Recipes & Cooking Holiday Recipes Valentine’s Day Recipes 38 Valentine's Day Dessert Recipes Better Than a Box of Chocolates From cheesecakes to cookies to homemade eclairs, we've got the perfect romantic Valentine's Day sweets for your sweetheart. By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for more than 10 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 12, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Carson Downing Sweeten your Valentine's Day with a scrumptious, romantic, or heart-shape dessert recipe. Whether your sweetie likes rich chocolate desserts, berry pies, or creme brulee, you're sure to win hearts with a delicious Valentine's Day dessert. 01 of 38 Jam-Filled Hand Pies View Recipe Blaine Moats There's more to pie than the slice. These pretty hand pies are the perfect way to indulge without having to share. We think they're best filled with strawberry jam or chocolate hazelnut spread. Use a heart cookie cutter set to create festive designs. 02 of 38 Valentine's Cake View Recipe Blaine Moats This Valentine's Day cake is a showstopper! Topped with colorful heart sugar cookies and plenty of sprinkles, this party-worthy dessert is easy and impressive. It's covered with a luscious almond whipped cream frosting and filled with tart strawberry-rhubarb jam. 03 of 38 Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars View Recipe Jacob Fox These beautiful red velvet bars are the perfect Valentine's Day treat. Be sure to add a generous drizzle of chocolate over the yummy cheesecake filling. Make-Ahead Tip: Bake and freeze this easy dessert up to three months before serving. 04 of 38 Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Pies View Recipe Carson Downing These mini chocolate and peanut butter pies are tasty any day of the year, but a ruffle of chocolate whipped cream and a DIY chocolate heart turn these treats into a festive Valentine's Day dessert. To make the heart, pipe melted chocolate onto waxed paper; once it's dry, gently peel the paper away and use the hearts to top the pies. 05 of 38 Dark Chocolate Pudding View Recipe Andy Lyons Valentine's Day is the perfect time to indulge in something decadent. This rich dark chocolate pudding is just that—with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon. Top each bowl with a swirled heart made from whipped cream. 06 of 38 Cherry Cobbler View Recipe Blaine Moats There is nothing better than an old-fashioned cherry cobbler, so why not try making one this Valentine's Day? The fruit dessert is topped with spoonfuls of sweet biscuit dough that turn golden brown when baked. For variety, replace the cherries with blueberries, peaches, or apples. 07 of 38 Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake View Recipe Blaine Moats This Valentine's Day cake recipe is a total showstopper. Layer our rich buttermilk almond cake with piles of whipped cream and fresh strawberry sauce. Test Kitchen Tip: To get the classic flavors and texture of tres leches cake, we recommend soaking the cake for at least three hours or overnight. 08 of 38 Best-Ever Vanilla Pudding View Recipe Andy Lyons Love is sure to be in the air when you serve this simple vanilla pudding decorated with heart-shape sprinkles. The silky dessert is easy to whip up and can be served hot or cold. 09 of 38 Red Velvet Cupcakes View Recipe Andy Lyons Red velvet could vie for the title Official Flavor of Valentine's Day (if it weren't for that pesky dark chocolate that always seems to take the win). These cupcakes hit all the holiday high notes: Taste, color, and a powdered-sugar dusting in the shape of a heart. Get the look by placing a heart-shape cookie on top before sprinkling. 10 of 38 Bourbon Cranberry Cookies View Recipe Andy Lyons Something sweet (oat-and-chocolate cookies) with something salty (flaked sea salt) with something indulgent (3-ingredient Bourbon Ganache) makes an adults-only cookie that your valentine will swoon for. 11 of 38 Chocolate Bread Pudding View Recipe Andy Lyons As dessert or a luscious breakfast, this rich chocolaty bread pudding is Valentine's Day baking on-point. Don't skimp on the decadent homemade chocolate ganache drizzle. 12 of 38 Strawberry-Cardamom Turnovers View Recipe Carson Downing Purchased puff pastry makes these turnovers easier than they look. Our easy stovetop jam recipe makes a fruity filling that's lightly spiced with cardamom. 13 of 38 White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread View Recipe Peter Krumhardt These Valentine's Day shortbread cookies get their pink and red color from maraschino cherries and red food coloring. Nonpareils and edible glitter give them an extra holiday-ready touch. 14 of 38 Gooey Chocolate Pudding Cakes View Recipe Andy Lyons Creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread and rich chocolate swirl together in these gooey chocolate pudding cakes. Coffee or vanilla ice cream and sliced strawberries complete the indulgent chocolate Valentine's Day dessert. 15 of 38 Dark Chocolate Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream View Recipe Jennifer Davick Brownie-textured cake layers are topped with smooth, rich buttercream frosting. The result? A decadent Valentine's Day cake enjoyed by chocolate and fruit lovers alike. 16 of 38 Grapefruit and White Chocolate Cookies View Recipe Carson Downing After mixing up a batch of tangy grapefruit cookies, use a set of heart shape cookie cutters to cut out various sizes of hearts. Once baked, dip the cookies in creamy white chocolate to balance out the grapefruit zest in the dough. 17 of 38 Jelly Doughnut Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons Take a love of doughnuts to the next level. Layers of cream filling and ruby red jam between soft yellow cake mimic your sweetheart's favorite breakfast treat. 