Get delectable handcrafted Valentine's chocolates and more at 4 Brockton-area candy makers

BROCKTON — Gifting decadent chocolates as a symbol of love is a beloved, mouthwatering Valentine's Day tradition.

Delectable chocolate treats for your sweetheart can be found at many retail stores, but there's something special about handcrafted chocolates — and there are plenty of options in the Brockton-area to take that gift to the next level.

"Our chocolates are made in small batches on an as-needed basis, so the chocolate is always fresh," said Lori Gowell, owner of Gowell's Home Made Candy in Brockton. "By using only the best ingredients, we feel we have the most decadent chocolates that keep our customers coming back generation after generation."

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we've rounded up four Brockton-area artisan candy shops with a wide variety of homemade chocolate goodies that go way beyond that traditional heart-shaped box — from chocolate roses to milk chocolate lips wrapped in shiny multi-colored foil and Love Bug truffles rolled in sweet crunchy pink coconut.

And you don't have to be a chocoholic to indulge in the sweetest day. Other locally made candy options include cinnamon jelly hearts, sour-then-sweet sugar coated gummy lips and IPA craft beer caramels.

Gowell’s Home Made Candy (Brockton)

Gowell's Home Made Candy, a family-owned and operated business established in 1959, became famous when the late actor John Wayne sampled some of the store's homemade chocolates while a patient at a Boston hospital in 1978. Upon his return to Hollywood, the actor continued to indulge his sweet tooth by ordering Gowell's candy through the mail.

Valentine-themed treats available at Gowell's include cinnamon jelly hearts, conversation heart candies, peanut butter mini hearts, solid chocolate foil hearts, chocolate heart pops and sour-then-sweet sugar coated gummy lips.

"Heart-shaped boxes filled with an assortment of chocolates are the most popular" Lori Gowell said.

But customers can make this option extra special by hand-selecting the chocolates for their boxes, she said.

For the man in your life, fresh-roasted cashews and mixed nuts are popular choices. And there are heart-shaped boxes designed with a tuxedo, a shirt and tie, and camouflage for the guys, too. Valentine-themed gift wrapping is also available.

Gowell’s 727 North Main St, Brockton, 508-583-2521, gowellscandy.com/

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Hilliards Chocolates (Easton)

Valentine's specialties at the destination chocolatier in the giant gingerbread-style house include Valentine Oreos, milk chocolate hearts and lips, Valentine Rice Krispies treats, Love Bug truffles, and a dozen solid chocolate roses that come packaged as if coming from the florist — in addition to traditional heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.

For the beer lover in your life, Hilliards — a family-run business now in its fourth generation — has a craft beer collection and IPA craft beer caramels that are buttery small batch caramel flavored with local Shovel Town Brewery’s Double IPA beer, then dipped in smooth dark chocolate, then topped with Langwater Farm hops and pretzel infused sea salt.

Hilliards Chocolates, 316 Main St., Easton, 508-238-6231, www.hilliardscandy.com/

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Skinners Sugar House (East Bridgewater)

Skinners offers customers handmade-chocolates made fresh at the Union Street candy store.

"Chocolate assortments in the heart-shaped boxes and boxes wrapped in Valentine’s Day paper are the most popular," owner Paul Daley said.

The milk chocolate cashew turtles are also very popular in a heart box, he said. Other sought-after chocolate offerings include chocolate heart pops, chocolate roses wrapped in red foil, and fudge. Daley added that a lot of women buy the roasted cashews for their husbands and boyfriends.

And for the "kiddos" there are heart pops and conversation word hearts with all new sayings, like “text me,” Daley said.

Skinners Sugar House, 24 Union St., East Bridgewater, 508-378-3693, www.facebook.com/skinnerssugarhouse/

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Rockhead Chocolates (Easton)

What makes Rockheads Chocolates so special? They're handmade, small-batch artisan chocolates, made right in Easton, said Elizabeth McConville Poussier, founder and owner of Rockhead Chocolates.

"Romantic and whimsical" are common themes in the molded chocolates.

Valentine’s assortments can be purchased via its website and include:

• 15-piece boxes of chocolate hearts in decadent dark chocolate, raspberry white chocolate and orange milk chocolate ganache fillings

• 15-piece bouquets of roses in caramel milk chocolate, honey-rosemary milk chocolate, Sambuca-lime, lemon white chocolate and lavender dark chocolate

• 30-piece assortment of ganache-filled hearts and roses, plus coffee, caramel, maple, and more chocolates and caramels

• nine-piece variety of rich ganache filled hearts in handy hang-on-a-bottle boxes to dress up that bottle of champagne, wine or favorite spirits that make a perfect for gift for Galentine's Day, too.

Rockhead Chocolates, rockheadchocolates.com/

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. 

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Where to get homemade gourmet Valentine's chocolates in Brockton-area