56 Delicious Valentine's Day Dessert Recipes That Are Better Than a Box of Chocolates

By BH&G Holiday Editors
Updated January 16, 2020
Carson Downing
Sweeten your Valentine's Day with a scrumptious, romantic, or heart-shape dessert recipe. Whether your sweetie likes rich chocolate desserts, berry pies, or creme brulee, you're sure to win hearts with a delicious Valentine's Day dessert.
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Jam-Filled Hand Pies

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There's more to pie than the slice. These pretty hand pies are the perfect way to indulge without having to share. We think they're best filled with strawberry jam or chocolate hazelnut spread.

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Valentine's Cake

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This Valentine's Day cake is a showstopper! Topped with colorful heart sugar cookies and plenty of sprinkles, this party-worthy dessert is easy and impressive. It's covered with a luscious almond whipped cream frosting and filled with tart strawberry-rhubarb jam.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

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These beautiful red velvet bars are the perfect Valentine's Day treat. Be sure to add a drizzle of chocolate over the yummy red velvet cheesecake filling.

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Dark Chocolate Pudding

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Valentine's Day is the perfect time to indulge in something decadent. This rich dark chocolate pudding is just that—with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon. Top each bowl with a swirled heart made from whipped cream.

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Double-Mint Chocolate Cookies

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Calling all mint- and chocolate-lovers: These cookies were made for you. Wrap store-bought chocolate-mint patties in a homemade chocolate dough and bake. To finish, top the Valentine's Day cookies with Kisses chocolates.

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Red Velvet Heart Cookies

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Red velvet cake takes cookie form in these adorable Valentine's Day sweets. Add designs with our free stencils and a shake of powdered sugar. These sugar-dusted treats also make a wonderful DIY gift.

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Fudgy Cherry and Port Brownies

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Step up your brownie game this Valentine's Day with these chewy and decadent treats filled with dry cherries. Top with fresh raspberries for more fruity flavor.

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Cherry Cobbler

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There is nothing better than an old-fashioned cherry cobbler, so why not try making one this Valentine's Day? The fruit dessert is topped with spoonfuls of sweet biscuit dough that turn golden brown when baked. For variety, replace the cherries with blueberries, peaches, or apples.

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Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake

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This Valentine's Day cake recipe is a total showstopper. Layer our rich buttermilk almond cake with piles of whipped cream and fresh strawberry sauce.

Test Kitchen Tip: To get the classic flavors and texture of tres leches cake, we recommend soaking the cake for at least three hours or overnight.

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Best-Ever Vanilla Pudding

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Love is sure to be in the air when you serve this simple vanilla pudding decorated with heart-shape sprinkles. The silky dessert is easy to whip up and can be served hot or cold.

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Lemon Verbena Ice Cream Pie

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This easy Valentine's Day dessert recipe starts with a homemade lemon verbena ice cream. Spoon the finished ice cream into a ginger shortbread crust and top with a sprinkle of edible flowers like roses or phlox.

Test Kitchen Tip: Be sure to use edible flowers that are meant for consumption.

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Red Velvet Cupcakes

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Red velvet could vie for the title Official Flavor of Valentine's Day (if it weren't for that pesky dark chocolate that always seems to take the win). These cupcakes hit all the holiday high notes: Taste, color, and a powdered-sugar dusting in the shape of a heart. Get the look by placing a heart-shape cookie on top before sprinkling.

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Bourbon Cranberry Cookies

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Something sweet (oat-and-chocolate cookies) with something salty (flaked sea salt) with something indulgent (3-ingredient Bourbon Ganache) makes an adults-only cookie that your valentine will swoon for.

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Chocolate Bread Pudding

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As dessert or a luscious breakfast, this rich chocolaty bread pudding is Valentine's Day baking on-point. Don't skimp on the decadent homemade chocolate ganache drizzle.

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Red Velvet Heart Cake

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Bake a heart-shape cake for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day. Rows of almonds, raspberries, maraschino cherries, and icing stripe this chocolate-frosted red velvet cake for a sweet and romantic dessert.

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White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

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These Valentine's Day shortbread cookies get their pink and red color from maraschino cherries and red food coloring. Nonpareils and edible glitter give them an extra touch.

