Valentine’s Day brings to mind images of Cupid, heart-shaped cookies, candygrams and conversation hearts.

When Mallory Thomison’s brought her homemade Valentine’s Day cake pops to the Inkspot classroom — I was quickly reminded Valentine’s Day is about personalized acts of love.

And what better way to show someone you care than to put in the effort to bake something for them? Anyone can swipe a credit card, pick up a card, but the extra step of making something yourself is a true sign that they mean something to you.

The white candy-covered cake pops were perfectly round, each delightfully covered in its own sprinkle assortment — glitter, hearts, red and pink.

The cake pop looked so wonderful, I almost didn’t want to eat it.

Temptation prevailed as I took the first bite.

First, I tasted the creamy white chocolate coating.

Then the moist cake inside.

I was taken aback by the powerful combination of textures and flavors, and I wanted more and more.

The treat reminded me of a snow day and baking with my mom when I was little.

How it was able to transform me back 10 years, I will never know. But there is something about baking that just says love.

My nostalgia ended as only the cake pop’s delicate lollipop stick remained.

Transported back to the present, the cake pop’s aftertaste remained — a satisfying taste lingering on my lips.

Such deliciousness can only come at a steep price, right?

Wrong.

For around $15 of ingredients, Mallory made 12 cake pop — running her a little more than a $1 a treat.

This one-dollar Valentine had me wanting to tie on an apron and bake with my mom, to spend the day cooking in the kitchen with my friends and family — it was pure love.