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.
The Red Velvet Cake
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.
Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake
Recipe: Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake
Turn this into a Valentine’s Day treat by garnishing with ruby-red raspberries or strawberries.
Raspberry Panna Cotta
Recipe: Raspberry Panna Cotta
For a cool and silky treat this Valentine’s Day, serve this cardamom spiced panna cotta.
Red Berry Pavlova Tower
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.
Red Velvet Souffles with Whipped Sour Cream
Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream
Kissed with chocolate, these red velvet soufflés make delicious individual treats.
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.
Red Velvet Brownies
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
Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake
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.
Red Velvet Layer Cake
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.
Red Velvet Cheesecake
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
Cherry Bread Pudding
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.
Fresh Strawberry Meringue Cake
Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Meringue Cake
This strawberry meringue cake features layers of sweet cream and fresh strawberries sandwiched between thin rounds of homemade meringue.
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.
Apple-Cherry Cobbler with Pinwheel Biscuits
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.
Strawberry Mousse Cake
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.
Mini Strawberry Tarts
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.
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.
Bourbon-Soaked Cherries
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.
Raspberry Tiramisu Bites
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.