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Gooey Chocolate Pudding Cakes

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Creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread and rich chocolate swirl together in these gooey chocolate pudding cakes. Coffee or vanilla ice cream and sliced strawberries complete the indulgent chocolate Valentine's Day dessert.

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Strawberry Crepes

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Whether as a sweet Valentine's Day dessert or a special wake-up breakfast on February 14, do-it-yourself crepes are a delicious way to celebrate the day.

Test Kitchen Tip: Cut the tops of the sliced strawberries so they look like little hearts.

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Chocolate-Pistachio Heart Cookies

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These nutty cookies are almost too pretty to eat! Dip half of each finished chocolate cookie into melted chocolate and pistachios. These heart-shape desserts are perfect for Valentine's Day, but feel free to vary the shape depending on the season.

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Dark Chocolate Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream

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Brownie-textured cake layers are topped with smooth, rich buttercream frosting. The result? A decadent Valentine's Day cake enjoyed by chocolate and fruit lovers alike.

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Fresh Strawberry Bars

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These strawberry bars boast a peanut butter base, which can be made and frozen ahead of time. In a pinch, simply thaw and top with strawberries and jam.

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Jelly Doughnut Cake

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Take a love of doughnuts to the next level. Layers of cream filling and ruby red jam between soft yellow cake mimic your sweetheart's favorite breakfast treat.

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Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cakes

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This delightful pairing of rich dark chocolate and sweet-tart raspberries makes for the perfect Valentine's Day dessert. Chocolate truffle icing adds a sweet touch.

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Chocolate Cannoli

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For a fancy finish to your romantic Valentine's Day dinner, serve your loved one a chocolaty twist on classic Italian cannoli. Rolled up with love in a homemade chocolate shell, creamy ricotta cheese flavored with cocoa and orange peel gets a gorgeous garnish from shaved dark chocolate.

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Sparkling Grapefruit Sorbet Floats

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Prepare a Valentine's Day dessert that shines with the help of bubbly Prosecco. Pour the fizzy drink onto homemade grapefruit sorbet and scoops of vanilla ice cream for a sparkling sweet-tart indulgence.

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Cinnamon Sugar Sticks

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Shortbread-like sticks make great companions for cinnamon candies. Bake and cut the sticks, then dip in white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed cinnamon candies.

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Double-Cherry Slab Pie

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Gooey cherry filling is the key to charming your sweetheart on Valentine's Day. To thicken the fruity filling in this slab pie, we incorporated cornflakes with the cherries. Use heart-shape cookie cutters for a sweet reveal.

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Triple-Chocolate Cake Balls

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Our Best-Ever Chocolate Cake mixes with cream cheese and graham cracker. Dunk the chocolately cake balls in more chocolate, then top with cocoa powder!

Test Kitchen Tip: Finish your homemade Valentine's Day candies with red heart sprinkles.

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Raspberry-Chocolate Frozen Dessert

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Drizzled in chocolate sauce, this custardlike dessert gets a boost of elegance from fresh raspberries, toasted almonds, and dreamy dark chocolate. The easy Valentine's Day recipe is sweetened with honey rather than sugar for a more natural sweetness.

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Double-Chocolate Brownies

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Fudgy, almond-studded brownies topped with a love note make a swoon-inducing Valentine's Day dessert worthy of true love. Don't skimp on the chocolate frosting—heavy whipping cream gives it a smooth, velvety finish.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

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The ultimate "I love you" treat is a box of chocolate-covered strawberries. Here's how to make the easy Valentine's Day dessert at home. Customize them with your favorite toppings like shredded coconut, sprinkles, and chopped nuts.

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Valentine's Day Cookie Cutouts Three Ways

Carson Downing
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These Valentine's Day sugar cookies start with one batch of basic dough. We'll show you how to decorate them using three simple techniques. For a Midas touch, finish the baked cookies with a touch of gold luster dust.

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Lavender-Lemon Pudding Cakes

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Softly sweet lavender infuses these mini lemon pudding cups with light ambrosial flavor. Make this personal Valentine's dessert in heart-shape ramekins to show extra love.

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Fruity Ombre Cheesecake

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There's no dye in this pretty Valentine's Day cheesecake recipe! Freeze-dried fruit gives this decadent sweet its color and flavor. Finish the cheesecake with whipped cream, fresh berries, and colorful sprinkles.

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