Love, summer and a cost-of-living crisis are in the air. If you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with something delicious, but are less keen on the notion of a triple-digit set menu, try one of these desserts instead.

Macadamia plum croissant, Loulou, $10

This upscale boulangerie is taking advantage of ripe plums with its Valentine’s Day special – a croissant pastry filled with plum jam, macadamia praline and vanilla creme diplomate, and dusted with a pretty pink heart. There’s a Valentine’s chouquette for $10, featuring rose mascarpone cream, lychee curd and raspberry coulis. Walk them down to the Lavender Bay foreshore for the ultimate romantic picnic.

61 Lavender Street, Milsons Point, loulou.sydney

Raspberry red velvet cake, Banksia Bakehouse, $40

Swing by the office tower in the CBD where Banksia Bakehouse rolls out perfectly laminated croissants and enticing cakes. Its raspberry velvet cake generously serves two people for $40. Red velvet sponge is layered with cream cheese frosting and raspberry jam, finished with bright pink icing with retro piping. Add a box of six macarons with flavours that range from Earl Grey to biscoff for a total of $55.

225 George Street, Tenancy 4 Grosvenor Place, Sydney, banksia.sydney

Knafeh cups, Miss Sina, $17

If you or your Valentine are vegan, this cheery bakery is coming in clutch with its range of vegan Valentine’s Day specials. In addition to all its colourful and creative offerings, Miss Sina are doing its take on the viral Dubai chocolate with knafeh cups that are perfect for two. Strawberries are covered in melted chocolate and pistachio paste topped with crisp knafeh. Its sister venue Nutie is also selling a version with gluten-free knafeh. Buy them in store from February 8 until February 16. It’s also offering a box of pretty pink Valentine’s-themed vegan donuts for $45, with flavours such as strawberry cheesecake and a heart-shaped raspberry number.

132 Illawarra Road, Marrickville, misssina.com.au

Valentine’s neenish tart, Humble Bakery, $12

While the pretty pink icing on Humble’s famous finger buns would be a no-brainer for Valentine’s Day, the bakery is also creating a range of nostalgic treats available from February 10 to February 14. Humble is reinventing the neenish tart with whipped cream cheese and house-made raspberry jam for $12. Heart-shaped vanilla and red velvet shortbread cookies drizzled with raspberry white chocolate will also be available for $8 each.

The bakery’s February special, a Danish inspired by the flavours of a Cherry Ripe, also leans into the romance. Croissant pastry cradles coconut custard, dark chocolate and house-made cherry jam, topped with toasted coconut flakes and finished with a fresh cherry on top. Pick it up this month at its Surry Hills, Circular Quay and soon-to-open Kent Street stores.

Various locations, humblesydney.com

Valentine’s Day Bagels, Brooklyn Boy Bagels

Bright crimson heart-shaped bagels are available at Brooklyn Boy Bagels’ two stores from February 13 to 16 for $6 each, along with a strawberry cream cheese to sweeten the deal for an extra $10.50. If bagels aren’t your thing, it’s also making red velvet croissants for $6, and red velvet and white chocolate cookies for $7. If you can’t choose, you can order the “Spread the Love” box that includes two of everything, a tub of cream cheese, candy hearts, and a custom Valentine’s card for $50.

Various locations, brooklynboybagels.com.au