Sweet local candies Last-minute shopping? Think about Minnesota-made candies.

For old-fashioned goodness, check out the caramel-filled milk chocolate Santas or the maple-pecan fudge at Regina's Fine Chocolates (2073 St. Clair Av., St. Paul, 651-698-8603, and 1905 S. Robert St., West St. Paul, 651-455-8864), which has been satisfying sweetskis since 1926. Abdallah Candies (3501 County Road 42 W., Burnsville) has been making Christmas merry for 98 years, with such goodies as white peppermint bark, big-boxed samplers and a pecan-caramel-milk chocolate delicacy known as the Alligator.

For something fancier, drop by Chocolat Céleste, (2506 University Av. W., St. Paul, 1-651-644-3823), where chocolatier-owner Mary Leonard's carefully handcrafted bonbons and truffles are boxed in festive four-, nine- and 16-piece boxes (the dog lover on your list will love the bittersweet ganache bonbons stamped with a cartoon image of Céleste, a Havanese Bichon Frisé). Just Truffles (1363 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-690-0075) specializes in a huge array of elegant, hand-dipped truffles that are filled with a bevy of flavors: Frangelico, Grand Marnier, Key lime, passion fruit and more.

OK, so they're made in Menomonie, Wis., but don't let that technicality keep you from indulging in the extraordinary beauties filling the counter at the Minnesota outpost of Legacy Chocolates (2042 Marshall Av., St. Paul, 651-646-0644), where the bulk of the inventory is composed of intensely flavored and meticulously produced truffles. There's also a fantastic hot cocoa mix that makes for a great stocking stuffer.

Boxed -- and gorgeous -- truffles by B.T. McElrath Chocolatier are widely available (Lunds, Byerly's and Kowalski's Market) and they're sold by the piece at Amy's Classic Confections (601 Marquette Av., Minneapolis, 612-436-0016); one goodie worthy of a special trek is Brian McElrath's limited-time-only bittersweet chocolate-ginger toffee-cayenne pepper bar, a tasty tribute to the Walker Art Center's Frida Kahlo exhibition and sold only at the museum's gift shop (1750 Hennepin Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-375-7563).

A few local bakeries also turn their attention to confections, with winning results, including Truffles & Tortes (72 Nathan Lane, Plymouth, 763-512-0944), Patrick's Bakery & Cafe (2928 W. 66th St., Richfield, 612-861-7570) and Bellaria Bakery (4430 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-224-0303).

Not a candy person? Then consider a gift from a Minnesota artisan food producer. This Saturday's edition of the St. Paul Farmers Market is featuring a number of vendors (meeting indoors at 275 E. 4th St., across Wall Street from the market) from 9 a.m. to noon. Select among cookies, chocolates, honey, cheeses, pastas, salsas, jams and jellies, apples and more.

RICK NELSON