26 Valentine’s Desserts That Have Us Seeing Red

By Southern Living Editors
Updated January 19, 2020
Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

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, whether it be a spouse, child, parent, or friend, with one of these top-rated red 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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Valentine's Day Cake

Credit: Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Valentine's Day Cake

As if a colorful buttercream wasn't enough, a strawberry trim really takes this Valentine's Treat over the top. The best part? It's made from a sheet cake. No layering required. 

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Valentine's Pavlovas with Strawberry Sweet Cream

Recipe: Valentine's Pavlovas with Strawberry Sweet Cream

This pillowy, marshmallow-like treat is the ideal ending to any romantic dinner. Top with our Strawberry Sweet Cream, chopped fresh berries, and a drizzle of decadent melted chocolate for a recipe you'll want to savor. 

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Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake

Credit: Photo: 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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Heart Cookies

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

Recipe: Heart Cookies

Start with store-bought strawberry cake mix and finish with your favorite red and pink sprinkles. Then get ready for these party-perfect cookies to fly off the table. 

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Molten Red Velvet Cakes

Credit: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ

Recipe: Molten Red Velvet Cakes

Portioned just right, you don't have to share the magic of this chocolatey center with anyone else, no matter how much you love them. 

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Red Velvet Brownies

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

Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

To make these brownies extra pretty, decorative white chocolate curls. Simply pull a vegetable peeler along the side of a while chocolate bar and sprinkle the curls on top. 

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Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade 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 Cake Balls

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Balls

Held together with homemade cream cheese frosting and coated in white chocolate, it's hard to eat just one. 

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Strawberry Brownies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke

Recipe: Strawberry Brownies

Indulgent and fudgy with a fun strawberry-studded surprise, these squares will put your normal chocolate-covered strawberries to shame.

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Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Heart Cookies

Recipe: Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Heart Cookies

As fun to decorate as they are to eat, these linzer cookies are filled with a ready-made marshmallow crème—no icing or special filling required

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Lemon Raspberry Cake

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

Recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake

Nothing says "I love you" quite like a layer cake, and this cake is sure to shout it with a dreamy cream cheese-raspberry frosting. 

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Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

Heart-shaped sugar cookies filled with the sweet flavors of almond and cherry and topped with powdered sugar? Sign us up. 

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

With just 5 ingredients, these cake mix cookies will be ready for the school Valentine's Day party in no time. 

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Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe

Credit: Victor Protasio

Recipe: Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes 

If you're looking for a deep red dessert, look no further. These tender cupcakes use beets as a natural food coloring, and their rich cream cheese frosting makes them impossible to resist. 

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Chocolate Strawberry Cake

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

Recipe: Chocolate Strawberry Cake

Want to make this cake even more over the top? Garnish with chocolate-covered strawberries instead of regular, whole strawberries. 

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Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Cool off before you cuddle up with this homemade ice cream that's speckled with just the right amount of fresh strawberry chunks and angel food cake cubes. 

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Mini Red Velvet Cakes

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mini Red Velvet Cakes

Classic red velvet cake takes on a new twist in this individual-sized dessert that you only have to share if you really want to be sweet to your Valentine. 

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake

Credit: Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake 

This date night dessert is sure to dazzle any time of year, but we particularly love pairing it with a glass of champagne on Valentine's Day.  

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Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies

Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Grant Gaar

Recipe: Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies

If you didn't get your cookie decorating itch totally scratched last Christmas, you can pull out your piping bags for these pretty conversation heart cookies. While we love a fun, Southern saying, you can get as clever and original with your decorative phrases as you'd like. 

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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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Mini Strawberry Chiffon Pies

Credit: Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Mini Strawberry Chiffon Pies

Made with refrigerated pie crusts and a simple whipped cream topping, these Strawberry Chiffon Mini Pies are easier to make than they look and add a fresh ending to any Valentine's Day meal.

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Raspberry Truffle Shortcake

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

Recipe: Raspberry Truffle Shortcake

Fresh raspberries and hot fudge paired with fluffy, homemade biscuit shortcakes will make you forget about traditional Valentine's Day strawberries completely. 

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Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

Want to cool off after a hot, romantic meal? There's no better way than a homemade shake. 

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Red Velvet Layer Cake

Credit: 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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Mini Strawberry Tarts

Credit: 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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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

While it may not be a traditional Valentine's Day treat, we love the idea of key lime and strawberries on a sweet occasion. 

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By Southern Living Editors