5 Valentine's Day Desserts That'll Warm Your Heart

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means: people everywhere are gearing up for this annual holiday of love and appreciation. An iconic part of Valentine's Day is the food; as it has been said, the way to the heart is through the stomach! Here are 5 Valentine's Day Desserts that'll warm your heart (and the ones around you!).

1. Valentine Sandwich Cookies

Let's face it, what is Valentine's Day without its classic symbol—i hearts? Valentine sandwich cookies are the best way to incorporate hearts into your Valentine's Day menu. Plus, they are tasty and sure to enhance your special day.

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix

1 tablespoon flour

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 egg

Granulated sugar

1 cup white frosting (from 12 oz container)

Red food coloring

Directions:

1) Heat the oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix and flour until well blended. Add butter and egg; stir until soft dough forms.

2) On a floured surface, roll dough to about 1/8 inch-thickness. Cut with 2 1/4-inch heart shaped cookie cutter. Generously cover large piece of of waxed paper with granulated sugar. Transfer cutouts to waxed paper using pancake turner. Turn each cutout to coat both sides. Place on cookie sheet (not greased).

3) Bake 5-6 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely-- about 15 minutes.

4. Divide frosting into six small bowls. Add the following different amounts of red liquid food color to one of each of the bowls: 1 drop, 3 drops, 7 drops, 12 drops and 25 drops. Stir with toothpick to create different shades of pink.

5. For each cookie sandwich, spread about 1 teaspoon frosting on the bottom of 1 cooled cookie. Top with second cookie, bottom side down; gently press cookies together.

2. Chocolate/Candy Covered Pretzels

Chocolate covered pretzels are a special treat that are not too difficult to create. They provide a great blend of salty and sweet! This dessert is a great option for those who want to eat something other than only chocolate and candy on February 14th.

Ingredients:

1 bag of pretzels/pretzel rods

1 package of chocolate or any other candy coating

Assorted sprinkles

Directions:

1) Melt chocolate/candy according to package directions

2) Line two baking sheets with parchment paper

3) Dip each pretzel individually into the melted chocolate/candy

4) Tap pretzel to gently shake off excess chocolate/candy coating

5) Sprinkle with sprinkles of choice

6) Place finished pretzels on wax paper and allow to dry for approximately 30 minutes. Store in a covered container.    

3. Heart-Shaped Cookies and Milk

Celebrate the annual day of love with some good ol' fashioned milk and cookies! However, this recipe puts an exciting twist on the classic treat. Why have just milk and just cookies, when you can combine the two in a clever way?

Ingredients:

1 milk glass

Any type of milk

Straw

1 heart cookie (can be store bought)

Small fondant cutter/paring knife

Directions:

1) Using a small fondant cutter/paring knife, create a hole in the center of a heart-shaped cookie

2) Fill milk glass with milk

3) Place cookie on top of milk glass

4) Insert straw through hole in cookie

5) Enjoy!

4. Fruit and Brownie Trifles

Everyone likes kabobs, so why not create a dessert version of them? This glass full of alternating sweets will definitely bring a smile to your face and the hungry faces around you!

Ingredients:

For the brownies:

7 ounces unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped

3/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup water

1 cup sugar 

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon extract

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 pints raspberries

Mini chocolate chips (for garnish)

For the whipped cream:

1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream

1/3 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

For the brownies:

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.

2) In a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat, combine the chocolate, butter and water. Cook and stir until the chocolate and butter are melted.

3) Mix the ingredients until they are combined, and then add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix for 2 minutes. Add the flour and salt, and mix until combined.

4) Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

5) Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack.

6) Once the brownies have cooled completely, invert the pan onto a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch brownie croutons.

For the whipped cream:

1) Whisk the heavy cream, sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.

Assemble the trifles:

1) Fill each serving dish with alternating layers of brownie croutons, whipped cream and raspberries. Garnish each trifle with a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips and serve immediately.

5. Raspberry Meringue Hearts

Meringues are a special snack enjoyed by many. These special Valentine-themed ones are sweet and delicious, so they are definitely worth adding into your day's agenda. 

Ingredients:

Whites from 3 large eggs-- room temperature

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar or cider vinegar

3/4 cups of granulated sugar

1 tsp. raspberry extract

1 tsp. red food coloring

Parchment paper

2 1/2 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter

Pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch plain tip or large sturdy ziptop bag with a 1/2 inch corner snipped off

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 225°F. Cover 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

2) With a cookie cutter and a pencil, trace 16 hearts evenly spaced on each piece of paper. Invert parchment so tracings are facing down.

3) Beat egg whites with cream of tartar in a large bowl at a medium speed. At a higher speed, gradually add sugar and beat 8 minutes or until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture no longer feels grainy. Beat in extract and food color until blended.

4) Spoon mixture into prepared pastry bag. Using heart tracings as a guide, pipe an outline, then continue to pipe concentric smaller hearts within the outline until heart is completely filled with meringue.

5) Bake 2 hours or until meringues feel firm. Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven 2 hours or overnight until hearts are crisp and dry

This Valentine's Day, consider creating one of the delectable desserts mentioned above. Baking is a great way to demonstrate your love to people of all ages, including yourself! This day is all about spending time with your loved ones... so why not bring some tasty treats into the mix?