Plenty of college students are finding themselves without someone to love this Valentines Day, yours truly being one of them. Rather than drag ourselves out to CVS or Walgreens for some discounted chocolate, how about we do ourselves one better and make our own treats? They’ll taste so much better after we’ve slaved over them.

1. Red Velvet Fudge

Photo by Dylan Barth

This recipe takes two things we all know and love (fudge and red velvet) and puts them together to create an awesome Valentine’s day treat.

2. Double Chocolate Macarons

Photo by Tabitha Wibowo

Little sandwiches of goodness and (bonus) they’re heart-shaped.

3. Red Velvet Lava Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

Photo by Beth LeValley

Valentine’s day might as well be Red Velvet day, and this lava cake is the perfect size for single eating.

4. Peanut Butter Bacon and Dark Chocolate Cookies

Photo courtesy of joythebaker.com

These are everything I love in life condensed into a single cookie.

5. Nutella Wontons

cake

Photo by Jacob Kerbel

Chinese food meets the stuff of dreams, what more could you want?

6. Mini Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cake Cookies

Photo courtesy of lapechefraiche.com

Chocolate + Peanut Butter + Cake + Cookie > Some guy from my physics class.

We have a lot of really awesome people here at The University of Chicago, and one of those cool people happens to be the author of this recipe.

7. Cinnamon-Infused Hot Chocolate

Photo courtesy of joythebaker.com

I’ve been obsessed with hot chocolate lately. It’s chocolate that you can drink. How cool is that? The cinnamon adds a nice little kick.

8. Crazy Brownies

Photo courtesy of pioneerwoman.files.wordpress.com

These brownies have Reese’s, Rolos AND M&M’s. As if that weren’t awesome enough it uses store-bought cake mix, so it requires minimal effort on our part.

9. Chocolate Beet Truffles

Photo by Helena Lin

Easy to make AND vegan, what more could a modern college student want? You can have your protest against the man and eat it, too (if you couldn’t tell I am not vegan).

10. Oreo Truffles

Photo courtesy of kraftrecipes.com

Everyone and their mother has used this recipe before, and for good reason: these suckers are simply addicting.

11. Red Velvet Waffles with Cream Cheese Icing Drizzle

Photo courtesy of tasteandtellblog.com

Valentine’s Day breakfast is totally a thing, right?

12. Darkest Chocolate Cake with Red Wine Glaze

Photo courtesy of bonappetit.com

#SpoonTip: Drink the rest of your red wine while you eat this cake (only if you’re 21+, of course).

Gif courtesy of giphy.com

Happy Valentine’s Day.

cake

Collage by Jen Mcintosh