:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sugar-cookie-hearts-102864726_horiz-0123-7dcf40623a65413c85af6ef69e2115fe.jpg)
The sweetest way to say "I love you" is with one of these heartfelt, homemade Valentine's Day desserts. Whether you're looking for a treat for your partner, your Galentine's crew, or the co-workers who adore your home baking, you'll find plenty of inspiration in this collection, filled with heart-shaped cakes, cupcakes, and cookies—plus, easy chocolate truffles and decadent mousses and parfaits. Our recipes include desserts for two to share and sweets that feed a crowd. We rate them all above a bunch of red roses any day.
Chocolate-Mousse Parfaits
There's nothing more romantic than a decadent chocolate dessert on Valentine's Day. This make-ahead parfait, which serves two, uses semisweet chocolate and cocoa. A touch of espresso powder enhances the rich chocolate flavor.
Sweetheart Thumbprint Cookies
Show someone special just how much you love them by giving them these sugar cookies with a sweet, jammy filling. They're easy to make, but your sweetheart will never know!
Easy Chocolate Truffles
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/easy-truffles-330d35f5-0221-onecms-a469e3d216e94715835a268c4e2fd471.jpg)
Love saves the day, but these quick truffles will save you a whole lot of time (and rolling). Rather than scooping and shaping each truffle from a rich ganache made with heavy cream and semisweet chocolate. Pour the mixture into a pan, chill it, and slice it into bite-size squares. Toss them in cocoa powder and box them up for a homemade treat your friends will adore.
Coffee Crème Caramel
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/coffee-creme-caramel-6c2b803c-0221-onecms-0dbc1174a38b418f89a15e6198da7613.jpg)
Opposites attract in this elegant Valentine's Day dessert. While the vanilla custard is delicate and creamy, the espresso-inflected caramel sauce comes on with stronger flavors. One silky spoonful, and you'll agree they bring out the best in each other.
Vanilla Heart-Shaped Cake With Raspberry-and-Custard-Filling
A homemade vanilla pastry cream and fresh raspberries are sandwiched between the layers of this cake. They're also used to artfully decorate the top, along with ethereal shredded coconut.
Iced Heart Cookies
It's amazing what you can do with a batch of simple sugar cookies and some pink-and-white royal icing.
Raspberry and Chocolate-Hazelnut Crepe Cake
Consider this the dessert equivalent of holding up the boombox. Paper-thin crepes are stacked between layers of chocolate-hazelnut spread and a raspberry mousse for our romantic Valentine's Day dessert.
Pear Tarte Tatin
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ed104370_0309_des007c_vert-8e87d6bcc243415a9769819a57a281cc-0823-3eb66afddc514e009f8c4f30ad389ea5.jpg)
Pears cooked in butter and sugar and topped with store-bought puff pastry, then baked and inverted for a spectacular dessert.
Coffee-Meringue Acorns
These adorable meringues are shaped with a pastry bag, then dipped in melted chocolate and chopped pistachios or pecans for delicious added crunch.
One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes
Spread the love with these double chocolate cupcakes. You can elevate them by adding a glossy glaze and a special message written in white chocolate. They're the perfect dessert for celebrating Valentine's (or Galentine's) Day.
Dark- and White-Chocolate Shortbread Hearts
More heart cookies! The chocolate flavor in these shortbread cookies is enhanced by the addition of instant espresso powder.
Mini Chocolate Cupcakes With Multicolored Frosting
Create a festive spread of cheerful Valentine's Day cupcakes by decorating them with various colors of frosting and arranging them in the shape of a heart.
Chocolate-Pistachio Tartufo
Two kinds of ice cream—chocolate and pistachio—are layered in this frozen, Italian-inspired dessert that's just right for Valentine's Day. It looks fancy but is easy to make and doesn't require any cooking. Plus, you can replace the ice cream flavors with your sweetheart's favorites to customize it.
Baked Alaska with Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Ice Cream
Win the heart of your partner or pal with this showstopping dessert. There's toasted meringue on the outside and, inside, chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream await.
Chocolate Heart Sandwich Cookies
Sugar cookies are a year-round favorite. To make them Valentine's Day-ready we've added cocoa powder to the mix, cut them into heart shapes, and sandwiched them with a cream filling.
Chocolate Eclair Cake
The favorite French pastry has been turned into a no-bake cake. Layers of vanilla custard, graham crackers, and a rich chocolate ganache chill together into a delicious dessert.
