These are the Valentine’s Day Desserts you’ll love as much as your special someone! From rich chocolate cakes to fruity and light treats, there’s something for everyone! I’ve sorted them all into categories so you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for.

spreading pink frosting on chocolate cake.

Table of contents

Why you will love these desserts:

  • Easy to follow recipes. Simple pantry ingredients and clear step-by-step instructions from a pro pastry chef make this year’s desserts more romantic than ever.
  • Textures you’ll love. From velvety chocolate mousse to satisfying crunchy caramelized sugar, you’re sure to find the perfect ending to your Valentine’s celebration. 
  • Rich, swoon-worthy flavors in every bite. Lots of chocolate! Other flavors too, but especially chocolate, because it’s what Valentine’s calls for!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Valentine’s Day dessert recipes to make at home?

I like to keep it classic at my house. The best homemade desserts to show your love include chocolate-covered strawberries, flourless chocolate cake, sugar cookies with some shaved chocolate garnish, red velvet cookies, and chocolate truffles. Serve any or all of them with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream and you’re truly the best!

What flavors are most associated with Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is known for a deep, rich chocolate flavor. Even red velvet cake, made with cocoa powder can have a deepened chocolate flavor with a bit of espresso powder! Valentine’s is also famous for fresh strawberries, cherries, the crunch of pistachios, and a bit of melted chocolate fondue for all of the above!

What is a perfect Valentine’s Day dinner and dessert pairing?

For a romantic Valentine’s dinner, I’d go for a simple but rich steak or creamy pasta. Then knock it out of the park with a delicious dessert like flourless chocolate torte or homemade mousse. The perfect Valentine’s Day has all the features of the best date night, with extra chocolate on the side.

Decadent Chocolate & Fudge Valentine’s Day Desserts

Dense and fudgy dark chocolate tart with a nutty pistachio crust and glossy ganache.

Flourless Dark Chocolate Pistachio Tart Recipe
This gluten free flourless dark chocolate pistachio tart is a truly decadent dessert for everyone to enjoy. Made with a crust of nutty and crunchy pistachios and a dense, bittersweet chocolate filling, this recipe is a rich treat that’s perfect for everything from a dinner party to a date night in. You could top it with a rich chocolate ganache to go the extra mile, or add the chocolate pudding from my Mississippi Mud Pie!

Creamy, chewy chocolate fudge with a smooth texture and deep cocoa flavor.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge Recipe
This Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge Recipe is a chewy, creamy, rich chocolate fudge made with unsweetened chocolate. Detailed instructions with photos and tons of tips guarantee the perfect fudge every time!

Mini chocolate galettes filled with sweet and tart cherry filling, baked to perfection.

Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Cherry Hazelnut Galettes
Gluten free dark chocolate cherry hazelnut galettes will win over that special someone, every time (even if that special someone is yourself). Juicy cherries always pair beautifully with chocolate!

Fudgy flourless brownie topped with a thick layer of golden salted caramel.

flourless brownies with salted caramel topping
Need another showstopping, decadent, indulgent yet fully flourless dessert? Friend, you’ve come to the right place. These fudgy flourless brownies are intensely chocolaty, dense, moist and topped with a generous layer of rich salty caramel. I also deeply recommend their cousins dark chocolate peppermint mocha brownies!

Thick and chewy carmelitas layered with buttery oats, caramel, and rich chocolate.

Carmelitas (Oatmeal Caramel Chocolate Bars)
Oh how do I love thee, carmelitas? Let me count the ways. Oatmeal, caramel, chocolate…Make a batch to share, or keep them all for yourself!

A dessert pizza with a cookie crust, chocolate drizzle, and cookies and creme topping.

Cookies and Creme Dessert Pizza
I highly suggest this plan for Valentine’s Day: Order a pizza, then make this cookies and creme dessert pizza for dessert. Double the pizza, DOUBLE THE LOVE.

Cheesecake & Creamy Valentine’s Day Layers

A silky lemon ginger panna cotta cheesecake topped with blueberries.

Lemon Ginger Panna Cotta Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce
Cheesecake. Yes, cheesecake is easy — yes, panna cotta cheesecake is easy. And it’s flavored with lemon and ginger and topped with a blueberry sauce and love. And while we’re keeping it creamy, excuse me while I dunk my face into these Prosecco poached peaches with coconut yogurt.

Creamy cheesecake bars infused with espresso and Nutella on a chocolate cookie crust.

Nutella-Swirled Cappuccino Cheesecake Bars
And what could be potentially better than a cheesecake? Cheesecake bars swirled with cappuccino and Nutella with a chocolate cookie crust, that’s what. Layers of hazelnut, chocolate, and espresso make an amazing dessert. If you want to add even another layer, top these with a tangy cream cheese frosting!

A decadent, velvety chocolate mousse with a rich cocoa flavor and whipped cream topping.

Chocolate Mousse
This easy chocolate mousse is light, airy, and decadent. Enough said.

