No matter who you’re spending the evening with — a partner, friends, family members, a pet or just yourself — there’s always reason to celebrate, whether you’re a Valentine’s Day person or not. Besides, desserts are always terrific any day of the year.
Furthermore, there’s lots more to “romantic” fare than just chocolate-covered strawberries … even though those are always welcome at any party, too.
Whether they’re rich and creamy, light and airy, crispy and crunchy or smooth and delicate, these desserts are a wonderful way to cap off a romantic meal or just to enjoy a quick little bite while watching TV or a reliable, go-to movie. These desserts are also pretty darn simple, allowing you to spend the majority of your time with your cherished ones. Though it’s also fun to get your loved ones involved in the kitchen with you!
As Elisha Cuthbert’s Alex Kerkovich repeatedly intones in the St. Valentine’s Day episode of the forever under-appreciated sitcom “Happy Endings” — “For love!”
So make one of these lovely options, play Sarah Vaughan’s insurmountable live rendition of “My Funny Valentine” on loop and cuddle up. You have a beautiful evening ahead of you, complete with a terrific dessert, no matter the company. And that’s something to celebrate, is it not?
Peanut Butter Pie (Mary Elizabeth Williams)Image_placeholder
Stay in and enjoy
diner vibes at home with this stellar pie. As Salon Senior Writer Mary Elizabeth Williams writes, “At home, chocolate peanut butter is a surprisingly easy indulgence. It comes together in minutes, and it’s ready to eat almost immediately.”
It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
Brownie (Getty Images/Jennifer A Smith)Image_placeholder
Columnist Bibi Hutchings attributes
her love for food to her mother and grandmother and their respective prowess in the kitchen. As she notes, “these brownies are a perfect example of what my mom did best: deliver something extraordinary from something most food is ordinary.”
These are so special in Bibi’s family that they’ve earned the title “The Brownies” because no one other brownies can measure up.
A quick word of warning from Hutchings herself: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you: be careful when you make these. They are rich and wield great power. They are impossible to ignore, and you will over-indulge. They will call out to you like Sirens, particularly in the night, beckoning you over to their foil covered pan with the promise of pure bliss. They deliver on that promise as you will see.”
Whiskey Pear Cobbler (Mary Elizabeth Williams)Image_placeholder
You’ll definitely want to heat this up a bit if you’re eating it after it’s fully cooled down; a bite of this when it’s warmed through is a
comforting, satisfying experience.
Creamy yogurt panna cotta with fresh strawberry sauce in glass (Getty Images/yumehana)Image_placeholder
Panna cotta may at first seem a bit intimidating to make at home, but do not fret! It is actually quite simple and the bulk of the “process” asks the
refrigerator to do the work — not you.
As Bibi Hutchings poetically puts it, “Love is a night in with homemade panna cotta.”
Want more great food writing and recipes? Subscribe to Salon Food’s newsletter, The Bite.
Teddy graham tiramisu (Mary Elizabeth Williams)Image_placeholder
A real blast from the past, this adorable, Teddy Graham-topped tiramisu melds two worlds: the nostalgic fun of the sweet, graham cracker classic and the timeless joy that is the Italian stalwart, tiramisu.
Tiramisu is a tradition for a reason: it’s delicious, it’s forgivable, it’s customizable and it is a blast of comfort. By swapping ladyfingers for Teddy Grahams, though, the dish feels a bit more approachable — and downright fun.
One note: don’t skimp on the cocoa powder! It really helps add that special, final touch, both aesthetically and flavor-wise.
Chocolate Snaps (Mary Elizabeth Williams)Image_placeholder
Veering more into the
Milk Bar-inspired, savory dessert realm, this gem is possibly as salty as it is sweet. For those who aren’t especially fond of saccharine desserts, this might be the ideal option for you and your loved ones.
Incredibly simple yet outrageously flavorful, this unique assortment of flavors (complete with
peanut butter, potato chips,
dark chocolate and cookies!) is combined to make a handheld dessert that is sure to both impress and satisfy.
Red Wine Whoopie Pies (Courtesy Meghan McGarry/Buttercream Blondie)Image_placeholder
A rich, soft dessert “sandwich” containing
red wine? Your Valentine is sure to thank you.
Combining
mascarpone with a red wine reduction and then stuffing it between whoopie pies redolent of
cocoa,
vanilla and
buttermilk is certainly a statement that says “I love you” (just don’t give it to your
dog).
This is one of the more time-consuming recipes on this list, so feel free to make the cream one day and the whoopie pies another, so that that way, all you have to do on Valentine’s Day itself is combine and decorate.
Sicilian Love Cake (Mary Elizabeth Williams)Image_placeholder
If you’re not familiar with this
cake — there’s never been a better time to acquaint yourself.
As Salon’s Williams describes it, “Like the hot fudge cake or the St. Louis gooey cake, the Sicilian love cake is a little bit of culinary magic. A
cheesecake-ish filling is spooned atop a regular old
chocolate cake mix batter. The filling sinks as the cake bakes, transforming the entire dessert into something new and amazing. What’s more, it gets topped with a chocolate
pudding frosting. The end result is a sheet cake guaranteed to make any crowd swoon.”
There may be no better way to celebrate the holiday. It’s even heart-shaped!
Read more
about Valentine’s Day
