Nothing says, “I love you” quite like a homemade dessert. I mean, we’ll take a store-bought one, too, don’t get us wrong! But a tasty treat baked with love and your favorite flavors in mind? It’s hard to beat. So, this Valentine’s Day, why not say, “I love you” to your special someone with a simple, yet delicious dessert!
For the Love of Chocolate
All you chocolate-lovers will want to hang out here for a second. Go ahead and make a grocery list that primarily includes butter, sugar, and cocoa and try them all. The names are enough to make you swoon, so it’s inevitable that with one bite, you’ll fall in love.
- Big Fat Double Dark Chocolate Cookies: Is there anything else you want in a cookie? Large enough that loved ones will assume you purchased them in a bakery, decadent enough to keep the room quiet. Rich, melty dark chocolate oozes from every bite, and a baking twist (cold butter and eggs rather than traditional room temp) keeps these cookies soft and plump. We dare you to just eat one!
- Chocolate Brownie Pudding: Have you ever purposely underbaked a pan of rich, chocolatey brownies? We haven’t either. But if you were tempted to do such a thing, this pudding is for you. A cross between creamy pudding and warm brownie batter is best served with a spoon and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Ganache Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies: Make a traditional chocolate chip cookie look—and taste—even more delicious by dipping half of the cookie in luxurious dark chocolate ganache.
- Perfect Chocolate Fondue: Create an experience around your dessert (or dinner, who’s judging?) with this perfect chocolate fondue. The best part is that you don’t have to own a fondue pot to dip your favorite treats in warm chocolate sauce. Some of our favorite dippers include strawberries, bananas, vanilla cookies, and marshmallows. But we’d applaud anyone who simply brings a spoon to the fondue party.
- Red Velvet Cupcakes: A red velvet dessert is a perfect compromise for a house divided between chocolate and vanilla. The subtle chocolate notes are appreciated by chocolate-lovers yet overlooked by chocolate-tolerators. When making these gorgeously red cakes, frost some with a white chocolate buttercream frosting and others with dark chocolate buttercream, so everyone wins.
No-Bake Wonders
If you’re not confident in your baking abilities, but love the idea of a homemade dessert, try one of these no bake cheesecakes that will surely impress your significant other.
- No-Bake Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake: You had us at cheesecake. But who has the time or patience or skill-level for traditional cheesecake? We get it! This is why you’ll love this easy, make-ahead dessert that’s just like the name describes: creamy and chocolatey.
- No-Bake Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce: If you love traditional New York Cheesecake with a sweet fruity sauce, this no-hassle treat is for you. Served in individual ramekins (cups, jars, etc.) you won’t have to worry about crushing your beautiful dessert while slicing. And if raspberries aren’t your thing? No problem. You can easily sub in strawberries for a beautiful valentine’s look or blueberries or blackberries if you’re the kind of person who lives on the edge.
Satisfyingly Sweet
If you want to bake something special for a loved one who grumps, “Who made chocolate the queen of Valentine’s Day?” this list is for you. Each dessert is decadent, creative, and is sure to satisfy every sweet tooth.
- Salted Caramel Bars: Is anyone else slightly obsessed with salted desserts? At first glance, you think it won’t work. But, oh, it does! This dessert boasts a thick, chewy caramel resting on a crisp, buttery crust and sprinkled with sea salt. Our mouth is watering. This sweet treat is sure to be a favorite.
- Coffee Shortbread Squares: Have you ever justified eating a cookie before breakfast because it’s an accessory to your morning cup of joe? Then, this recipe is right up your alley. Rather than brew your favorite coffee, throw a couple tablespoons into the batter of these cookies for the perfect complement to this buttery shortbread.
- Marbled Valentine Sugar Cookies: A creative, colorful spin on cut-out sugar cookies. You split the mixed dough and dye one half with red or pink food coloring. Then, knead the two halves to create a stunning marbled effect. Fun to do with kids and impressive to serve, these cookies will be a stand-out.
- Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: Serve this festive cake if you want to satisfy the Valentine’s Day color scheme. Because it’s filled with fresh strawberries—from the cake itself to the cream cheese frosting—the color is bright and the flavor is big. This cake is light and sweet, the perfect way to end a delicious Valentine’s Day.
At Inhabit Real Estate Group, we want you to inhabit your world well. So, we’ve created this Grocery Guide to help you find the best quality ingredients for your baked treats. (And if you find yourself ready to upgrade your kitchen, we’re here to help!) Enjoy this Valentine’s Day, and enjoy baking for your loved ones!