A creamy chocolate cheesecake with an Oreo crust and a thick ganache topping.

Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe
With a thick Oreo cookie crust, a creamy chocolate filling and a decadent ganache topping, this Instant Pot chocolate cheesecake is the very definition of chocolate indulgence.

A beautifully caramelized creme brulee served with an elegant gold spoon.

crème brûlée
I can’t get over how easy, creamy, and downright fancy this crème brûlée recipe is! It just screams elegance.

Berry-Sweet Valentine’s Day Desserts

Strawberry shortcake cupcakes topped with strawberry flakes and fluffy whipped cream.

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe
These strawberry shortcake cupcakes are a delightful dessert mashup that pairs the classic flavors of strawberry shortcakes with the portability and ease of a cupcake.

A golden buttery tart filled with creamy custard and topped with fresh strawberries.

Strawberry Custard Tart Recipe
This simple and delicious strawberry custard tart features all the goodness of berries with a creamy homemade custard and a buttery shortbread crust for the ultimate treat that’s perfect for pretty much any occasion. I also adore this pretty strawberry galette with slices of fresh strawberries!

Buttery shortcakes stacked with fresh blueberries and a dollop of mascarpone cream.

Blueberry Shortcakes with Mascarpone Cream Recipe
Celebrate Valentine’s with blueberry shortcakes with mascarpone cream. Fresh blueberries and sweet mascarpone whipped cream are sandwiched between buttery, from-scratch shortcake biscuits to make the ultimate simple-yet-special dessert that’s the perfect treat for nights (and mornings, let’s be honest).

A layered raspberry pound cake tiramisu with mascarpone and fresh berries.

Raspberry Pound Cake Tiramisu
Let’s keep aboard the mascarpone dessert train with this totally delish raspberry pound cake tiramisu! Layers of pound cake, a whipped cream-mascarpone mixture, orange liqueur-spiked raspberry jam and fresh raspberries make this easy dessert, one to remember — and to make all. year. long.

Valentine’s Day Cakes & Red Velvet Treats

Romantic heart-shaped chocolate cake decorated with fresh strawberries and frosting.

Heart-Shaped Chocolate Strawberry Cake
This heart-shaped cake is a romantic chocolate and strawberry showstopper. Gorgeous and delicious.

A frosted slice of moist chocolate cake on a serving plate, ready to eat.

Moist Chocolate Cake
This simple, moist chocolate cake recipe makes a soft, tender cake rich in chocolate flavor! Topped with a silky chocolate fudge frosting, this cake is a chocolate lover’s dream. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent touch.

Decadent layers of deep chocolate cake with a smooth, glossy frosting.

Devil’s Food Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
If you’ve never tried the delicious decadence that is a Devil’s Food Cake, drop everything. Right now. And make this cake. Every layer is deeply chocolaty, dense and moist and frosted with the creamiest, most flavorful chocolate buttercream. I understand, I understand, it’s not the healthiest. For those who want a little health (and yums) in their V-Day menu I’ve got you covered with my whole wheat clementine yogurt cake.

Moist and fluffy chocolate bundt cake with an elegant swirl of glaze on top.

Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ruby Chocolate Glaze
Get some extra brownie — er, cake — points from your love this Valentine’s by baking this Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ruby Chocolate Glaze! A soft, showy bundt cake, and the naturally pink chocolate drizzle takes everything to the next level.

Cookies, Cupcakes & Fun Valentine’s Day Bites

Soft sandwich cookies filled with luscious cherry buttercream.

Vanilla Bean Sandwich Cookies with Maraschino Buttercream Frosting
For the love of your life — whether it’s your spouse, your mom, your BFF, your cat (OK not your cat, she can’t eat these) — vanilla bean sandwich cookies with maraschino buttercream frosting say “I love you” in so many delicious ways.

Gooey peanut butter crispy treats made with browned butter and topped with marshmallows.

Brown Butter Peanut Butter Crispy Treats
These brown butter peanut butter bars are perfect for any kid (and the grown-up kids, too!). Loaded with gooey marshmallows and crispy cereal these are a love letter in marshmallow-y, peanut butter bar form. It wouldn’t be too much to serve it up with a Bourbon Maple Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake (for the adults!). And, if you’re into the marriage of sweet and salty, you’d also love these sweet and salty sesame cookies!

A close-up of a red velvet cookie with a chewy inside and melty chocolate chips.

Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, chewy, and packed with white chocolate chips, these red velvet cookies are a must-try! All the flavors of red velvet cake with half the effort. Make it a cookie plate with some Valentine’s decorated cut out sugar cookies too!

Rich chocolate cupcake topped with silky buttercream.

Chocolate Cupcakes
Keep the chocolate rush going! You’ll love these soft, fluffy chocolate cupcakes.

Bite-sized chocolate cake pops dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles.

Chocolate Cake Pops
These bite-sized treats pop with flavor, and you can dust your chocolate cake pops with sprinkles for extra fun! Keep it adorable with some of my too easy blueberry white chocolate mug cakes next!