Sweet Treats For Valentines Day

Pink and red wrapped candies, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and edible teddy bears flood the aisles of every store during the Valentine’s Day season. These Valentine desserts seem to fall short of perfection every year. Originality can be hindered by the lack of direction for unique gift ideas.

Sticking with sweets is always a good choice; there are several creative and inventive options to create your own valentine desserts at home. Chocolate-covered fruits are an excellent and fresh alternative to boxed chocolates. Brownies with red and pink candy swirls or personalized cakes made in a heart-shaped pan can add a romantic element to any Valentine dessert. Fortune cookies with personalized notes are a fun and playful way to convey your Valentine's message.

Chocolate fondue for two is romantic, elegant and sure to impress. An arrangement of cookies or a chocolate cream pie is a simple pleasure nearly anyone would enjoy. Valentine desserts allow for extra indulgence and evoke mouth-watering emotions. They are the secret ingredient making the holiday so sweet.

Sweet Valentine dessert recipes to satisfy your valentine:

Chocolate Fondue Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 pound dark chocolate cut into small bits
1 shot Kirschwasser (cherry liquor)
Desired fruits or sweets (suggested: strawberries, bananas, sponge cake, brownie bites and marshmallows)

Bring the cream to a boil in a large sauce pan. Lower the heat to a simmer. Add the chocolate. Stir well using a whip. Once the chocolate is melted, turn off the heat and add the Kirschwasser, while continuing to whip the fondue. Transfer to a fondue pot and, using fondue forks, dip desired treats and enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Fruits

2 pt. strawberries, pineapple, or pear wedges
1 lg. bag semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1/4 c. Crisco (lard not oil)

First, wash and dry the fruit. Then, melt the chocolate and Crisco in a double boiler. Dip strawberries in the melted chocolate and place them on a tray covered with wax paper or Saran Wrap. Refrigerate until chocolate is hard.

Personalized Fortune Cookies

Prep. Time: 0:45
Yield: approx. 24
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 pinch salt
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond or lemon extract
1/4 cup melted butter

-Write fortunes on strips of paper measuring about 3" X 1/2"; set aside.
-Generously grease two cookie sheets; set aside.
-Combine flour, sugar and salt; set aside.
-Whisk together egg white, vanilla and extract; whisk in melted butter.
-Sift dry mixture into egg mixture and stir to mix.
-Pour batter by teaspoonfuls 4" apart on a cookie sheet; tilt the pan to move the batter into round shapes about 3" in diameter. Start with only two per pan, as cookies need to be hot to shape. As you become better at folding, you can make up to four per pan.
-Bake in a 400 degree oven for five minutes or until the edges have turned brown a half inch from the center.
-Working quickly, remove from oven and scrape off the pan with a greased, metal spatula; place a fortune in the center of the cookie, fold cookie in half over fortune, then bring the corners of the cookie together.
-Place folded cookies in a muffin tin to cool.
-Repeat with remaining batter.