19 Valentine’s Desserts That Have Us Seeing Red

By Southern Living
William Dickey

Everyone enjoys a box of indulgent chocolate candies, and a stunning bouquet of fresh flowers will brighten your room for several days.  But nothing says “you are special” like a red-tinted treat you made with labor and love. Show how much you care and appreciate that special someone, child, parent, or friend, with one of these top-rated Valentine’s Day desserts. While you're at it, avoid the crowds this year and enjoy one of these romantic dinners in the comfort of your own home.  

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The Red Velvet Cake

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: The Red Velvet Cake

The origin of red velvet cakes came about from the result of baking soda interacting with natural cocoa and other acids in the batter. Through the years, the red velvet craze has intensified, and a red velvet dessert is as welcome on Valentine’s Day as it is on Christmas. 

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Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake

Turn this into a Valentine’s Day treat by garnishing with ruby-red raspberries or strawberries.

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Raspberry Panna Cotta

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Raspberry Panna Cotta

For a cool and silky treat this Valentine’s Day, serve this cardamom spiced panna cotta. 

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Red Berry Pavlova Tower

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Berry Pavlova Tower

If you are hosting a Valentine’s Day party, serve this meringue tower and you will definitely be everyone’s sweetheart.

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Red Velvet Souffles with Whipped Sour Cream

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

Kissed with chocolate, these red velvet soufflés make delicious individual treats. 

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Need to send a dessert to a Valentine’s Day party? Try this pretty and pink “bake-and-take” sheet cake.

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Red Velvet Brownies

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

To make decorative white chocolate curls, pull a vegetable peeler along the side of a while chocolate bar. 

Step-by-Step Video: Red Velvet Brownies

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Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake

This pretty cake can help get you into the party spirit. You can assemble it up to two days ahead, leaving you lots of time to prepare the rest of your Valentine’s Day meal.   

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Red Velvet Layer Cake

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Layer Cake

Nothing says “I love you” like this tall red velvet cake, cloaked in a thick layer of cream cheese frosting.

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Make Sweet Cherry Hand Pies For Valentine's Day

These easy cherry and rosemary hand pies are a cute (and very sweet) way to celebrate Valentine's Day. Made with pre-made piecrust and cherry pie filling, this fun food craft takes just a few steps with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Simply mix together the pie filling with some fresh rosemary, add to half of the piecrust hearts, crimp the edges, brush with milk, top with sparkling sugar, and bake. Voilà – easy and quick miniature pies that are perfect for your sweetheart (or, for your child's classroom friends!). If you're not a fan of cherries, sub in your partner's favorite filling (or, a healthy dollop of Nutella).

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake

Win hearts with this delicious blend of red velvet cake and cheesecake. A red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with a creamy cheesecake layer, and baked in a dark chocolate crust–making a wickedly-delicious combination. 

Step-by-Step Video: Red Velvet Cheesecake

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Cherry Bread Pudding

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Cherry Bread Pudding

Is your Valentine trying to cut back on calories? This lightened-up bread pudding is delicious as well as guilt-free.

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Fresh Strawberry Meringue Cake

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Meringue Cake

This strawberry meringue cake features layers of sweet cream and fresh strawberries sandwiched between thin rounds of homemade meringue. 

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Triple-Decker Strawberry Cake

Recipe: Triple-Decker Strawberry Cake

This lovely three-layer delight gets its delicious flavor from chopped fresh strawberries and strawberry gelatin. Slathered with the homemade strawberry buttercream frosting, this will become your family’s favorite Valentine’s Day treat. 

 

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Apple-Cherry Cobbler with Pinwheel Biscuits

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Apple-Cherry Cobbler with Pinwheel Biscuits  

This may not be a traditional Valentine’s Day treat, but it soon will be. Buttery biscuit dough rolled with almonds and brown sugar bakes into a pretty pinwheel crust.

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Strawberry Mousse Cake

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Strawberry Mousse Cake

This delicious cake is ideal for brunch and showers, but we think it is also pretty enough for a Valentine’s Day treat.

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Mini Strawberry Tarts

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Mini Strawberry Tarts

These sweet tarts, with a dreamy filling of cream cheese, whipped cream, and lemon, make a lovely presentation for a Valentine’s Day dessert. 

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Too-Easy Cherry Cobbler

Recipe: Too-Easy Cherry Cobbler

You may not think cobbler is a traditional Valentine’s Day dessert. But once you see how easy it is to prepare and how much your family loves it, this recipe will become your go-to traditional treat.

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Bourbon-Soaked Cherries

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Bourbon-Soaked Cherries

Spoon these boozy cherries and their syrup over ice cream, or pound cake, or use them to gussy up sparkling beverages, such as club soda and ginger ale.

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Raspberry Tiramisu Bites

William Dickey

Recipe: Raspberry Tiramisù Bites

There are crisp Italian cookies also called ladyfingers, but be sure to use soft ones in this recipe. Look for them in the bakery or produce section of your supermarket.

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