The best Valentine's Day food and drink gifts under $25

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Finding gifts for any holiday can be a tricky business but for some reason the stakes on Valentine’s Day seem even higher. A great Valentine’s gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be sweet, and if your darling loves to cook — or eat — there are lots of affordable options that should score you points on Feb. 15. Not to mention, when you operate in the under $25 set you may be able snag a few gifts instead of one big present and have that many more chances to bag a winner.

And of course there are the couples out there who think V-Day is a crock of you-know-what. We totally get it. Relieve the pressure of finding the “perfect gift,” and just go with a thoughtful and practical “giftlet” instead. You know, a smaller gift. Those might match your vibe better anyway, whether you’ve been dating a few months or are shacked up for the long haul. Everyone eats, after all, and thus food, wine and cocktail gifts are easy wins. There are loads of options that won’t break the bank so read on for our under $25 Valentine’s Day gift picks for food and drink fans.

Amazon

This salty-sweet treat also happens to be a cheeky way to let them know you think they’re the best. They can drizzle this honey on everything from fried chicken to cake, but if they’re more of a spicy little number, there’s also a Bees Knees hot honey with habanero peppers.

Viski

I’m a total sucker for fancy glassware and these stylish coupes are right up my alley — in case anyone I know is reading this. Pair this set of retro coupes with a good bottle of gin, brandy, whiskey or other cocktail-friendly booze and some cocktail picks for garnishing.

Nordstrom

A spoon rest is one of those things that’s so useful in the kitchen but so easy to overlook. Give your sweetheart the gift of a cleaner counter and a smile every time they use this sprightly ceramic rest with floral charm, even if they’re only heating up a can of soup.

Amazon

For the tea lover in your life who also appreciates minimalism, this ceramic cup comes with a lid and single-serving metal infuser insert, so they can brew in the same mug they drink from. It’s available in several solid colors as well as patterns, to suit anybody’s style. And the double-walled design keeps their tea hot and their hands comfortably warm (not scalded).

Lodge

If your Valentine likes the occasional steak or burger but hasn’t tapped into the wonder of cast iron yet, this is a perfect chance to alter the course of their cooking forever. Cast iron is the optimal indoor cooking material for most meats, as it gets screaming hot and holds heat for magazine cover-worthy sear marks.

Uncommon Goods

Maybe you want to give them something to go in their cup? This delicate pink chai blend is the perfect shade for lovey-dovey types, and the Ayurvedic-inspired blend of spices and beetroot (for the color) is made from all organic ingredients.

Amazon

A coffee table book for the lover of both food and eye-catching art, this photographic feast features vividly colored photos of various ingredients in every shade of the rainbow, and then some.

Uncommon Goods

This set of boutique lollipops (flavors include lavender lemongrass, vanilla hibiscus, Champagne and roses and strawberry basil) is already sweet enough, but don’t toss those sticks in the trash. Pot them in soil and they’ll sprout into various plants, from herbs to baby blue eyes blooms. Does this count as buying flowers?

Amazon

Does it seem a little cheesy to give someone pizza socks for Valentine’s Day? We think not, especially for someone with a healthy sense of humor — and love of pepperoni, of course. (A whole pizza made of socks is even more incredible, but $0.99 over the $25 limit.) You can also get sushi socks, if that doesn’t seem too… fishy.

Uncommon Goods

This punny line of date-sweetened spreads is perfect for sweethearts with a healthy bent. Free of refined sugar and oils, these vegan dessert spreads are paleo-friendly too, and perfect for slathering on toast or whatever else you like. They’re sold separately in chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon flavors and are also available on Amazon.

Amazon

Never struggle with popping the cork from a bottle of wine again (as long you keep this nifty electric wine opener charged; luckily, the built-in rechargeable battery promises to open up to 30 bottles before it needs fresh juice). A handy cutter is included to slice off foil seals too — and if the red shade is too cliche, it comes in black and silver too.

Amazon

Of course, not all women (or men) love chocolate — for those who do, check out our unique chocolate gift guide, because it happens to include several options under $25 (and, more importantly, they’re all delicious). But for everyone else, these gem-like pink Turkish Delight candies are flavored with roses, dusted in sugar and clearly perfect for the occasion.

Amazon

For tastes that skew savory, a set of nice cheese knives is a winning gift, especially if you include a wedge or two of decent fromage and a bottle of wine (which you might just be able to manage at this price.) These modern slicers and servers come in silver gold or copper finish.

Amazon

Is your beloved a baker with a particular predilection for brownie edges? Then this ingenious edge-maximizing brownie pan that makes a dozen snack-size pieces will be much appreciated. (And maybe they’ll share the first batch as a thank-you.)