18 of 38 Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cakes View Recipe Blaine Moats This delightful pairing of rich dark chocolate and sweet-tart raspberries makes for the perfect Valentine's Day dessert. Chocolate truffle icing adds a sweet touch. Bake up the individual cakes in a nonstick muffin pan. 19 of 38 Chocolate Cannoli View Recipe Andy Lyons For a fancy finish to your romantic Valentine's Day dinner, serve your loved one a chocolaty twist on classic Italian cannoli. Rolled up with love in a homemade chocolate shell, creamy ricotta cheese flavored with cocoa and orange peel gets a gorgeous garnish from shaved dark chocolate. 20 of 38 Conversation Heart Cut-Out Cookies View Recipe Jacob Fox Homemade sugar cookies are so much better than candy. Customize your batch with names, sweet notes, or funny sayings. Package them up with one of our free printable tags for a delicious edible Valentine's Day gift. Test Kitchen Tip: We used cookie imprinting stamps to create the phrases. 21 of 38 Strawberry Cheesecake Bites View Recipe Andy Lyons Every nibble of this easy Valentine's Day dessert features crumbly shortbread crust and classic cheesecake filling. The sweetest part? The naturally heart-shape strawberry slices. 22 of 38 Raspberry Swirl Brownies View Recipe Andy Lyons Fudgy brownies made with dark chocolate get a sweet surprise from a swirl of tart raspberry puree. Heart-shape cutouts give this chocolate Valentine's Day dessert a charming finish. 23 of 38 Baked Raspberry Custards View Recipe Marty Baldwin Show your love with a dreamy cup of vanilla custard. Sprinkle in raspberries or strawberry slices before baking these sweet, fruity bites. 24 of 38 No-Bake Truffle Treats View Recipe Blaine Moats Dote on your valentine with homemade chocolate candies that look oh so charming but are finished in about a half-hour. With four flavors, one (or more) is sure to make your holiday sweeter. 25 of 38 White Chocolate Cheesecake with Triple-Raspberry Sauce View Recipe Andy Lyons Your valentine will be smitten with this delightfully rich white chocolate cheesecake recipe. Raspberry sauce covers the dessert with a dramatic red flair. 26 of 38 Double-Chocolate Mascarpone Raspberry Pie View Recipe Karla Conrad Fresh raspberries, bittersweet chocolate, luscious mascarpone, and rich whipped cream pile into a flaky crust for this over-the-top Valentine's Day dessert. Top off each slice with a dollop of homemade white chocolate whipped cream. 27 of 38 Chocolate-Cherry Stack Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons Creamy layers of cherry-flavor frosting between each tier of rich chocolate cake will make your Valentine's Day unforgettable. Chocolate-covered cherries are a gorgeous topper. 28 of 38 Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cakes View Recipe Steven McDonald The romance of chocolate-covered strawberries takes a delightfully elegant turn in this Valentine's Day dessert recipe. Upside-down cupcakes are smothered in rich ganache and topped with fresh strawberries. 29 of 38 Pick-a-Flavor No-Churn Ice Cream View Recipe Carson Downing Whip up a batch of homemade ice cream in just 10 minutes of hands-on time. Customize your quart with your favorite flavors or try one of our recipe combinations like salted mocha, wildflower honey, or birthday cake. 30 of 38 Blueberry Bundt Cake View Recipe Carson Downing This isn't your basic bundt cake! Blogger Yossy Arefi adds cardamom, rye flour, and a fresh blueberry glaze to make this berry dessert truly special. Test Kitchen Tip: Need a make-ahead Valentine's Day dessert? Make the cake up to one day ahead and store at room temperature. 31 of 38 Copycat Sugar Cookies View Recipe Carson Downing If you're a fan of the oversize soft sugar cookies you can find in shops, this is the copycat cookie recipe for you. Tint the sweet almond buttercream pink for the perfect nod to Valentine's Day. 32 of 38 Millionaire Shortbread View Recipe Rachel Marek One reviewer called this, "the best dessert I had ever eaten in my lifetime." It features layers of shortbread, buttery caramel, and chocolate. A sprinkle of flaky salt is the perfect finishing touch. Our Best Million Dollar Recipes Are Rich and Decadent 33 of 38 Black Forest Dump Cake View Recipe Grant Webster If you need a quick Valentine's Day dessert idea, try this chocolate and cherry dump cake. It starts with a can of cherry pie filling and a box of devil's food cake mix. You can have the whole cake done with just 10 minutes of prep. 34 of 38 Schaum Torte View Recipe Rachel Marek This fluffy meringue and cream cake has earned raves since we published the recipe. As one BHG home cook shared, "the recipe was perfect just as it was written—I used apple cider vinegar, not white vinegar. Instead of raspberries, I opted for strawberries because that’s what my grandma would have done." 35 of 38 Deviled Strawberries View Recipe Rachel Marek Try something other than chocolate-covered strawberries this year! Here, strawberry halves are topped with a cheesecake-inspired filling. Decorate them with crushed cookies, sprinkles, or chocolate. 36 of 38 Raspberry-Lemon Whoopie Pies View Recipe Carson Downing If you love fruit desserts, you must make these raspberry whoopie pies for Valentine's Day. Fresh raspberry cake is filled with fluffy lemon cream and decorated with sprinkles. 37 of 38 Limoncello Cheesecake Bars View Recipe Carson Downing Lemon liqueur gives this cheesecake dessert it's bright, zesty flavor. Top each bar with a candied lemon slice and powdered sugar. 38 of 38 Polka-Dot Neapolitan Pie View Recipe Carson Downing A little prep is all you'll need to make this delicious ice cream pie. Scoop chocolate and strawberry ice cream balls to create the polka dots. A fluffy strawberry marshmallow meringue is torched till golden before serving. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit