Araya Artisan Chocolate

This family-owned River Oaks boutique may be best known for its luxurious selection of premium, single-origin Venezuelan chocolate in exotic flavors like strawberry-balsamic and Guinness Extra Stout, but don’t overlook the dairy-free and vegan chocolates, French macarons or gorgeous holiday gift boxes.

Cacao & Cardamom

Chocolate has never looked more fashionable or futuristic than at this Galleria-area shop. Along with flashy colors and wild shapes such as pyramids and Buddhas, exotic flavors like Mexican oregano–caramel and garam masala–pistachio challenge the idea of what chocolate can—and should—be.

Chocolat du Monde

This Rice Village boutique with a European vibe stocks chocolate and candy selections from across the globe, along with fresh fudge and toffee. Patrons purchase goodies by the pound or in festive, premade gift baskets.

The Chocolate Bar

Willy Wonka himself might be envious of the confections here. On one side of the store patrons enjoy hot chocolate, ice cream and massive slices of cake, and on the other they shop for chocolate-dipped everything, including the famous Texas Frito brittle—always a holiday hit.

Heights Candy Bar

This family-run establishment stocks saltwater taffy and rock candy, giant lollipops and fat sea salt caramels, German gummy bears and Swedish fish. These are stocking stuffers for the candy collector of any age.

Macaron by Patisse

This boutique makes macarons in adventurous flavors like fig and goat cheese or fleur de sel. You can buy them individually, in custom-made gift boxes, and even in colorful party towers.  

Michael’s Cookie Jar

The chocolate chip cookies here are even better than Mom’s. For something fancier, get the seasonal sugar cookies, wrapped in real bows, or the festive tea cookies—especially the raspberry Linzer variety—guaranteed to spruce up any holiday platter. 

Ooh La La

Vanessa O’Donnell’s three Houston-area boutiques offer entire menus devoted to the holidays. Pick up everything from pumpkin pies and cranberry-orange cookies to artfully decorated snowman cake balls and reindeer-topped cupcakes.

Petite Sweets

From cake balls and cake pops to flavored marshmallows and mini whoopie pies, this River Oaks bakery has the tiny-treat market cornered. Over the holidays, look for gingerbread, carrot cake, pumpkin and chocolate-peppermint goodies.

Rocket Fizz

This hidden gem in Rice Village packs its shelves with retro candies and keepsakes, along with special soda pop in varieties you won’t believe, from peanut-butter-and-jelly to the ever-popular bacon. 

Tout Suite

This restaurant-bakery hybrid in EaDo caters to early birds and night owls alike, offering house favorites from its sister location, Sweet, along with its own repertoire of madeleines, tarts and muffins. 

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