Valentine’s Day is a holiday to be spent with the ones whom you love. Whether it is with a boyfriend/girlfriend or a night out with friends, there are many ways to have fun on Valentine’s Day. One way to show your love and appreciation for someone is by sharing some delectable sweet treats with them. Below are recipes that could be shared with that special someone on this day of love.

Red Velvet Cake Bites

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25 oz) red velvet cake mix
• Ingredients called for one cake mix (usually oil, eggs, and water)
• 1 (15-16 oz) container cream cheese frosting (or your own favorite frosting recipe)
• 1 lb white chocolate candy coating (almond bark)
• Red candy melts (optional for red stripes on top)

You also need:

• Large bowl
• Measuring cups
• Spoon
• Large baking sheet
• Skewers
• Wax paper
• Sandwich sized plastic bag

Instructions:

1. Bake the cake according to directions on the package.
2. Let it cool completely (I put mine in the freezer for about 45 minutes to cool it down super fast . . . but you could also let it cool overnight), then put the entire cake in a bowl and crumble it up. I find it easiest to just use my hands to completely crumble the cake.
3. Stir in your container of frosting (or homemade, if you choose to use that), about 1/2 a cup at a time. Once it reaches a nice consistency that will hold together when you roll it in a ball, it’s perfect.
4. Roll the mashed cake and frosting into balls. You can go as big or as small as you’d like, but keep in mind that these little bites are rich, so most people prefer smaller. If you want them to look more like authentic cake bites, smush them down so they are the shape of a disc (not so rounded-out like a ball). Place bites on a large baking sheet and place them into the fridge for about 30 minutes to set up.
5. Melt white chocolate candy coating according to directions on back of package. Use a skewer to dip each ball–I would poke it into the cake ball and dip it into the melted bark. Rotate each bite a couple of times to make sure it is evenly covered with chocolate. Stick the cake bite back onto the pan or onto wax paper.
6. Let the bites set. Stick them back into the fridge to harden quickly. If you are going to decorate them with sprinkles, make sure to do so before the candy coating hardens. If you are going to drizzle it with red candy melts, it works best if the cake bite coating has completely set.
7. To drizzle the candy melts on top, melt candy according to package directions. Spoon melted candy into a resealable sandwich bag. Clip a TINY corner on the bag and drizzle the candy melts onto each bite.

Valentine’s Day Popcorn

Ingredients

• 10 cups of popped popcorn – stovetop, microwave or air-popped will work
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 3 cups mini marshmallows
• Valentine’s mix M&M’s
• Valentine’s hearts sprinkles

You also need:

• Medium sauce pan
• Measuring cups
• Large bowl
• Cookie sheet
• Aluminum foil
• Large spoon

Instructions:

1. Begin with approximately 10 cups of popcorn. Make sure you get out all of the un-popped kernels. Once you have the popcorn made, salt it liberally.
2. To make the marshmallow mixture, melt three tablespoons of butter in a medium sauce pan. Once the butter is melted, add three cups of mini marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are melted and then turn off the heat.
3. Slowly pour the marshmallow mixture over the salted popcorn. Gently fold the marshmallow mixture in with the popcorn until the popcorn is mostly covered. Leave a little bit of the marshmallow mixture for the next step.
4. Now, pour the popcorn onto a cookie sheet covered with foil. Drizzle a little bit of the remaining marshmallow mixture over the popcorn, but do not mix it up.
5. Once the popcorn is covered in marshmallow mixture, it is time to add the candy, but don’t wait too long. You want the marshmallow mixture to still be warm and sticky. Sprinkle the candy onto the popcorn, concentrating on the areas with the most drizzled marshmallow mixture. Allow the Valentine’s Day Popcorn to cool. Break apart into pieces and serve.

Valentine’s Day Chocolate-Dipped Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 – 10 oz. package of marshmallows
• 3 tbsp. butter
• Red or pink colored candy melts
• Sprinkles

You also need:

• Heart shaped cookie cutter
• Cookie sheet
• Rolling pin
• Wax or parchment paper

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over low heat and add the marshmallows. Stir until they’re completely melted. Add the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until well coated.
2. Spoon into your cookie sheet and evenly press the mixture all the way in.
3. Before the Rice Krispies Treats cool completely, gently press your heart shaped cookie cutter into the treats as many times as you can across the cookie sheet. When you’re finished, clear the cookie sheet by discarding (or eating!) the rest of the edges and place your parchment paper on it.
4. Heat your chocolate candy melts according to package instructions. Dip half of the hearts into the candy melts, then douse it with Valentine’s Day colored sprinkles. Carefully place each heart back onto the parchment papered cookie sheet. Once you’ve dipped them all to your liking, pop the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened.

Red Velvet Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 4 tablespoons red velvet cake mix
• 1½ cups milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoon hot fudge sauce (warmed)
• whipped cream
• sprinkles

You also need:

• Plate for sprinkles
• Glass cup or jar
• Blender

Instructions:

1. Place the sprinkles on a plate. Dip the rim of your glass into the warm hot fudge and then dip it into the sprinkles.
2. In a blender add the ice cream, cake mix, milk and extract.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and additional sprinkles if desired.

It might be a romantic evening with a date or simply watching rom-coms with the gals for “Galentine’s Day,” but you should definitely try out your cooking skills with these love-filled recipes!