60 Valentine’s Day Desserts Worth Swooning Over

We’re pretty sure that when people say, “love is in the air” around Valentine’s Day, what they’re actually referring to is dessert! Because, who can resist the aroma of a sweet, frosting-covered cake? Or a batch of freshly baked cupcakes or cookies? We know we can’t. In fact, there’s nothing we adore more than a sweet treat, lovingly made by our special someone. That’s the inspiration behind this collection of recipes. Whether you want a chocolate indulgence, a dessert infused with roses or a pretty-in-pink treat, you're you’re sure to find just what you're looking for. And, no matter what you choose, your Valentine will love it. One of our favorites? This clever cake that’s inspired by a boxed-chocolate favorite: cordial cherries. The cake is layered with a candied-cherry mousse and covered in a rich chocolate ganache—making this one cake that lives up to the promise of being swoon-worthy.

There’s no need to commit to a big-batch dessert for a date night. This recipe for whoopie pies with rich cream cheese frosting sandwiched between tender red velvet cookies is perfectly portioned for two. Plus, you can have them ready in just an hour, including cooling, and no electric mixer or special equipment is needed.

Whether it’s a date night or you’re celebrating with the whole family, this creamy dip is the perfect end to a Valentine’s Day meal. Dark cocoa powder gives it a deep rich color, but if you don’t have any on hand, substitute regular unsweetened cocoa powder; the finished dip will just be a little lighter in color. We’re serving ours with strawberries, but feel free to use other fruit or even plain crisp cookies for dippers.

Silky-smooth custard infused with real vanilla bean gets a caramelized sugar topping for that satisfying crack, while fresh raspberries add a bright, juicy finish to every spoonful.

Layers of rich chocolate pudding, whipped cream and sweet berries come together in this no-bake treat that’s as indulgent as it is eye-catching. It’s the perfect way to end a romantic dinner or share something special with someone sweet.

While most cake rolls seem time consuming and daunting, this version is foolproof, thanks to an easy and fun method of assembling the cake layer. We added delicious strawberries and dark chocolate for the ultimate dessert.

Whether you are looking for a homemade gift for someone special or a fun holiday activity with kids, these sugar cookies couldn’t be simpler, tastier or more beautiful. We take the buttery and perfectly crisp rounds and dip them into colored icing, resulting in a marbled and jewel-like effect that’ll surely impress your valentine. Swap out the cookie cutter shapes and colors to create cookies for any holiday or special occasion.

No one, in the history of mankind, has ever lost anything from learning how to make this gooey restaurant dessert at home. From start to finish, Ree's version takes 20 minutes tops.

Minimal baking is required to impress your Valentine. All you need to do is bake the crust and this cheesecake's filling overflows with hearts and love.

These Valentine's Day cookies have a red heart center and are covered in festive sprinkles for a sweet, nostalgic treat. Getting the heart in the center of the round cookies for slice-and-bake simplicity is easier than you might think: All you’ll need is a small heart-shaped cutter and a gentle touch handling the dough. It’s a sweetheart of a cookie that’s as fun to bake as it is to eat.

Adding strawberries to a red velvet cake is a fun twist on the classic chocolate-and-strawberry combo. While there's not as much cocoa powder in a red velvet cake as there is a traditional chocolate cake, a little bit goes a long way when the cocoa is bloomed in hot coffee to boost its flavor. Whole strawberries hidden inside the cream cheese filling make a dramatic reveal when the cake is sliced open.

If you're going for something a little more elegant, this luscious chocolate tart is a good way to go.

This adorably pink snack mix is a simple and tasty Valentine's Day treat, thanks to the combination of two cereals that add varying texture and crunch. Heart-shaped sprinkles make it extra festive, but you can use any sprinkles you have on hand.

Daifuku are a popular wagashi (Japanese confection) consisting of the chewy rice-flour dough known as mochi wrapped around a sweet filling. Anko (sweet red bean paste) is one of the most common fillings, here paired with strawberries (ichigo). Other fillings include white bean paste, whole soybeans, and the popular ice cream. Strawberry daifuku are often served in the spring, but they're a fun treat to serve for Valentine’s Day, especially when tinted pink. For an authentic experience, enjoy this sweet with a cup of green tea. And remember that the mochi coating is very chewy, so savor your daifuku in small bites.

If you can make a meringue, you can make marshmallows. Marshmallows are simply meringues that have some gelatin mixed in. This version is wonderfully tasty thanks to the concentrated flavor of powdered freeze-dried raspberries. Plus they’re decorated with heart shapes, making them perfect to share with that someone special! Raspberry pairs wonderfully with chocolate, so pour a mug of hot cocoa and top it with a raspberry marshmallow for an extra-special cozy treat. 

Strawberries are great, but you know what else tastes amazing covered in chocolate?

Take chocolate-covered strawberries to a whole new level this Valentine's Day by baking the ingredients into a decadent cake. And don't stop there! Garnish your creation with more strawberries and drizzled semisweet and white chocolate for a true celebration of this perfect flavor pairing.

You don't need a guide for this box of chocolates -- every treat is a cupcake!

For this festive chocolate bark, pretzels are encased in both bittersweet and white chocolate. Cherry juice-infused dried cranberries and crushed freeze-dried strawberries give a fruity and fun twist to this otherwise classic chocolate bark recipe.

There's nothing humbler, more comforting, than homemade chocolate pudding. If someone made this for you, wouldn't you fall in love with them?

This fruity cake makes for a decadent Valentine's Day treat. Velvety raspberry mousse stands in stark contrast to the dark chocolate cake, which is enrobed in a snowy white chocolate ganache.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are the quintessential Valentine's Day sweet. Here they adorn a strawberry-packed no-bake cheesecake with a chocolate cake bottom — share a slice with your main squeeze.

Dark chocolate ganache balances a rich, dense coconut filling in this luxurious cake, inspired by the classic tropical-meets-chocolate candy.

Give your valentine a new kind of chocolate-covered strawberry this year — made of ice cream!

This is our most-popular Valentine's Day recipe. Follow it and you'll be on your way to chocolate-covered success!

Crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur that tastes wonderful with berries, is the perfect counter to the dark chocolate molten cake base in this romantic dessert.

This chocolate breakup cake is bittersweet in more ways than one! It’s a perfect solo treat on Valentine’s Day. Since there’s no reason to share, take a big bite directly from the center of the cake—it’s so satisfying!

Like a chocolate truffle oozing caramel from its core, this pleasantly bitter caramel creme-filled chocolate cake is sweetened on the outside with a smooth milk chocolate ganache.

Nothing says "I love you" like these adorable pink marshmallows dipped in chocolate.

For a low-key Valentine's Day dessert, simply swirl together white and dark melted chocolates — then top with any of your favorite Cupid-approved candies.

Light and elegant, this chocolate dessert only calls for a small handful of ingredients — and it's flourless to boot!

For that person who feels nothing but daggers toward Valentine's Day, we gift you a cake that will crack you up. It's pretty cathartic to make, and it's delicious too.

A chewy brownie bottom, juicy strawberries and decadent cheesecake — this dessert is layered with flavors you'll want to share with your main squeeze.

The Pioneer Woman's take on blossom cookies get a Valentine's Day makeover.