Valentine's Day Ideas for Treats
Every year on February 14 people all over the world celebrate love with flowers, gifts, and cookies as expressions of their adoration. Valentine's Day also honors one or many Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and is a fun holiday to spend with loved ones.
This year, The Christian Post has compiled a list of three great treats to help celebrate Valentine's Day.
First, the classic Valentine's Day cookie for heart-shaped treats by Betty Crocker are perfect for satisfying every sweet tooth. The Ultimate Valentine's Day Cookie recipe is as follows.
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Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 drops red food color
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons milk or half-and-half
Directions
1. Preheat one to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In large bowl, beat 1 cup powdered sugar, butter, and vinegar with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with a spoon. Stir in remaining cookie ingredients except food color. Divide dough in half. Mix food color into one half. (If dough is too dry, stir in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.)
2. On lightly floured cloth-covered surface, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into heart shapes with various sizes of cookie cutters. Place smaller hearts on larger hearts of different color dough if desired. On ungreased cookie sheet, place shapes about 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 5-7 minutes or until set but not brown. Cool 1 to 2 minutes; carefully remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. In medium bowl, mix all frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Tint with food color if desired. Spread frosting on cookies.
Next, try these Brownie Hearts from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
- 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons salt
Confectioner's sugar, colored sugar, cocoa, or crushed toffee bits, for decoration.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; cut a piece of waxed paper to fit the bottom, and press it into the buttered surface. In a large micro-wave safe bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and chocolate. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. If the chocolate is not softened, continue to microwave at 10-second intervals, removing before it's completely melted.
2. Beat eggs and vanilla into the melted chocolate with a wooden spoon. Beat in flour and salt. Pour batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool.
3. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Turn the brownie cake out onto a baking sheet, and flip over onto a work surface. Cut out the brownies with a 2 1/2 -inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Dust with cocoa if you like. Form the scraps into 1-inch balls, and roll them in the coating of your choice.
Lastly, for a romantic and special treat, try this chocolate covered strawberry recipe from the Food Network. The decorated treats also make great gifts or party finger foods.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
- 2 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well
Directions
1. Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolate in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then hear for another minute until melted.)
2. Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, depth fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
3. Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
