35 Delicious Valentine's Day Desserts

By Shirley Harrington and Jorie Nicole McDonald
Caitlin Bensel
These Valentine's Day recipes will surely charm your sweetie. Skip the basic box of chocolates this year and go for a more dazzling confection like our pink lemonade cake, red velvet brownies, or Neapolitan cookies. Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating the people you love and cherish in your life. And what better way to do that than make them a simply irresistible dessert? From fancy and involved to quick and easy, there’s something for everyone. Some of these Valentine’s Day desserts start with store-bought cookies, while others are made completely from scratch. Are you in the mood for something classically chocolate? Try our Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes, Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts, or Chocolate Monkey Bread. If you’re looking for something fruity, Lemon Raspberry Cake, Strawberry Icebox Cake, and Caramel Apple Cake are all sure to impress. Skip the crowded restaurants this year and make a romantic dinner at home. Be sure to end with one of these Valentine’s Day treats for the grand finale.
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Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Heart Cookies

Recipe: Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Heart Cookies

Nothing says Valentine's Day quite like these cookies. Made with decadent ingredients like marshmallows and chocolate, Linzer Heart Cookies are great for celebrating your sweetheart.

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Red Velvet Cake Balls

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Balls

Are you celebrating Valentine's Day with the whole family this year? Red Velvet Cake Balls are great to make with the kids.

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Heart Cookies

Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Heart Cookies

These cookies have a secret we promise not to tell your party guests. Hint: There’s store-bought cake mix involved.

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Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes

Southern Living

Recipe: Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes

Is it really Valentine's Day without a bit of chocolate? We say no. The ultra-indulgent chocolate cupcakes are as classic as they come.

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Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Impress your Valentine with a white chocolate design that's easier to dip than it looks.

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Buttermilk Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Buttermilk Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream

These mini cakes are sure to impress your special someone. Layers of buttercream make this dessert oh-so decadent.

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Lemon Raspberry Cake

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake

Brimming with elegance, this Lemon Raspberry Cake is light and tender with a twist of lemon zest.

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Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

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Molten Red Velvet Cakes

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Molten Red Velvet Cakes

End the perfect Valentine's Day dinner at home with these Molten Red Velvet Cakes, and watch your sweetheart swoon.

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Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Pound cake, but make it miniature. We love these personal, chocolate-filled treats.

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Cheesecake Cookies

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

If you don't have hours to spend in the kitchen making a traditional cheesecake, give these cookies a try. They are easy to make and taste just a great.

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Snowball Cake

Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Snowball Cake

Coconut lovers, this one is for you. Just as tasty as they are adorable, these miniature snowball cakes are perfect for a Valentine's Day to remember.

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Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake 

This delicate crêpe cake recipe is only made better with the addition of flavorful limoncello.

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Angel Food Cake

Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Angel Food Cake

Pillowy Angel Food Cake and fresh strawberries make this dessert truly celebratory. And it only takes 10 minutes to prep!

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Looking for the perfect bake-and-take dessert to bring to a Valentine's day party? This sheet cake will be the belle of the ball - guaranteed.

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Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Did someone say chocolate ganache? This fudge-filled layer cake is rich and creamy in all the right ways.

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Raspberry Panna Cotta

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Raspberry Panna Cotta

For a sweet and silky dessert this Valentine's Day, serve panna cotta spiked with cardamom.

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

Skip the chocolate this year and opt for something fruity instead. These bite-size Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes are sure to be the highlight of your V Day celebration.

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Strawberry Cream Pie

IAIN BAGWELL

Recipe: Strawberry Cream Pie

Enhance your Valentine's day with red currant jelly and orange liqueur. Complete with fresh strawberries, this dessert is an elegant choice for a romantic dinner.

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Forget store-bought candies, make this classic Valentine's Day dessert in just a few steps (and a whole lot of dipping fun).

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Pink Lemonade Cake

Southern Living

Recipe: Pink Lemonade Cake

We transformed one of the South's favorite beverages into a sinfully sweet cake for Valentine's Day.

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Red Velvet Brownies

Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

Sweet cream cheese frosting and rich red velvet cake make this dessert the ideal choice for a Valentine's Day dinner.

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Neapolitan Cookies

Recipe: Neapolitan Cookies

Do these cookies make you feel nostalgic? Perhaps it's because they are inspired by the iconic tub of ice cream with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors all in one.

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Strawberry Icebox Cake

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Strawberry Icebox Cake

What’s better than whipped cream and cookies to make your Valentine’s Day dreams come to life? This easy-to-make cake is oh-so fancy.

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Valentine's Day Oreo Pops

Recipe: Valentine's Day Oreo Pops

Transform store-bought Oreo cookies into festive treats for the special holiday.

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Why decide between ice cream and cake on Valentine’s Day? This beautiful dessert offers the best of both worlds.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Whip up these striking red cookies in just 10 minutes. Chewy, rich, and topped with white chocolate chips, they are sure to impress your sweetheart.

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resh Strawberry Cupcakes

Micah Leal

Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes

Your partner will think you picked up these airy delights at the local bakery. Made with no artificial flavors or colors, the taste is unmatched by any other dessert.

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Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries

This boozy pie is just special enough to serve at a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. Take it up a notch with the addition of chocolate graham crackers.

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Lane Cupcakes

Southern Living

Recipe: Lane Cupcakes

Inspired by the beloved Southern cake that bears the same name, these Lane cupcakes pack the same flavor punch in a single serving.

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Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Butterscotch filling and caramel sauce create a delicious pie worthy of only the highest praise. Serve it with a scoop of ice cream to take it over the top.

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Kentucky Derby Pie Bread Pudding

Datz Restaurant Group

Recipe: Kentucky Derby Pie Bread Pudding

Bourbon, pecans, and brown sugar come together in this sweet, gooey bread pudding for the ultimate dessert on the day of love.

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Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

Your sweetheart is sure to say “ooh-la-la” when he or she tastes these tender crackle cookies with tangy cream cheese frosting.

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Chocolate Monkey Bread

Recipe: Chocolate Monkey Bread

Surprise your Valentine with this Chocolate Monkey Bread. Not convinced? It tastes like cinnamon-sugar donuts drizzled with chocolate and caramel glaze.

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