Life is sweet

Posted on by Jacqui Castle
SWEET HEARTS: Fairview's Ruth & Ranshaw is one of many local bakeries and sweets shops offering artisan Valentine's Day treats. Photo courtesy of Ruth & Ranshaw

The first half of February is a busy time for chocolatiers and bakers as they work to whip up the sugary confections that sweeten Valentine’s Day. Here are a few of the local shops that are offering love-themed goodies.

Ruth & Ranshaw

The Fairview bakery will offer boxes of a half-dozen truffles (flavors include white chocolate Oreo, salted caramel and peanut butter) on a first-come, first-served basis or by preorder. Custom-made cakes, pies and specialty items are also available if preordered by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8. On Valentine’s Day, the shop’s usual Two for Tuesday buy-two-get-two-free cupcake special will be available with love-themed decorations. For preorders, call 828-338-9854. 1207 Charlotte Highway, Fairview

Kilwins

The sweets shop’s two local locations offer a variety of heart-shaped boxes and gift baskets, which can be customized with freshly made chocolate truffles, creams, clusters and more. For the young at heart, handmade, chocolate-dipped crispy rice treats, party cups and cookies will be available topped with valentine-themed candy. Chocolate roses, two flavors of house-made hot chocolate mixes and chocolate-dipped strawberries are also featured. Extended holiday hours are noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 13-14. Call ahead to order strawberries: 828-669-6119 Black Mountain, 828-252-2639 Asheville. 116 W. State St., Black Mountain and 26 Battery Park Ave., Asheville

The Chocolate Fetish

New this season at the Chocolate Fetish are hand-piped chocolate conversation hearts exclaiming “Kiss Me,” “Be Mine,” “Marry Me?” and other cheeky sayings. The shop will also offer its award-winning Hearts on Fire collection again this year, which includes Ancient Pleasures truffles and habanero-sea-salt and spicy pecan caramels. Chocolate-covered strawberries and Dark Desires seasonal truffles will be available as well. 36 Haywood St.

Hole

The West Asheville doughnut shop will present its own special valentine to the community with an event called Hole Lotta Love 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. During those hours only, Hole will offer three Valentine’s Day-themed doughnuts: Persian love cake-inspired pistachio, rose and cardamom; French Broad Chocolates malt; and cherry-amaretto. 168 Haywood Road

Short Street Cakes

For loved ones who would rather eat cake, a personal Sweetheart Cake from Short Street could be just the thing. The 4-inch, round cakes are $16 each; available flavors include strawberry Short Street, red wine velvet, salted caramel and gluten-free chocolate raspberry. All cakes come decorated with hearts or a short, custom message. Call 828-505-4822 to order. 225 Haywood Road 

True Confections

In addition to chocolate-covered strawberries, this longtime Grove Arcade shop features heart-shaped shortbread dipped in chocolate plus a variety of Valentine’s Day tarts. Call 828-350-9480 to order ahead. Grove Arcade, 1 Paige Ave., No. 147

City Bakery

City Bakery locations will have Valentine’s Day cookies aplenty, but why not give a heart-ier sweet gift with the featured bread of the month — chocolate-cherry sourdough? Available on Fridays throughout February, it’s a decadent blend of cocoa, local Dynamite Roasting Suplicar Clemencia dark roast coffee, dark chocolate pieces and coffee-soaked dried cherries. 60 Biltmore Ave. and 88 Charlotte St.

Well Bred Bakery

Raspberry swirl cheesecake, tiramisu, strawberry eclairs, pink Champagne cake, festive cupcakes, decorated shortbread hearts and red velvet cake are just a few of the special offerings Well Bred Bakery’s two locations will offer between Friday, Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 14.  6 Boston Way, Asheville (Biltmore Village) and 26 N. Main St., Weaverville

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Jacqui Castle
Jacqui Castle is a freelance writer who began contributing to Mountain Xpress in 2014. When she is not writing, she is living it up in the Fairview mountains with her family of four.
View all posts by Jacqui Castle →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.