- Recipes
Valentine's Day
Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
updated Feb 12, 2021
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Whether you’re a big-time romantic or you use February 14th as an excuse to spend time in the kitchen with your kids, nothing is sweeter than homemade Valentine’s Day treats. So we scoured the web and polled our team to come up with 10 mega-cute, totally easy Valentine’s treat recipes absolutely anyone can make.
These treats are so easy, in fact, you could practically make them using just the accompanying GIFs. But don’t worry, we also included a complete recipe for each. Make or bake them all and share them with friends and neighbors, or choose your favorite treat for whatever your Valentine’s Day celebration looks like.
1. Heart-Shaped Vanilla Cupcakes
Cupcakes are a quintessential Valentine’s Day treat, and for good reason. They’re super-cute, easy to serve, and even easier to eat — no utensils required. You don’t even need a special pan to bake these into hearts, just a little bit of foil in your standard cupcake pan. This recipe makes 24 cupcakes, perfect for any classroom or office parties this week.
Recipe: Heart-Shaped Vanilla Cupcakes
2. Valentine’s Day Oreo Truffles
If you’re going to make one treat for Valentine’s Day with your kids, let it be this one. Crushing the Oreos, rolling the creamy centers, and dipping each orb in chocolate is meditative enough that you’ll have your kids’ full attention for at least 20 minutes. Then, you can share the results with neighbors and family friends.
Recipe: Valentine’s Day Oreo Truffles
3. Fiery Kettle Corn
This Red Hots-flavored popcorn is a not-too-sweet treat that’s also a great way to use up any candies leftover from gingerbread-house-making over Christmas. It’s sure to be a hit at a Galentine’s get-togethers, and it’s also a great gluten-free option.
Recipe: Fiery Kettle Corn
4. Three-Ingredient Edible Playdough
Edible playdough is the ultimate treat, because kids can play with it and then safely eat it! It’s also a really great recipe to have in your back-pocket because it doubles as faux-fondant for decorating cakes.
Recipe: 3-Ingredient Edible Playdough
5. Red Velvet Rice Krispies Treats
Rice Krispies treats win every holiday for their ease and ability to delight crowds of all ages. This red velvet-inspired version is totally festive and just a little bit chocolatey — perfect for a small gatherings.
Recipe: Red Velvet Rice Krispies Treats
6. Dark Heart Brownies
These brownies are for both the chocolate-lovers and Valentine’s cynics among us. Rich chocolate brownies get topped with a thick dark chocolate ganache and more dark chocolate in the form of candy hearts.
Recipe: Dark Heart Brownies
7. Sweetheart Snack Mix
Slightly sweet and slightly salty, this crispy-crunchy snack mix is a wonderful treat for preschoolers — or just a really festive snack to have on hand this week. All you need is a bunch of cereal and your favorite mix-ins. Sprinkles don’t hurt either.
Recipe: Sweetheart Snack Mix
8. 2-Ingredient Strawberry Sweetheart Fudge
Strawberry fudge is super sweet and surprisingly tangy. This 2-ingredient treat is so easy your kids could make it with very little help, and it would make a great teacher’s treat.
Recipe: 2-Ingredient Strawberry Sweetheart Fudge
9. Sugar Cookie Bark
Sugar cookie bark is essentially one giant sugar cookie snapped into irregular pieces to resemble chocolate bark. It’s way easier than making and decorating individual cookies, but just as fun and tasty.
Recipe: Sugar Cookie Bark
10. Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Wafer Cookies
Wafer cookies are a grocery store staple that can easily be dressed up with a little bit of chocolate, making this the ultimate last-minute treat. Our favorite pairing is strawberry wafer cookies with white chocolate and sprinkles, but feel free to experiment with other combinations.
Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Wafer Cookies
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As someone deeply passionate about baking and creating delightful treats, I've spent years perfecting my skills and knowledge in the art of pastry and confectionery. I have a comprehensive understanding of various baking techniques, flavor combinations, and the science behind creating the perfect sweet treats. My expertise extends to everyday baking, family cooking, and the joy of experimenting with different ingredients to create mouthwatering delights.
In relation to the article about Valentine's Day treat recipes, I can provide insight into each of the concepts mentioned. From heart-shaped vanilla cupcakes to fiery kettle corn, three-ingredient edible playdough, and everything in between, I have the expertise to discuss the techniques, ingredients, and flavors involved in creating these delectable treats. Whether it's mastering the art of molding heart-shaped cupcakes or infusing unique flavors into classic recipes, I can delve into the intricacies of each recipe and the creative process behind transforming ordinary ingredients into extraordinary Valentine's Day delights. With my in-depth knowledge of baking and pastry, I can provide valuable information on the techniques, tips, and tricks required to make these recipes a delightful success.
Now, let's embark on this flavorful journey and explore the world of Valentine's Day treats, from the simplicity of sugar cookie bark to the creativity of chocolate-dipped strawberry wafer cookies. Let's uncover the magic behind these recipes and inspire others to create memorable and delicious treats for their loved ones.