Rice Pudding With Sea Salt-Caramel Sauce
This old-fashioned, timeless treat is just the thing to honor a love for the ages. A sprinkling of flaky sea salt on top contrasts the sweet caramel and rich pudding.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake With Chocolate Glaze
Instead of the usual graham cracker crust, this luscious cheesecake has a crust made with finely ground chocolate wafer cookies. The filling is half peanut butter and half chocolate, and is swirled together for the ultimate marbled dessert.
Chocolate-Dipped Luxardo Cherries
Swap the usual chocolate-dipped strawberries for rich, syrupy Luxardo cherries dunked in chocolate.
No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cup Bars
This is one of Martha's favorite desserts for Valentine's Day. All you need to make this indulgent treat is peanut butter, butter, confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract, and bittersweet chocolate.
Snowball Truffles
These white truffles are made with coconut, white chocolate, cashews, and heavy cream—and that's it, apart from a pinch of salt! They do need multiple hours to chill, so make well in advance.
Chocolate Souffle
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MSL-868486-Chocolate-Souffle-Hero-horiz-0823-751722da28324edb9b98beead3502506.jpg)
Jacob Fox
Light and fluffy souffles can be savory or sweet, and this luscious chocolate dessert version will amaze you. Time the baking so it's ready as soon as you finish your main course—and everyone can witness its impressive loftiness.
Alexis' Heart Cake
Martha's daughter Alexis loves to make this banana and coconut cake (one layer of each) for Valentine's Day. For festive flair, it's frosted with a cream cheese buttercream and covered in flaked coconut.
Coconut Cloud Cake
A fluffy angel food-like cake is baked in a Bundt pan, then sliced and filled with a silky 7-minute frosting. Large coconut flakes add crunch and beauty to the final presentation.
Molten Chocolate-Espresso Cakes
With their gooey centers and chocolate ganache topping, these mini molten lava cakes make a delightful indulgence for Valentine's Day.
Dark Chocolate Truffles
Does your sweetheart like to eat healthy? Then these vegan truffles are the Valentine's Day dessert recipe you need. They're made with coconut oil instead of the usual heavy cream and dare we say, they're better than ever.
Tartlets with Yogurt Pastry Cream and Strawberries
If there's one fruit that's so very right for Valentine's Day, it's strawberries. Here, we layer sliced berries over a lightened-up pastry cream and store-bought, all-butter puff pastry.
Espresso Mousse
A smooth, rich mousse that uses instant espresso powder to get its flavor, this recipe can be made up to a day in advance.
Milk-Chocolate Pudding Pie
A classic diner-style pie, here you get a milk chocolate filling inside a vanilla wafer crust, topped with whipped cream.
Cranberry-Pistachio Biscotti
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/1035_recipe_biscotti20_hd-613f7603dd3744388ac11c257655f51d.jpg)
Finish off a romantic Valentine's dinner with a plate of these delectable crunchy biscotti served alongside coffee or tea for dipping.
Cherry-Raspberry Semifreddo
Cherries and raspberries create a vibrant red hue for this make-ahead Valentine's Day dessert. A few tablespoons of elderflower liqueur adds a bouquet of floral flavors.
Triple-Chocolate Mousse Cakes
If there's one day that's made to impress, it's Valentine's Day. So, why not serve a dessert that will knock someone's socks off? This sweet recipe needs to be made at least four hours in advance, which gives you plenty of time to spend with your loved ones during the holiday.
Chocolate-Flecked Layer Cake With Milk Chocolate Frosting
Go big or go home on Valentine's Day. That's why we recommend baking this multi-layered cake stuffed with finely chopped chocolate and topped with a lighter chocolate frosting.
Chocolate Pots de Crème For Two
Make this romantic French-inspired dessert for Valentine's Day. We've scaled down the serving size so that it makes enough for just you and your sweetheart.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(2802x0:2804x2)/MSL-1140966-chocolate-raspberry-cake-hero-3x2-67651-8764439d11824baba1c9d6f013503ebb.jpeg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(621x0:623x2)/roberta-heart-cakes-swiss-meringue-buttercream-8vOT_QdZ4ycAgmkTwkAoWw-0222-horiz-0123-236cdcef1200438296918e89328d9924.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1499x0:1501x2)/ms--raspberry-custard-filled-vanilla-heart-cake-4bc947ff2da647f8922faeadc7c6b9f1.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1999x0:2001x2)/ms-xo-cinnamon-toast-yogurt-0218-103228725.jpg--a5a8ec5a32b14be6b1bfe10980789916.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/chocolatecookies-5eade5168a1c42d795c52c95e1ae6ce5.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/chocolate-mousse-parfaits-7877-11413491-095a4f4c2281456fbb424f248e7f4d80.jpg)