skin!” said writer Ysolt Usigan. “It was also very easy to clean, and it cooked evenly.”

My mom received a personalized cutting board as a holiday gift many years ago, and it lives as a beautiful keepsake in her kitchen. It features the handwritten recipe for my great-grandmother’s famous orange salad. A keepsake Valentine’s Day gift like this is thoughtful and can be passed on to future generations.

Scully tested The Printed Gift Letter Cutting Board by sending in a clear photo of one of her late mother’s recipes to the company, which, in turn, sends you proof to ensure it looks the way you want. “In my case, I had sent some recipes my mom had written down — so this item became a way to remember her and her cooking.” In addition to cutting boards, the company can also print on totes, towels, and more.

The Great Jones Stir Crazy Large Bowl is a high-quality gift your recipient will reach for again and again. “It's a good-sized bowl with a gorgeous pattern that I could see being a household staple for years to come,” shared editor Ally Hirschlag. The 84-ounce capacity is large enough to serve a crowd, while the fun exterior design is mix- and table-friendly.

This Smithey Dutch Oven is an investment we can see being a family heirloom that’s passed down from generation to generation. It’s a true workhorse in the kitchen, as you can cook, bake, or fry food in it. “It’s beautiful; the polish, the copper-hued seasoning, the engraved knob — you can tell it's very thoughtfully constructed,” shared Tuttle. “It’s not enameled, so you don’t have to worry about chipping, cracking, or flaking, and you can use it over all kinds of heat sources, even open flame.”

For an extra-special touch on your recipient’s Valentine’s Day gift, you can even personalize the Smithey Dutch oven with custom engraving.

If you’ve ever had instant coffee, then you know it can sometimes have a distinctive taste compared to regular coffee. The Fire Department Skull Crushing Instant Espresso Coffee is changing the game. “It just tastes like a strong cup of coffee,” said SaVanna Shoemaker, RDN, LD. “It also mixes very easily and makes a really smooth cup.” Add 8 ounces of water or milk and enjoy hot or cold. And be sure to check out the included recipe guide for more coffee-themed drink inspo.

Former barista-turned-writer and editor Steven Rowe tested the Hamilton Beach Slide and Lock Espresso Machine and loved it. “It’s very easy to use, considering how difficult it can be to make a latte, and it's about as user-friendly as it can be,” he said. The reason? The espresso machine includes a slide and lock mechanism, so there’s no toying with brew heads in hard-to-reach places.

Overall, the machine makes a great Valentine’s Day gift for any espresso enthusiast due to its ease of use. Plus, “it’s also impressively sized and doesn't take up very much counter space,” Rowe added.

Family or friends who are tired of figuring out dinners every night will greatly appreciate Passionate Penny Pincher’s Custom Menu Bundle. It includes three boxes: each contains 72 recipe cards with photos, daily family grace, and 12 reusable grocery shopping lists.

You can choose the theme for each box, such as freezer menu plans, or 5-ingredient or less menu plans. Writer and registered dietitian Tori Martinet, RD, observed: “I think it's a really cute, analogue cooking option that might benefit people who aren't as comfortable using the internet to find recipes.”