10 of the best Valentine’s Day baking ideas

The cupcakes

Red velvet cupcakes
These red velvet treats are a fun Valentine’s Day bake to make with kids and are swirled with cheesecake mixture for extra indulgence. Rustle up a batch for the school bake sale.

The heart biscuits

Ginger toffee dodgers
A contemporary take on dodger biscuits, these ginger numbers have a cute heart cut-out in their centres. The little heart window gives a peek of the two layers of rich filling – ginger buttercream and caramel.

The cheesecake

Hazelnut swirl cheesecake
Make this elegant cheesecake ahead of time and stash in the fridge to set, freeing you up to spend more time with your Valentine. Hazelnut lovers are in for a treat – the biscuity base is studded with chopped nuts and there’s a slug of hazelnut liqueur in the creamy filling. The decoration is surprisingly easy: dot the top of the cheesecake with cinnamon caramel and drag a cocktail stick through in a spiral to make a swirl of miniature hearts.

The roses-are-red dessert

Apple, rose and pistachio tarts
Anyone can grab a bunch of roses from the garage. Taking the time to craft the beautiful apple roses in the centre of these dainty apple, rosewater and pistachio tarts? Now that’s true romance.

The heart-shaped cakes

Flourless chocolate and espresso cakes
Looking for a Valentine’s dessert? These heart-shaped chocolate cakes from food writer Skye McAlpine are the perfect pud for a romantic dinner, served with raspberries and a dollop of crème fraîche. You can bake them up to four days ahead – perfect if you’re rushing home from work on 14 February to make a Valentine’s meal.

The cookies

Caramel centre double chocolate cookies
Regular cookies are our year-round comfort bake – but on Valentine’s Day you need something a bit extra. These rich chocolate cookies are studded with dark choc chips; bite into them to reveal a gooey caramel centre.

The homemade gift

Chocolate macarons
Step away from the Milk Tray and impress your Valentine with a box of  homemade chocolate macarons. The cocoa-flavoured shells in this recipe sandwich a sophisticated chestnut and chocolate filling. Present your macarons in a beribboned box for a patisserie-style finish. Divine!

The giant brownie

Chocolate brownie cake
Valentine’s baking is all about indulgence, so go large with this giant heart-shaped fudgy brownie. We’ve added chopped pecans and butterscotch chocolate chunks but you can keep it classic or incorporate your date’s favourite flavours. Decorate with edible rose petals and a thick dusting of cocoa.

The decadent puds

Caramel lava puddings
Looking for a romantic dessert recipe that serves two? Try these caramel lava puddings. Make these little puds ahead – they only need 10 mins prep and have a clever time-saving secret that guarantees a runny caramel centre: a salted caramel Lindor truffle hidden inside each pud.

The showstopper cake

Red velvet cake
With its crimson crumb contrasting with a silky white frosting, red velvet is the perfect Valentine’s Day cake. Our recipe ups the drama with multiple layers, completed with a rich mascarpone and cream cheese icing. Serve it up at a Valentine’s Day party or Galentine’s night in.

Hungry for more ideas? Browse our complete Valentine’s cakes and treats recipe collection or try one of our irresistible chocolate desserts.