The Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for $25 (Or Less!), According to Kitchn Staffers
We know that January might feel like a slow, cold month in some parts of the world, but you don’t have to worry: Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Get ready to enjoy lots of romantic dinners, cozy movies, candlelight — and most importantly, lots of chocolate. And, if you’re looking to get a jump on your shopping list, starting early is a great idea. However, choosing thoughtful Valentine’s Day gifts that are also affordable can be tricky. Don’t sweat — Kitchn staffers are here to help by sharing some of our favorite wallet-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts we’ve ever given or received that are sure to make your loved ones’ holidays one to remember. From a sweet Le Creuset cocotte with sentimental value and silly greeting cards to indulgences such as coffee, chocolate, and more, here are 10 adorable gift ideas all under $25, just in time for the holiday.
1. Le Creuset Mini Round Cocotte
“The first Valentine’s Day after my now-wife and I first moved in together, we didn’t have a ton of money, so expensive gifts or even fancy dinners out weren’t really on the table. But we loved to eat and cook together. So we borrowed a copy of the Gourmet cookbook from the library and did a splurgy grocery run, and then we cooked a nice dinner together. After the meal, we exchanged presents. I don’t remember what I got her, but what she got me was a tiny blue ramekin-sized version of Le Creuset’s famous Dutch oven. ‘Consider it sort of a promise,’ she said. ‘For someday.’ It was only a few years after that we finally saved up and got ourselves an actual Le Creuset, which is quite nice. But I love that little cocotte. I don’t cook with it — we use it to keep butter in. But it sits on our counter, and I think of it every time I butter a piece of toast.” — Chris Michel, Food Director
Buy: Le Creuset Mini Round Cocotte, $21.96 at Sur La Table
2. “I Love Overeating With You” Card
“My husband and I don’t give gifts for Valentine’s Day but he knows that cards are very important to me. (For V-day and ALL THE DAYS!) If it can be a cute/punny food-themed card, then that’s even better. For what it’s worth, I’m planning on getting him this card.” — Lisa Freedman, Lifestyle Director
Buy: “I Love Overeating With You” card, $3 at Etsy
3. King Arthur Flour Fudge Brownie Mix
“I can’t stop talking about how you can buy a case of this gluten-free brownie mix from King Arthur Flour on Amazon. It’s fun to eat alone on the couch while watching Netflix. If you’re not celebrating solo, you should just make a whole box though …” — Lauren Masur, Staff Writer
Buy: King Arthur Flour Fudge Brownie Gluten-Free Mix, $6.49 at Amazon
4. Heart Trivet Marble and Brass
“My best friend gave me this trivet for Valentine’s Day, and I love having it in my kitchen all year round. It sounds cheesy, but using it feels like we’re cooking a meal together, even though we live in different cities.” — Elizabeth Entenman, Senior Branded Content Editor
Buy: Heart Trivet, $24.95 at Williams-Sonoma
5. Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza
“My boyfriend recently told me that he wanted to start baking bread at home, and my mind went straight to this book. I purchased Flour Water Salt Yeast several years ago and started baking my way through it, and it was the most helpful book on bread I have ever read. This year I plan on giving it to him along with some of my bread-baking equipment I have not used in a very long time. I’m excited to eat all of his forthcoming loaves.” — Jesse Szewczyk, Studio Food Editor
Buy: Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza, $18 at Amazon
6. Stumptown Coffee Roasters Hair Bender Whole Bean Coffee
“My husband and I aren’t big on exchanging Valentine’s Day gifts, so it was extra special when he picked up a bag of my favorite coffee. For some people, the way to the heart is with chocolate, but for me it’s coffee. I love the routine of making it in the morning as much as I love drinking it.” — Kelli Foster, Associate Food Editor
Buy: Stumptown Coffee Roasters Hair Bender Whole Bean Coffee, $16.99 at Amazon
7. Sugarfina Love Mail 2-Piece Candy Bento Box
“I was gifted a set of Sugarfina Champagne Bears and Sugar Lips, and absolutely loved them. They are a little luxury and so delicious.” — Yasmin Lashley, Affiliate and Commerce Manager
Buy: Sugarfina Love Mail 2-Piece Candy Bento Box, $22 at Macy’s
8. Hallmark Shoebox Funny Love Card
“Outside of a nice home-cooked dinner, there’s nothing I like more on Valentine’s Day than a nice card with a cheesy note. I’m pretty easy!” — Arie Knutson, Features Director
Buy: Hallmark Shoebox Funny Love Card, $3.49 at Amazon
9. Bits and Pieces — Pizza Pie — 1000 Piece Round Jigsaw Puzzle
“Valentine’s Day is not a major event in my family, but I do like to show a little extra love on that day to my 10-year and 14-year-old sons. We’ll have pizza for dinner, which is definitely their love language, and hopefully extend the meal into family time afterwards by doing this pizza jigsaw puzzle together.” — Tracey Gertler, Assistant Production Editor
Buy: Bits and Pieces — Pizza Pie — 1000 Piece Round Jigsaw Puzzle, $16.98
10. Royce Nama Chocolate “Au Lait”
“Valentine’s Day is my annual free pass to grab an entire box of chocolates and eat it while watching As Good As It Gets. And if I am going to cheat, it might as well as be with this decadence from Royce. It comes with a little stick that you push into the dense block of chocolate and the texture is deeply rich yet so smooth.” — Sholeen Damarwala, Commerce Editor
Buy: Royce Nama Chocolate “Au Lait”, $24.99 at Amazon
Have a favorite Valentine’s Day gift story? Share it in the comments below!