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  4. 36 Easy, Last-Minute Valentine's Day Desserts Your Family Will Love

36 Easy, Last-Minute Valentine's Day Desserts Your Family Will Love

Jenna Sims, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Jenna Sims Updated February 08, 2021
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Heart Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Even though February 14 is nearly upon us, there's still more than enough time to whip up one of these quick and easy desserts. Treat you family, friends, and co-workers with a sweet homemade treat on Valentine's Day, courtesy of yours truly. Even though these treats are homemade, they're easy enough for you to throw together in a flash, and some even start with a simple store-bought mix.

Whether your Valentine is a fan of chocolate, strawberries, or Red Velvet, you can't go wrong with any of these cute and festive desserts. There's plenty of time to make the perfect treat to show them how much you care.

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Red-and-White Meringue Kisses

Red-and-White Meringue Kisses
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Red-and-White Meringue Kisses

With a short ingredient list and minimal prep time, this recipe makes about three dozen "kisses" perfect for any party.

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Classic Southern Pound Cake

Classic Southern Pound Cake
Credit: Skyler Burt; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Classic Southern Pound Cake

Top this Southern classic with fresh strawberries for an easy Valentine's Day dessert.

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Red Velvet Thumbprints

Red Velvet Thumbprints
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Red Velvet Thumbprints

These festive treats are the perfect bite-sized take on classic Red Velvet Cake.

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Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge

Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge

Marshmallow cream gives this foolproof fudge a light and creamy texture.

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Heart Cookies

Heart Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Heart Cookies

Use strawberry cake mix for these sweet cookies and top with icing and sprinkles galore.

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Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes

Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes

Use both unsweetened and semisweet baking chocolate for the batter of these cupcakes. Cook them in jumbo muffin pans.

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White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Dip each strawberry in melted white chocolate and drizzle with semisweet chocolate for an extra special touch.

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8 of 36

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Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

These bite-sized cheesecakes are a great way to impress your with an easy-to-make cookie.

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Angel Food Cake

Angel Food Cake
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Angel Food Cake

After taking this cake out of the oven, let it cool upside down in the pan so it will pull away from the sides of the pan cleanly.

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Six ingredients and 20 minutes of hands-on time make this an easy and impressive dessert.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red-Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Sprinkle in white chocolate chips to this decadent cookie cake treat.

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Conversation Heart White Chocolate Bark

Conversation Heart Chocolate Bark
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Recipe: Conversation Heart White Chocolate Bark

Festive sprinkles and conversation hearts make this creamy, white chocolate dessert a festive treat.

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White Cupcakes with Rose Petals

Rose Petal Cupcakes
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: White Cupcakes with Rose Petals

Top these white cupcakes with edible rose petals to sweep your sweethearts off their feet.

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Chocolate Strawberry Cake

Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Chocolate Strawberry Cake

This cake gets its pretty pink color from the fresh berries in the frosting.

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Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Cookies

Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Cookies

Feel these basic chocolate shortbread cookies with ready-made marshmallow crème. Tint the marshmallow pink or red for a festive touch.

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Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes
Credit: Victor Protasio

Recipe: Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

Microwave beets and add lemon juice to make the red coloring of these cupcakes even brighter.

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Raspberry Truffle Shortcake

Raspberry Truffle Shortcake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Raspberry Truffle Shortcake

Use raspberries, shaved chocolate, and hot fudge for this fun shortcake twist.

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Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

Use smaller batch ice cream and real vanilla extract for the best flavor.

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Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream

Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream

Strawberry and key lime fuse together for a burst of fresh flavor. Garnish this pie with cut berries and lime zest.

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Valentine's Day Cake

Valentine's Day Cake
Credit: Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Valentine's Day Cake

This cake's heart shape with its sweet pink frosting and strawberry outline is cute as can be.

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Honey Bun Cake

Honey Bun Cake
Credit: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Honey Bun Cake

Add sour cream and vanilla to the yellow cake mix to add moisture and depth in flavor.

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Caramel Cake

Caramel Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caramel Cake

This cake has the same consistency as a pound cake and is smothered in rich frosting.

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Chocolate Cobbler

Chocolate Cobbler
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chocolate Cobbler

Warm chocolate pudding- like fudge and chocolate layer cake are mixed together to make this dreamy dessert.

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Mixed Nut Brittle

Salty-Sweet Nut Brittle
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Mixed Nut Brittle

Use peanuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans for this Southern favorite.

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Chocolate Parfait

Chocolate Parfaits
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chocolate Parfait

Rich chocolatey flavor shines in this no-bake dessert.

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Red Velvet Souffles with Whipped Sour Cream

Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

This recipe will allow each member of the family to enjoy their own personal Valentine's Day soufflé.

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Cook and serve this delicious dessert on the same pan for easy cleanup. Garnish with fresh strawberries.

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Red Velvet Fudge

Sweet Valentine’s Day Treats Red Velvet Fudge
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Red Velvet Fudge

If you're looking for a no-bake treat, this fudge is for you. It makes about two dozen pieces of fudge with just 30 minutes of hands-on time.

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Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

These personal pound cakes are topped off with both chocolate and buttermilk glaze to make them even sweeter.

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Salted Caramel Strawberries

Salted Caramel Strawberries
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery

Recipe: Salted Caramel Strawberries

Ready in just 15 minutes, the kids can help make this Valentine's Day treat.

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Crispy Chocolate Hearts

Crispy Chocolate Hearts

Recipe: Crispy Chocolate Hearts

These no-bake treats will win over their hearts.

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Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Serve this warm, giant chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it'll be an instant crowd-pleaser.

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Red Velvet Layer Cake

Red Velvet Layer Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Layer Cake

Red Velvet Cake covered in cream cheese frosting is the perfect way to say "I love you."

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So-Good Brownies

So-Good Brownies
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: So-Good Brownies

These homemade fudgy brownies will be your new go-to recipe.

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Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels

Sweet Valentine’s Day Treats Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels

These treats are great to pack in your kiddo's lunchbox for a sweet surprise.

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36 of 36

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All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's hard to beat a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

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    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 36 Red-and-White Meringue Kisses
    2 of 36 Classic Southern Pound Cake
    3 of 36 Red Velvet Thumbprints
    4 of 36 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge
    5 of 36 Heart Cookies
    6 of 36 Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes
    7 of 36 White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
    8 of 36 Cheesecake Cookies
    9 of 36 Angel Food Cake
    10 of 36 Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
    11 of 36 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
    12 of 36 Conversation Heart White Chocolate Bark
    13 of 36 White Cupcakes with Rose Petals
    14 of 36 Chocolate Strawberry Cake
    15 of 36 Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Cookies
    16 of 36 Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes
    17 of 36 Raspberry Truffle Shortcake
    18 of 36 Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
    19 of 36 Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream
    20 of 36 Valentine's Day Cake
    21 of 36 Honey Bun Cake
    22 of 36 Caramel Cake
    23 of 36 Chocolate Cobbler
    24 of 36 Mixed Nut Brittle
    25 of 36 Chocolate Parfait
    26 of 36 Red Velvet Souffles with Whipped Sour Cream
    27 of 36 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
    28 of 36 Red Velvet Fudge
    29 of 36 Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes
    30 of 36 Salted Caramel Strawberries
    31 of 36 Crispy Chocolate Hearts
    32 of 36 Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
    33 of 36 Red Velvet Layer Cake
    34 of 36 So-Good Brownies
    35 of 36 Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels
    36 of 36 All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

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