Be Sweet, Not Cloying: More Valentine's Day Treats

Cake Monkey

Can the stereotypes of L.A.'s diet food obsessions please go away already? We've got so many local confectioners to prove otherwise, evidenced by a quick look at who's making indulgent sweet stuff for Valentine's Day.

You never need an excuse to eat Cake Monkey desserts. But it helps to have reason to try their February holiday treats, such as passion fruit and lemon bars with brown butter shortbread crust with bittersweet chocolate and crushed wafers ($32 gift box); chocolate almond pop hearts; caramel-filled chocolate sable cookies topped with fleur de sel ($25 box); and red velvet cake with raspberry swirled vanilla frosting in various sizes. (To order call 877-640-CAKE.)

Pastry chef Kristin Feuer has recently launched Bakelab products that are available wholesale or at select local retailers, such as the Oaks Gourmet. The Goody Box ($20) includes red, white, and pink chocolate butter cookie hearts, with either plain or sparkling frosting. Order online.

Madame Chocolat

Madame Chocolat offers chocolate hearts , malted milk balls, and chocolate-dipped mini Rice Krispies treat squares. And those s'mores lollipops get us every time.

The Casanova Combo, Sweet Valentine box, and artfully crafted chocolate covered farmers' market strawberries from Platine Cookies send the right message. Browse in person at the Culver City shop, or buy online.

In addition to its special Valentine's Day dishes served in the restaurant Sunday, Akasha in Culver City is packaging holiday-specific cupcakes. Boxes of 12 mini cupcakes cost $20, with options including chocolate cake filled with gianduja, topped with chocolate glaze and fleur de sel, and mocha frosted vanilla cake with a chocolate shortbread heart cookie. Akasha's Earth-friendly ethic is always a heartwarming bonus, too.