Recipe

Win Over Your Valentine’s Day Crush With These 3 Desserts

By Beth LeValley at Drake University

If there’s one thing I learned in life, it’s that desserts make everyone happy. Use one (or all) of these recipes help your Valentine fall in love with you this V-Day.

Mini Vanilla Cake

  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Servings: 2 mini cakes
  • Advanced
Ingredients
  • 1 boxed cake mix, plus ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 drops red food coloring
  • 4 oz chocolate almond bark
  • 1 tablespoon red sprinkles

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 1

Using the instructions on the box, bake a vanilla cake in a 9×9″ pan.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 2

Trim the top of the cake so there’s an even layer.

#SpoonTip: Use a serrated knife for the easiest cutting.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 3

Using a glass or cookie cutter, cut out 4 small circles of cake.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 4

To make the frosting, cream the butter in with a beater.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 5

Add the powdered sugar, heavy cream and red food coloring until the buttercream is light and thick.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 6

Pile frosting on top of the first cut-out cake and even out the layer of frosting.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 7

Put the other cake cut-out on top of the frosting, and spread a light layer of frosting around the entire cake. Put the cake in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 8

While the cake is in the fridge, melt the almond bark in the microwave in 30-second intervals.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 9

Fill a piping bag with a very small tip with the melted almond bark.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 10

Draw out designs with a permanent marker on wax paper.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 11

Flip the wax paper over, and begin tracing the outline with the almond bark.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 12

Once the chocolate has cooled, peel the chocolate design off the paper.

#SpoonTip: Use the edge of the table to do this without breaking the chocolate, as shown in the photo. Do this 3 more times.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 13

Take the cake out of the fridge and add another layer of frosting.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 14

Gently place every chocolate design on each side of the cake.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 15

Add red sprinkles on top, and then add the final chocolate design on the cake.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Chocolate Strawberry Mousse

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Servings: 8 6-oz portions
  • Easy
Ingredients
  • 1 package vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 package chocolate pudding mix
  • 2 quart heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup diced strawberries
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 8 Strawberries, sliced
  • Whipped cream, for garnish

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 1

Combine the vanilla pudding mix and 1-quart heavy cream in a mixing bowl.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 2

Whip with a wire beater until thick.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 3

While the pudding is mixing, combine the diced strawberries and sugar in a small bowl. Let sit until the mixture is liquid and some syrup is formed. Then, add to the pudding mixture.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 4

Combine the chocolate pudding and other quart of heavy cream. Mix until the same consistency as the vanilla mousse.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 5

Layer the chocolate mousse in a small glass bowl.

#SpoonTip: Layer it at an angle to make it extra fancy.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 6

Layer one sliced strawberry over the chocolate mousse.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 7

Layer the strawberry mousse until the mousse is even with the edge of the glass.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 8

Add whipped cream on top.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Red Velvet Lava Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Servings: 4 cakes
  • Medium
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 4 oz white chocolate
  • 2 cup powdered sugar, divided
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring
  • 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 6 tablespoon flour
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 3 tablespoon milk

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 1

Grease 4 6-oz. ramekins.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 2

Melt the butter and white chocolate together in the microwave in 30-second intervals.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 3

Add 1 cup of the powdered sugar.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 4

Add the eggs and egg yolks.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 5

Stir in the food coloring.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 6

Add the flour and cocoa powder and stir until just combined.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 7

Pour the batter evenly into the ramekins. Bake until the outer edges are done, about 15-20 minutes.

#SpoonTip: If you don’t have ramekins, you can use muffin tins. They will bake for less time, about 7-10 minutes.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 8

In the meantime, microwave the cream cheese until it’s soft.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 9

Add in 1 cup of powdered sugar and the milk until the glaze can be poured.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Step 10

Drizzle the icing onto a plate. Then use that same plate to turn the ramekins over, so the cakes are upside down. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.

Photo by Beth LeValley

Need other ideas for Valentine’s Day? Check out these articles: