30 Irresistible Chocolate Desserts for Valentine's Day

Sweeten up your loved one's day with a classic.

fudgy brownie cake
Credit: Chris Court

There's no better way to say "I love you" than with delightful, decadent chocolate desserts for Valentine's Day. But better than any box of store-bought bonbons is a homemade dessert or treat to share. Whether you enjoy it with your partner, the family, or a group of friends is up to you, but we're offering a stellar selection of cacao recipes just right for the holiday of love.

01 of 30

Chocolate Heart-Shaped Cakes With Buttercream

flourless chocolate heart mini cakes topped with swiss-meringue buttercream
Credit: Johnny Miller

Mini flourless chocolate cakes get a flavor boost from dark rum and instant espresso. They puff up slightly in the oven, then set into a delicate, truffle-like consistency as they cool. Piped meringue buttercream decorations are the finishing touch that takes these decadent treats over the top.

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Loaf-Pan Buckeye Brownies

loaf-pan buckeye brownies
Credit: David Malosh

Bake brownies in a loaf pan using our small-batch recipe when you need a smaller amount of decadent treats. Inspired by buckeye candies—an old-fashioned confection of chocolate-dipped peanut butter fudge—they are run through with a ribbon of rich peanut butter cream that takes on a caramel flavor in the oven.

03 of 30

Milk Chocolate-Pistachio Tart

Milk Chocolate-Pistachio Tart
Credit: Johnny Miller

Milk chocolate and pistachio is a blissful combination, as this tart shows. The best part? You'll find pistachios everywhere in this dessert—embedded in the crust, in a paste layered beneath the milk-chocolate filling, and in a dusted coating on top. 

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Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar

dark chocolate walnut date bar
Credit: Sidney Bensimon

It's rich and indulgent but also free of refined sugar and eggs and gluten-free. This dessert bar is our top choice for anyone with dietary restrictions or who prefers a healthier dessert.

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​​Molten Chocolate-Espresso Cakes

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Credit: Yuki Sugiura

For a quick chocolate fix for your valentine, turn to these easy mini cakes. Serve them plain, or topped with a bit of ganache and a sprinkling of pistachios or a touch of flaky sea salt.

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

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Sweet messages written in white chocolate adorn these easy one-bowl chocolate cupcakes.

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Vanilla Pudding Pie

vanilla pudding pie
Credit: Kate Mathis

For white chocolate lovers, there's this creamy, dreamy pie with white chocolate in the silky vanilla filling and a chocolate wafer cookie crust.

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Mile-High Triple-Chocolate-Espresso Mousse Pie

mile high triple chocolate espresso mousse pie
Credit: Christopher Testani

A chocolate dessert that deserves a pedestal. This lavish sweet has two different chocolate mousses layered over a chocolate wafer crust. On top is an espresso cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

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Chocolate-Olive Oil Crisps

chocolate-olive oil crisps served on a blue plate
Credit: Johnny Miller

Made with olive oil instead of butter, these cookies have a crisp texture and a more intense cocoa flavor. Serve them to your sweetheart on their own or with scoops of fruit sorbet.

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Hot Chocolate With Marshmallow Hearts

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Give a sweet new meaning to the idea of "warm hearts" when you plop fluffy homemade marshmallow cut-outs into rich, creamy hot cocoa.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

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It's so easy to make your own version of this classic, coveted Valentine's Day treat. Coat the chocolate-dipped strawberries in pistachios as shown in this recipe, or branch out with other kinds of nuts, coconut, crushed cookies, edible glitter, and more fun surprises.

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Chocolate-Mousse Parfaits

Chocolate-Mousse Parfait Desserts
Credit: Justin Walker

Espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor in this light and luscious make-ahead mousse.

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Chocolate Heart Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes with milk-chocolate frosting
Credit: Kate Mathis

Sometimes love is black and white, as in these adorable heart-adorned chocolate-cherry cupcakes topped with vanilla bean frosting.

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Dipped Chocolate Truffles

Dipped Chocolate Truffles
Credit: Sang An

What's more decadent than a truffle? One that's enrobed in chocolate. These in particular make gift-worthy bonbons for your valentine.

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No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cup Bars

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Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

Sweet, fluffy peanut butter filling luxuriates between two blankets of dark chocolate in our homemade version of the classic candy. Swirl peanut butter hearts on top for an extra-loving touch.

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Dark-and-White-Chocolate Shortbread Hearts

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Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

Your Valentine's heart will grow four sizes when you present them with these beautiful (and totally Instagram-worthy) layered shortbread cookies.

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Chocolate-Pistachio Tartufo

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Credit: Bryan Gardner

Layers of ice cream and cookie crumbs coated in chocolate make the perfect romantic dessert for sharing. Grab two spoons and dive in to discover the two surprise maraschino cherries inside.

18 of 30

Whoopie Hearts With Raspberry Meringue

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Credit: Burcu Avsar

Make your Valentine shout "whoopeeee!" with these heart-shaped chocolate whoopie pies, filled with fluffy pink raspberry meringue.

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Fudgy Brownie Cake

fudgy brownie cake
Credit: Chris Court

Simple yet seductive, this dense, almost-flourless cake is pure chocolate bliss. Serve with an understated dusting of cocoa powder or dial up your garnish game with berries and whipped cream.

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Chocolate Pots de Creme

Chocolate Pots de Creme For Two

These elegant chocolate custards will transport you to a romantic French bistro with every silky bite.

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Chocolate Eclair Cake

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Credit: Mike Krautter Photography

Declare your love with a decadent dessert. It's easy but seems fancy, this no-bake cake is an all-round winner. All the cooking that's needed for our chocolate eclair cake is for the vanilla pudding or custard that's the filling.

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Vegan Chocolate Cake

mandy vegan chocolate cake
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Use your favorite dairy-free creamer to concoct this decadent vegan chocolate-mocha layer cake.

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Baked Chocolate Cake Donuts

rows of doughnuts on green countertop
Credit: Will Anderson

Cocoa powder and chocolate chips enrich the batter for these baked beauties, and each one is finished with glaze and sprinkles or more chocolate, in the form of shavings.

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Chocolate Beet Cake

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Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Puréed beets are the healthy secrets behind this moist, ganache-coated chocolate cake.

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Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

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Credit: Bryan Gardner

Cookies, like love, are meant to be shared, and there's plenty to go around when you bake up this great big chocolate-chip beauty.

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Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes

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Credit: Con Poulos

Achieve ultimate chocolate nirvana in these chocolate cupcakes filled with milk-chocolate pudding, coated in milk-chocolate ganache, and decked out with chocolate curls.

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Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Chocolate-Raspberry Cake
Credit:

Brie Goldman

Our chocolate raspberry cake is a layered creation loaded with decadent chocolate flavor. It features three layers of cake, a homemade raspberry filling, and a creamy chocolate frosting—all that is left is for the love birds to enjoy!

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Flourless Chocolate-Date Cake With Salted-Caramel Sauce

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Credit: Marcus Nilsson

A seductive mixture of dates and bourbon is at the base of this sophisticated cake.

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Chocolate Mousse Pie With Phyllo Crust

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Credit: Kate Mathis

Crisp, buttery layers of phyllo dough are coated in a layer of chocolate and then heaped with fluffy chocolate mousse in this all-new interpretation of chocolate cream pie.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Semifreddo With Caramel Corn

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Semifreddo
Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Semifreddo is Italian for "half-cold," and this dessert is a mousse-like riff on ice cream cake. This one is for the chocolate and peanut butter lovers among us, with meringue folded into dark chocolate and PB ganaches, layered in a loaf pan, and frozen. To knock it out of the park, serve it with our extra-nutty rendition of Cracker Jack.

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