Roses are red, violets are blue — forget the flowers, dessert is for you! Valentine’s Day is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than with a baking marathon filled with love, chocolate and the sweetest treats? From stunning desserts to indulgent bites, these recipes are guaranteed to impress — Cupid just might get jealous. 

Decadent Chocolate Mousse

Nothing says indulgence like a rich chocolate mousse. The best-kept secret of this recipe is that it replaces eggs with marshmallows. Simple and easy, this recipe still meets every expectation of a lavish dessert. 

Yields 2 medium-sized bowls

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces chocolate of choice
• ½ stick of butter
• ½ teaspoon instant coffee
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
• ¼ cup boiled water
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a pan on medium-low heat, add chocolate, butter, coffee, salt, marshmallows and water. Stir the mixture gently to ensure that everything melts, while making sure the chocolate doesn’t burn. 
2. Once the chocolate has a smooth consistency, remove from heat and pour into a bowl to cool. 
3. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream and vanilla extract either by hand or with an electric hand mixer until soft peaks form. The cream should be stiff enough to hold its shape.
4. Once the chocolate mixture is cooled, carefully fold the whipped cream into the chocolate, making sure the mousse’s texture stays light and fluffy.   
5. Pour the mixture into ramekins or other small dishes, and chill in the fridge for up to six hours. Once the mousse has set, top with fresh strawberries or raspberries and a little more whipped cream. 
   

Solo Date Mug Cake

There’s no shame in using Valentine’s Day to sit on the couch and catch up on “The Bachelor.” Whether you’re abstaining from the holiday or just looking for an easy recipe, this single-serving mug cake is calling your name.  

Yields 1 mug cake 

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• Red and white heart sprinkles
• ½ teaspoon instant coffee
• Chocolate chips, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a microwave-safe mug, pour in all the ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Mix everything together until the mixture is smooth.
2. Add as many chocolate chips as you would like. To ensure a little chocolate in every bite, mix some chips into the batter and sprinkle some on top.  
3. Place in the microwave for one minute, or a little longer depending on your preference. To elevate the dessert, add a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to the top. 

Heart Beet Juice

While sugary recipes are often enjoyed on Valentine’s Day, it’s also important to keep your body nourished. There’s nothing wrong with indulging in cookies, brownies and cake, but some fruits and veggies wouldn’t hurt either. 

Yields 1 glass

Ingredients:

• 1 medium beet, peeled and chopped
• 1 apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
• ½ inch fresh ginger, peeled
• Juice of ½ lemon
• ½ cup water (or more for desired consistency)

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 
2. Pour the juice into a glass.

Berry Amour Brownies

Because nothing is more sensuous than chocolate baked goods, brownies are the perfect dessert to make for a group. Whether it’s for a post-dinner charcuterie board, a treat for the office or a gift to your mailman, these rich, luxurious brownies are sure to impress the masses. 

Yields about 20 Brownies 

Ingredients:

• ¾  cup unsalted butter
• 2 3-ounce raspberry chocolate bars, such as Chocolove Raspberry Chocolate
• 3 eggs 
• 1 ½  grams sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ⅛  cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• ½ teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave or using a double boiler (a pot of water, with a bowl on top, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water). 
2. Whip the eggs and sugar together until the mixture doubles in volume. This is crucial to getting the delicious texture of brownies. 
3. Once the chocolate-butter mixture has melted, set it aside to cool completely. If it’s too hot, it can scramble the eggs when added in the next step.
4. Add the cooled chocolate mixture to the eggs and sugar, and mix again gently. Now add the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. 
5. Finally, add chopped pieces of raspberry chocolate. You can even add some extra white chocolate if desired. 
6. Add the batter to a square baking pan lined with parchment paper, and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. 
7. Let the brownies cool completely and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out heart-shaped brownies. Dust the raspberry powder on top for that extra touch, and voila, your Berry Amour Brownies are ready! 

Chocolate Passion Pavlova

A traditional Australian dessert, pavlova is a meringue-based treat with a crisp exterior and a marshmallowy interior. Deceptively simple, this recipe is both effortlessly chic and perfect for a last-minute occasion.

Yields 1 medium-sized pavlova

Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites 
• ¾ cup sugar 
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch 
• ¼ tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 
• Heavy whipping cream 
• 2 tablespoons icing sugar

Instructions:

1. Separate the egg yolks and egg whites into separate bowls.
2. Whip the egg whites by hand or with an electric hand mixer until soft peaks form. 
3. Add sugar one tablespoon at a time, continuously whipping until stiff peaks form and the mixture is glossy and smooth.
4. Gently fold the cocoa powder into the mixture, making sure the whipped egg whites don’t deflate, before adding in the cornstarch.
5. Add lemon juice and vanilla extract to the mixture. 
6. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a piping bag — or a large plastic bag with one corner cut — pipe individual pavlovas or make one large pavlova. Whichever size you choose, make sure to make an indent in the center of the mixture. Once the pavlova bakes, it will develop a crater-like shape. Bake at 150 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. 
7. While the pavlova is baking, whip the cream and sugar in a bowl until fluffy.
8. After the pavlova has finished baking, let it cool completely before adding a dollop of whipped cream, fresh berries and a drizzle of melted chocolate.

Contact Kyra Mehta at [email protected].