20 Sweet Ideas for Valentine’s Day: Show Them You Care
Sneak Preview: Looking for some sweet ideas for Valentine’s Day? There’s something here to make everyone happy.
Do you have a traditional recipe you make for Valentine’s Day? If so, I’m impressed. Such traditions make life easier–fewer decisions. If you don’t have such a tradition yet, have a look at this collection for some ideas.
If you’re looking for something to take to a Valentine’s party, don’t miss my hints for choosing the best recipe. Keep reading below.
How To Choose the Best Recipes To Take to a Party
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have an easy way to transport this recipe?
- Will it still be good if I have to make it the day/night before?
- Does this recipe need to be chilled ahead of time?
- Will there be refrigerator space when I get there if the recipe needs to stay cold?
- Will the food be sitting out for a while? If so, will it still be delicious (and safe) at room temperature?
- Will this recipe still look appetizing after several people have served themselves? Mini-tarts, cookies, nuts, or cupcakes might be good choices for a buffet situation.
It helps to choose something others besides yourself would like to eat, unless you want to take it all back home and have a party of one.
I like to take something so delicious that I take an empty plate home. When I make deviled eggs, this is guaranteed. Why do you think that is? Do you have a guaranteed winner in your pocket?
Whether you want to make breakfast fun, make a dessert special, or give a gift from your kitchen, I hope you find something you like here.
21 Sweet Recipes for Valentine’s Day You’ll Want To Share
Iced Shortbread Cookie Recipe
A simple but delicious shortbread cookie with smooth butter icing. Kids and adults alike love these.
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Leftover Cookie Truffles Recipe
These truffles are made from crumbled baked chocolate chip cookies formed into balls, then dipped into chocolate
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Spicy Dark Chocolate Pecan Bark: A Simple and Irresistible Treat
Tempered dark chocolate is studded with spicy pecans for a memorable sweet and spicy flavor delight. It’s a great way to meet your chocolate requirement.
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Microwave Brownie Recipe
You no longer need to keep tempting cookies in the pantry for unexpected company. These Microwave Brownies are easy enough for kids to mix up and bake.
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Sweet Mascarpone Cheesecake Mini Tarts
A no-bake filling featuring mascarpone cheese makes these two-bite cheesecake mini-tarts easy to make ahead of time. Garnish with the fruit of your choice.
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Baked Strawberry Donuts: A Fun Breakfast Treat
Frosted Strawberry Cake Donuts are bursting with strawberry flavor from jello and fresh strawberries, topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting. Add a sprinkle of colored sugar for a fun, kid-friendly treat!
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Chocolate Ganache Tartlet Recipe
These mini chocolate tarts or tartlets feature chocolate or vanilla-flavored homemade shortbread crusts. Fill them with a rich but effortless bittersweet chocolate ganache.
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Angel Food Birthday Cake with Chocolate Ganache
This showstopper of a cake layers classic angel food with a rich cocoa swirl, fluffy whipped cream icing, and a smooth chocolate ganache drizzle. Chill before serving for the cleanest slices. Best eaten within a day or two.
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Candied Pecans (Microwave Recipe)
Make these sweet and shiny candied nuts with a microwave in about ten minutes with only two ingredients. Great for parties, snacks, and salads.
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Ultimate Mini Fruit Tarts with a Buttery Shortbread Crust
These shortbread-crusted tarts are filled with a light, creamy custard made in the microwave (no need for a double boiler), and then topped with the fresh fruit of your choice.
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Tangzhong Cinnamon Rolls (Bread Machine Version)
These cinnamon rolls are pillowy, flavorful, and built to last. The Tangzhong method makes the crumb more tender than a typical homemade roll, and the bread machine simplifies prep. You’ll love the balance of cinnamon and brown sugar with just a hint of clove.
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Green Parrot Chocolate Fudge Pie: Rich, Velvety, and Irresistible
This pie is all about a velvety chocolate texture contrasted with a flaky crust and whipped cream or powdered sugar topping. It’s an indescribable treat for your taste buds.
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Goat Cheese Muffins with Strawberries Recipe
An easy strawberry-balsamic sauce combines with goat cheese to make a memorable breakfast muffin that is a copycat of the one sold at the Central Market Bakery.
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Zebra Cream Pie
This layered chocolate and vanilla cream pie is nestled in a chocolate crumb crust. Directions are for cooking the cream filling in a microwave oven.
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Easy Orange Waffles with Pecans Recipe
Orange Pecan Waffles are Belgian waffles flavored with orange juice, zest and pecans. Breakfast was never so much fun.
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How To Make a Chocolate Cream Pie with Microwave Magic
Whip up this chocolate cream pie with a filling made in the microwave, then nestled into a graham cracker pie crust. Top with whipped cream and more chocolate.
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Mini Black and White Cookies: A Party-Ready Classic
This Mini Black and White Cookies recipe is smaller than the classic cookie but fresher and tastier than the average store-bought black and white cookie.
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Braided Cinnamon Bread (Bread Machine Dough)
This Braided Cinnamon Bread is in the same family as decadent cinnamon rolls–directions for mixing and kneading in a bread machine included.
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French Silk Pie Recipe with a Pecan Cookie Crust
This French Silk Pie combines a creamy chocolate filling with a buttery pecan cookie crust. No whipped topping in the filling—just real eggs, butter, and melted chocolate for a rich, mousse-like texture. A sprinkle of chopped Heath or Skor bars adds a sweet, crunchy finish. A longtime family favorite at Thanksgiving and Christmas!
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Questions? Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com. Hope to see you again soon!
Paula Rhodes, owner
As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.