Whether you’re throwing a Valentine party for the kids, a Galentine for the girls or just want to treat yourself, we’ve found the local makers that will punch up your gathering.
SUGAR SHACK BAKING
Since launching Sugar Shack out of her Bloomfield Hills home in 2011, Rani France has juggled motherhood, a full-time day job plus her sweet side hustle — hand-crafting the most adorable cake pops (and other hand-held treats) for custom orders, parties and holidays. With an assortment of flavors ranging from Chocolate, Red Velvet and Funfetti to Cherry Pie, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Strawberry Shortcake, France has shaped her pops into farm animals, storybook characters, wedges of pumpkin pie — and super-sweet Valentine offerings, include “You Melt My Heart” cake-pop cones, “We Go Together Like Milk & Cookies” sets and heart-shaped tins of assorted treats. Sugarshackbakingllc.weebly.com; @sugarshackbakingllc.
BOMBSHELL TREAT BAR
From pretzels to Pop Rocks, nothing is off-limits for decadent frozen and Belgian chocolate (infused with fine flavor oils from lemonade to salted caramel) dipped treats from Bombshell Treat Bar. Birmingham-based husband-and-wife team Jill and Matt Kasle created Bombshell as a means to “put more joy in the world” during the pandemic — and they’re looking forward to opening their first brick-and-mortar store in Berkley in the spring. In addition to Valentine (and Halloween and Easter and birthday) confections, check out their fan-favorite trademarked treats, including potato chip ice creams with crushed potato chips, plus gooey caramel drizzle and pink sea salt; spectacular ice-cream cakes and floats; homemade marshmallows and more. “It’s my idea of the neighborhood ice cream stand,” Jill Kasle says, “if we all lived in Candy Land.” Bombshelltreatbar.com; @bombshelltreatbar.
BON BON BON
The Babes Babes Babes (as they’re known) of Bon Bon Bon have received acclaim from Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Martha Stewart. At age 19, Alexandra Clark announced to her (unsurprised) family that she was going to devote her life to the art of chocolate. Since then, she’s expanded from her Hamtramck base to locations in Midtown Detroit, Ferndale and Ann Arbor — and has been named Best Pastry Chef Under 30 by Forbes Magazine. Bon Bon Bon bonbon’s look as delectable as they taste, applying classic French techniques with a bit of Detroit ingenuity: Flavors include High Tea (Earl Grey tea, Devonshire cream dark chocolate ganache, hemp seed gianduja smoked sugar and cornflower petals); Coffee & Donuts (dark chocolate coffee ganache with donut ganache and accoutrement); Killer Cereal (white chocolate, fruity rainbow cereal, salt and Bergamot); Strawberry Balsamic; Creamsicle and so much more — plus Valentine offerings like Rose & Thorn (rose petal-infused white chocolate ganache and itty bitty hint of white pepper); Cherry Pop (candied Luxardo cherry confiture, toasted poppy seed ganache and dried Michigan cherries); Family Jewels (banana ganache, hazelnut praline ganache, hazelnut croquant). Whew. Bonbonbon.com; @bonbonbonchocolate. Photos by Mar Manzanares-Brock.
EDOKIDS
After working as a middle-school science teacher for 15 years, Zena Samona Ibrahim, of Orchard Lake, incorporated her teaching background with her own children when she became a stay-at-home-mom. She was soon inspired to start blogging on Instagram to encourage mothers to instill early education in a fun way, and she launched EduKids, which has evolved into kid-friendly recipe ideas, lifestyle and home decor. Ibrahim also sells her popular playdough kits — revolving around a theme or book to make reading and learning fun while strengthening speech and fine-motor skills — through her Instagram page, at pop-up shops, Etsy and holiday markets. Her Valentine’s Day playdough kits (replete with mini rolling pin) and favors are her biggest sellers — order soon. @edukidsmom.
