Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Holidays & Occasions
  3. Valentine's Day
  4. 21 Valentine's Day Desserts Where Chocolate Isn't the Star

21 Valentine's Day Desserts Where Chocolate Isn't the Star

marissa wu
By Marissa Wu January 04, 2022
Skip gallery slides
FB
Conversation Heart Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Grant Gaar

This year, skip the usual box of chocolates and grocery store flowers in favor of a Valentine's Day dessert without chocolate. Instead of a mad dash to the store after work, plan ahead with these delicious confections that even Aphrodite and Cupid are sure to approve of. You'll quickly find that there are plenty of ways to say, "I love you" that instead feature jewel-toned red fruits (like strawberry and raspberry), crisp and custom-decorated cookies, rich pound cakes, decadent layer cakes, and other confections. Whether you want a simple recipe or want to try your hand at something elaborate, you won't miss the chocolate one bit. Replace the bouquet of red roses with our Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies or White Cupcakes with Rose Petals for that romantic touch. Still on the fence? Remember the wise words of Forrest Gump. Boxes of chocolates can be wild cards—but these recipes are sure winners.

Start Slideshow

1 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Serve slices to friends after a galentine's day dinner. The strawberry swirls add just the right touch of red. Don't forget whipped cream and fresh strawberries on the side.

1 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies

Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies

Who needs a bouquet of roses when you have these edible beauties?

2 of 21

3 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake

Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake
Credit: Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake

Gathering a group for Valentine's Day? A sheet cake makes it easy and we promise this one is delicious.

3 of 21

Advertisement

4 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Marbled Sugar Heart Cookies

Marbled Sugar Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Grant Gaar

Recipe: Marbled Sugar Heart Cookies

Whether you're giving them to friends, family, or a special someone, our marbled cookies promise to dazzle.

4 of 21

5 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Valentine's Pavlovas with Strawberry Sweet Cream

Valentine's Pavlovas with Strawberry Sweet Cream

Recipe: Valentine's Pavlovas with Strawberry Sweet Cream

If you really want to impress, whip up a pavlova. It's a fancy word for meringue shells and toppings, and the end result is delicate, sweet, and unforgettable.

5 of 21

6 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

White Chocolate Raspberry Loaf Cake

White Chocolate Raspberry Loaf Cake
Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Styling: Kay Clarke, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: White Chocolate Raspberry Loaf Cake

Dense, soft cake gets studded with jewel-toned raspberries and coated in an elegant layer of ganache.

6 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

These nutty, tart-sweet cookies are just the way to say, "I love you."

7 of 21

8 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Lemon Raspberry Cake

Lemon Raspberry Cake
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake

Tart lemon and sweet raspberry are a refreshing way to finish off a decadent Valentine's Day meal.

8 of 21

9 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake

Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake
Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake

Cutting into this cake is like sipping a cold strawberry lemonade on a hot summer evening.

9 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Creme Fraiche

Crowne Media
Credit: Crowne Media

Recipe: Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Creme Fraiche

This fluffy, nutty, three-layer cake is a beauty—top with fresh red berries for a simple Valentine's Day presentation.

10 of 21

11 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

You can't go wrong with a bright pink cake and strawberry-flecked frosting. You just can't.

11 of 21

12 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

The North Carolina cherry soda gets the cupcake treatment. We guarantee there will be no protests.

12 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry Cream Pie

Strawberry Cream Pie
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Strawberry Cream Pie

Strawberries sit suspended in a silky custard, glazed with a red currant jelly that makes everything glossy.

13 of 21

14 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pink Lemonade Cake

Pink Lemonade Cake
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Pink Lemonade Cake

Thanks to a punch of pink lemonade powder, this cake makes you feel like you're drinking a sweet glass of the beverage. Add a little to the frosting and it'll have a nice pink hue.

14 of 21

15 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

Sweet, pink swirls of buttercream complement the gently tart cupcakes for a fun, personal Valentine's Day treat.

15 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Mini Strawberry Chiffon Pies

Mini Strawberry Chiffon Pies
Credit: Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Mini Strawberry Chiffon Pies

Mini desserts are always fun, and this one is also easy, thanks to some strawberry gelatin and pre-made pie crust.

16 of 21

17 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

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

Skip the grocery-store bouquet and opt for rose-petal laden cupcakes instead. The result is guaranteed to be sweeter.

17 of 21

18 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Homemade Strawberry Gelato

Strawberry Gelato with Almond Shortbread and Elderflower Crème
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton

Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Gelato

Serve with extra buttery Almond Shortbread and guests will be swooning all around.

18 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake

Caramel Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake

Decadent. To die for. Need we say more? Don't be surprised if there's not a crumb left.

19 of 21

20 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies

Conversation Heart Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Grant Gaar

Recipe: Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies

Personalize the message or grab a box of candy hearts for inspiration.

20 of 21

21 of 21

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry Upside-Down Cake

Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Strawberry Upside-Down Cake

Forget pineapple. This ruby-red cake sets the mood for Valentine's Day.

21 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Marissa Wu

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 21 Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake
    2 of 21 Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies
    3 of 21 Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake
    4 of 21 Marbled Sugar Heart Cookies
    5 of 21 Valentine's Pavlovas with Strawberry Sweet Cream
    6 of 21 White Chocolate Raspberry Loaf Cake
    7 of 21 Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies
    8 of 21 Lemon Raspberry Cake
    9 of 21 Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake
    10 of 21 Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Creme Fraiche
    11 of 21 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
    12 of 21 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting
    13 of 21 Strawberry Cream Pie
    14 of 21 Pink Lemonade Cake
    15 of 21 Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream
    16 of 21 Mini Strawberry Chiffon Pies
    17 of 21 White Cupcakes with Rose Petals
    18 of 21 Homemade Strawberry Gelato
    19 of 21 Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake
    20 of 21 Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies
    21 of 21 Strawberry Upside-Down Cake

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    21 Valentine's Day Desserts Where Chocolate Isn't the Star
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.