Valentine’s Day is tomorrow (February 14), and not everyone is prepared for it.

If you’re looking for some last-minute ideas to show a token of your love, we suggest sticking to the classics: pretty blooms and sweet treats.

There’s no shortage of creative and romance-filled confections in Vancouver, which range from heart-shaped bonbons to cakes, and from Valentine’s-themed cream puffs to macarons.

Here’s where to find some sugary gifts for your sweetheart throughout the Valentine’s weekend.

Temper Pastry (2409 Marine Drive, West Vancouver)

Pastry chef Steve Hodge may have a busy filming schedule with Food Network Canada, but he continues to create delicious sweets at his West Van shop. Temper’s Valentine’s Day treats include flavoured chocolate hearts (strawberry ganache, champagne, and caramel), chocolate-heart showpieces, chocolate-heart lollipops, and more. Design-your-own gift baskets are also available for those who like customization.

Beta5 Chocolates (409 Industrial Avenue)

This local confectionary is keeping it edgy but classy with a Valentine’s collection that showcases shades of red, copper, and platinum. Find items like a beautiful hand-painted polygon heart, heart-shaped chocolates that are fully plant-based (flavours include matcha, raspberry praline, topical crunch, and Peruvian dark), and a line of love-themed cream puffs: strawberries and champagne, grapefruit and yogurt, and red velvet with cream cheese parfait.

Buttermere (636 Main Street)

Chinatown’s popular cake shop is offering a cake and flower bundle this year in collaboration with Garden Party Flowers. The packages start at $135, but you can also opt for just the dessert. Two V-Day flavours are available: glacial heart (made with matcha sponge cake, matcha ganache, strawberry jelly, and lemon mousse), and apple of my eye (chocolate ladyfingers, caramelized apple, chocolate ganache, raspberry crumbles, topped with heart-shaped macarons).

Ladurée (1141 Robson Street)

They say Paris is the capital of love, so this Parisian patisserie in Vancouver is stepping up the romance factor for Valentine’s Day. A special afternoon tea will be served for the annual love-filled occasion, and sweets like heart-shaped macarons and macaron boxes can also be found at the shop. A gourmet macaron in the shape of a heart sandwiched between pineapple, mango, and passionfruit compote and cocoa bean-infused whipped cream is also available.

Mon Paris Pâtisserie (4396 Beresford Street, Burnaby)

Pastry chef Elena Krasnova has created another stunning line of chocolates and desserts for Valentine’s Day. Known for her contemporary and delicate style, visitors will find chocolate pieces like a flower pot, high-heeled shoe, hearts on a stick, red velvet cake, and gourmet chocolate boxes with a variety of truffles. But the masterpiece is a heart-shaped black forest lady bug cake, which features kirsch-soaked dark chocolate biscuit, sour-cherry compote, and mascarpone mousse topped with a chocolate leaf and some adorable chocolate ladybugs.

Chez Christophe (4717 Hastings Street, Burnaby; and 1558 Johnston Road, White Rock)

Spoil your lover with the Valentine’s Day collection from Chez Christophe, which includes adorable showpieces like smiling avocados, heart-hugging bears, and a symbolic key-to-my-heart creation. Playful pink-hued bear lollipops made with 33 percent ruby chocolate are also in stock, as well as gourmet mini three-piece and nine-piece chocolate boxes.

East Van Roasters (319 Carrall Street)

As a certified charity and social enterprise that gives back to the community, East Van Roasters creates award-winning chocolates for a good cause. Its Valentine’s Day collection includes organic and fair-trade sweets like heart-shaped boxes filled with truffles and bonbons. Other limited edition sweets like a roseberry heart truffle and the “Heart Beets For You” vegan chocolate bar (with coconut, cascara, beet chips, and candied ginger) are also available.

The Pie Hole (various locations)

This popular pie shop is bringing back its pies with a message for the most romantic day of the year. Choose custom messages placed atop its signature apple pie, such as “only have pies for you” or “cutie pie”. Other tasty pie flavours like black forest, triple-chocolate cream, and red velvet are also available. If you like variety, go for the assorted Valentine’s mini pies that come in packs of nine. A bouquet of fresh flowers from Garden Party Flowers can be added for an additional cost.  

Thierry (1059 Alberni Street)

Pastry chef Thierry Busset is bringing back some romantic favourites for Valentine’s Day. His Romeo and Juliet cakes will be available, which feature flavours like cassis dark chocolate and raspberry white chocolate. Besides the cake duo, guests will also find gourmet boxes of chocolates, and signature macarons. If you want a mixture of sweets, go for the gift baskets that come with several different kinds of chocolates and treats.

Purdys (various locations)

Vancouver’s oldest chocolate company is celebrating Valentine’s Day with its recognizable confections. Its most classic gift is the red velvet heart-shaped box filled with various kinds of chocolates. But if you’re looking for something fun, try the champagne truffles, heart-shaped ruby praline, or grapefruit chocolates. Heart-shaped chocolate lollipops, mini salted caramels wrapped in love-themed tinfoil, and Valentine’s Day card boxes with chocolate bars are also great last-minute picks.