We all know Valentine’s Day isn’t all about romance. Many shoppers will also be looking for gift ideas for the kids in their life, which is why we’re sharing inspiration for fun and easy gift ideas that are sure to make any kiddo feel the love this Valentine’s Day.

 

 

Valentine Bento Box

The perfect gift for young friends, teens and candy lovers this Valentine’s Day! RCI member Nandy’s Candy fills stock Valentine boxes with an assortment of individually wrapped treats, such as chocolate-covered sandwich cookies and foil-wrapped chocolates, but also small heat-sealed bags of conversation hearts, gummies and hard candies come together as a small sampler of treats.

 

 

Chocolate Tic-Tac Toe

Win shoppers’ hearts with this clever chocolate tic-tac-toe board! RCI member Water’s Edge Chocolates has transformed a chocolate-covered graham cracker into a miniature tic-tac-toe board, packaged with chocolate heart pieces and a cute, coordinating gift tag. This concept could also be applied to square chocolate bars or chocolate-covered crispy rice treats as the board, while conversation hearts or jelly beans could also be used for the game pieces.

 

 

Chocolate Grams

Make it easy for families with kids to show their love by creating ready-to-gift valentines with the chocolate already included. Create and print your own custom Valentines on card stock before attaching your chocolate lollipops. Not only will these generate interest in store and on social media, they also add value for many busy families. RCI member Reids Chocolate sells assorted styles of their “Choc-o-Grams” individually or as a 4-pack. For ease, it is noted for online customers that assorted styles are selected at random.

Chocolate Heart Necklace

This chocolate heart necklace is just about as simple as it is sweet! RCI member Marie’s Candies carefully crafts these necklaces out of two foiled chocolate hearts (back to back) and a festive ribbon to be sold separately or added to Valentine bundles for kids. What little one wouldn’t love to wear this necklace with pride…even if it doesn’t last very long?!

 

 

Chocolate-Dipped Fortune Cookies

There’s something fun and nostalgic about opening up a fortune cookie as a child. For something unexpected dip fortune cookies in chocolate and package them in a cute take-out container, which can be found at most craft shops.

Consumers with kids in their life are sure to fall in love with these adorable treats this Valentine's Day! Make sure to share plenty of photos of your Valentine’s Day treats on social media and your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential. If you plan to make a small batch of these fun treats, let consumers know they’re available for a limited-time only in your social media posts and your online store. This will cover you if you do sell out (we hope you do!) and also encourage shoppers to buy by creating a sense of urgency. Make note of the quantities you made and sold to help determine whether to bring them back this time next year.

Crave more?Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

 

 

There’s little reason to cry over a broken heart when it’s made of yummy chocolate!

 

Despite the irony, smash hearts aren’t reserved exclusively for soon-to-be exes. In fact, they make for fun, interactive gifts that make friends and family members really feel the love! Read on for inspiration before for adding these trendy smash hearts to your product line, including simple solutions for transforming your existing chocolate moulds and ideas for filling your smash hearts.

Photo credit: Morkes Chocolate

Smash Hearts with a Chocolate Hammer

Already have a mould for chocolate heart-shaped boxes? Simply add a wooden mallet to transform them into “Smash Hearts” this Valentine’s Day. Better yet, we love how RCI member Morkes Chocolates includes a solid chocolate hammer (more commonly used for Father’s Day) in their set of two smash hearts.

 

Photo credit: Wilton

No Large Smash Heart Mould? No problem!

If you don’t have a large heart-shaped chocolate mould, Wilton suggests making a hollow chocolate shell with a hear-shaped cake pan. Use colored coating chocolates to achieve the fun tie-dye look pictured. Arrange Valentine treats in the shape of a heart in the base of a large bakery box before placing the chocolate shell on top. Click here for step-by-step directions from Wilton.

Photo credit: ProFlowers

Don't Go Breaking My (Tiny) Heart

Size doesn’t matter when it comes to chocolate smash hearts. Don’t think for a minute that smashable chocolate hearts have to be big. Make use of even your smallest heart-shaped moulds to make smashable treats available at different price points. ProFlowers sells sets of 4 breakable chocolate hearts filled with M&M’s^® Minis and mini chocolate chips.

 

Photo credit: Hungry Happenings

Something to Talk About Conversation Hearts

If your customers love these classic candies, they will go “CRAZY 4 U” with these breakable conversation hearts filled to the brim with (you guessed it) loads of candy conversation hearts!

 

Photo credit: Graham’s Chocolates

What to fill smash hearts with?

While the items needed will vary based on the size of your smash heart, here’s some ideas to spark your creativity. Chocolate-covered strawberries are always a popular option for Valentine’s Day, but should be reserved for larger smash hearts so the delicate berries aren’t smashed in the process. Other confections that work well inside just about any size smash heart include foil-wrapped chocolate hearts, conversation hearts and other Valentine-themed gummies and hard candies, chocolate-covered sandwich cookies and Jordan almonds. The addition of colored sanding sugar or sprinkles create an exciting burst of color when the chocolate heart is smashed.

 

Have smashing success helping your customers celebrate Valentine’s Day by adding your own spin on smash hearts!

Crave more?Click here  to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.  Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business .

 

 

 

Rosé Truffles

For those who love wine and chocolate, RCI member Hilliard’s Chocolates hits the mark with their rosé flavored ganache covered in rich, dark chocolate.

 

 

Chocolate-Covered Champagne Gummy Bears

What’s better than the popular champagne gummy bears? Champagne gummy bears drenched in your signature chocolate couverture, of course.

 

 

Champagne Lollipops

These gourmet cocktail lollipops from Melville Candy not only fit the bill with flavors like pink champagne, prosecco and champagne bubbles, they almost look too pretty to eat…almost.

