Valentine's Day is around the corner, and whoever you're showing your affection for this V-day, a sweet treat is always a great gift.
Whether you want to shower yourself in self-love and get yourself a foodie treat or are you looking for a gift for a friend or partner, we're convinced this is the best all-round crowdpleaser for that all important day.
The Valentines Brownie from the Savvy Baker is essentially a giant slab of chocolatey goodness, but all four come with a heartfelt message, including hilarious quotes like 'cute butt' and 'I heart your d*ck', and the wholesome 'my fave human' and 'happy bestie day'.
Each brownie is priced at £15.50, a bargain given you can usually get four brownies from £12.00.
If your recipient is a cookie monster in the making, there's a cookie box available for the occasion too. Or, if you'd prefer not to send a chocolatey message to your valentines at all, there's always the giant stacks, made from a seemingly unlimited number of Leeds famous brownies.
Incase you haven’t met The Savvy Baker before, the lockdown-success bakery has grown from owner Savanah Roqaa's kitchen into a two cafe and endless pop-up brownie empire, gaining a cult following for its delicious baked goods in the process.
Brownies, blondies, stacks and slabs are just a few of the items available on sale. One of our latest discoveries is the Rolo and Caramel Brownie Pot, a chocolate ganache and gooey caramel with layers brownie chunks and perfect to satisfy that sweet craving.
Both Savvy's stacks and slabs, along with the rest of their bakes, are available for collection from the Roundhay cafe or post Leeds pre-ordered for valentines day or any special occasion.
Valentine's Day Orders close on Wednesday 8 February 2023 to be dispatched on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February so that you can get your brownie fix in time for Valentines Day.
Collection from Lidgett Lane Cafe in Roundhay will be on Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2023.
Feature Image- The Savvy Baker
Eats
Independent Leeds coffee shop crowned one of the UK’s best for 2026
A list of the UK's best independent coffee shops for 2026 has been released, and one in Leeds has come up trumps.
The coffee shop in question may come as no surprise to some of you, as some would say that after 15 years in the city it's become somewhat of an institution.
Of course it's none other than Laynes.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's a proper Leeds staple at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
But it's not just us who think it's flipping fantastic, as a new study has revealed the top 10 most popular independent coffee shops in the country and Laynes comes in at a very respectable number 8.
The list, made by Capital on Tap, analysed coffee across the UK looking at Google reviews, monthly searches and social media success.
Laynes was in some pretty good company including Idle Hands in Manchester and Kaf Coffee in Glasgow. But most importantly, none of the top 10 were in London - make of that what you will.
The top 10 most popular independent coffee shops for 2026:
Neighbourhood Café, Belfast
Colonna & Small’s, Bath
Established Coffee, Belfast
Hard Lines Coffee, Cardiff
Rough Handmade, Liverpool
Idle Hands Coffee, Manchester
Full Court Press, Bristol
Laynes Espresso, Leeds
Kaf Coffee, Glasgow
Dom’s Coffee, Cambridge
Bravo Laynes, a well earned accolade for one of our favourite spots in the city.
A bakery serving giant NYC-style cookies and fluffy cinnamon buns has just opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
Sophie Smith -
16th January 2023 