 

 

Rosé Cordials

These rose cordials from Kopper’s Chocolate quite literally drip with class and the sparkling pink finish makes them even more irresistible.

 

 

White Chocolate Champagne Truffles

Looking to create your own champagne-flavored delights? This recipe for white chocolate champagne truffles captures the essence of any celebration worthy of bottle popping! Click here for recipe from Stress Baking.

 

 

Champagne and Rosé Jelly Beans

 

Toast any occasion with champagne and rosé jelly beans from RCI member, Jelly Belly Candy Company. They have all the flavor of a glass of bubbly in a mini-sized bottle with none of the alcohol.

Cheers to lots of bubbly confections and a sweet new year ahead!

Crave more?Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

 

Trays of cured meats, cheeses and other savory snackables, collectively known as charcuterie boards, have experienced a significant rise in popularity over the past few years. It’s only natural that those of us with more of a sweet tooth longed for a different kind of spread.

 

 

RCI member, Vande Walle’s Candies of Appleton, Wisconsin has experienced success with their chocolate charcuterie boards (check out their Packers-themed football board above) and we think you could too for Valentine’s Day and a number of other holidays throughout the year, such as Easter, Mother’s Day and more!

Keep reading for a little inspiration and tips to create your own chocolate charcuterie boards for Valentine's Day, using products you already have in your store.

 

 

Photo credit (clockwise, starting from top left): Rebecca White/Dallas News, A Pumpkin & A Princess, Domestikated Life, Lemon Tree Dwelling

Tips to Build Your Own Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Begin with the Board

Vande Walle’s Candies shared that they start by purchasing a variety of wood planks and cutting boards (made of both wood and glass) of different sizes and arrange their products on the boards. Each one of the Vande Walle’s chocuterie boards is unique and sold at a different price point.

The type of board or tray will play a big role in the price of your chocolate charcuterie board, so if you are wanting to keep your price point low check out your local dollar store for inexpensive glass or bamboo cutting boards. Nice wooden cutting boards are going to bring your price up, but the recipient of the board will likely incorporate it into their kitchen and use it over and over. Before arranging anything on your board, consider adding a label or sticker with your company info or logo on the bottom of the board to direct the recipient back to your business.

Pile on the Chocolate

When choosing which products to feature, don’t overlook the fact that charcuterie boards are meant to be shared either as a gift or at a gathering. We recommend putting your best foot forward by making sure to include a few of your signature items, so the recipient of your beautiful chocolate charcuterie board will want to come by for more. Take time to carefully arrange them on the board and leave space to add pops of color between the brown chocolate items.

Aside from your signature items, other ideas might include chocolate-covered sandwich cookies, graham crackers and pretzels with festive sprinkles, chocolate-covered popcorn, nuts or dried fruit. If possible, try to include a variety of shapes and sizes.

Add Pops of Color

Create interest by adding pops of color throughout the board with gummy candy, jelly beans, foil-wrapped chocolate hearts and lips, colorful non-pareils, conversation hearts, licorice, hard candies, panned cranberries and cherries, macarons, marshmallows and more. The sky is truly the limit.

It’s a Wrap

Once your board is complete, shrink wrap it to keep it all neatly in place. You might top it with a bow or a fun label as the finishing touch.

Even if you opt not to create chocolate charcuterie boards for this Valentine’s Day, this concept can be applied to any holiday—we dare you not to start daydreaming of an Easter board right now!

Although the charcuterie board has been around since the 15^th century, it has exploded with popularity on social media thanks to its visual appeal. With that said, don’t forget to share photos of your chocolate charcuterie boards on social media.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Looking to celebrate this Valentine’s Day in a big way, but with little extra effort? If you already make chocolate-covered sandwich cookies or pretzels, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for five quick and easy tricks to make your existing treats #adorbs this Valentine’s Day.

 

 

“PAW-some” Puppy Pretzels

Package these adorable pretzel treats with a printable tag that says “Puppy Love” or “You’re PAW-some!” and watch these puppies leap off the shelves.

 

 

Credit: For Modern Kids

Love Bug Sandwich Cookies

All you need is some red confectioners coating, dark chocolate and candy eyes to transform your chocolate-covered sandwich cookies into lady bugs for Valentine’s Day.

 

 

Credit: Cakegirls^®

Sweet Emoji Sandwich Cookies

It’s okay to get emotional about how cute and easy these emoji-inspired cookies are. Dip in yellow confectioners’ coating and candy eyes and heart sprinkles. This particular example from Cakegirls^® used an edible ink marker to draw the faces, but you could also pipe expressions with dark chocolate.

 

 

Credit: In The Kids Kitchen

"Beary" Cute Sandwich Cookies

Pour on the cuteness by transforming chocolate-covered sandwich into bears. Use chocolate wafers for the ears and pipe on light pink confectioners’ coating for the snout and a heart sprinkle for the mouth.

 

 

Credit: Sweet Simple Stuff

Peanut Butter Cookie Broken Hearts

Why mend a broken heart when you can eat? Transform everyone’s favorite peanut butter sandwich cookie by cutting it in half diagonally and covering it in red coating and a drizzle of chocolate.

Consumers are sure to fall in love with these adorable treats this Valentine's Day! Make sure to share plenty of photos of your Valentine’s Day treats on social media and your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential. If you plan to make a small batch of these fun treats, let consumers know they’re available for a limited-time only in your social media posts and your online store. This will cover you if you do sell out (we hope you do!) and also encourage shoppers to buy by creating a sense of urgency. Make note of the quantities you made and sold to help determine whether to bring them back this time next year.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.