Valentine’s Day is a pricey affair.
Last year we spent an average of $126.03 on our Valentine between cards, candy, flowers, jewelry, going out, or other gifts, and that number is likely to go up again this year. Many of us even treat ourselves if we don’t have a special one with whom to spend the day.
We’ve already provided you with our selection of Someecards and Arrested Development-themed cards for the occasion as an alternative for spending $2.99 on a card, but if you’re a little tight for cash from splurging on other gifts, we’ve got your loved one’s sweet tooth covered.
Assuming you’re looking for something a little more traditional than homemade Hostess snacks and Girl Scout cookies, we’ve collected 10 recipes you can make in your own kitchen instead of rushing to a candy store to grab an assorted box of chocolate at the last minute, and you won’t have to worry about that one chocolate nobody likes going to waste (Valentine not necessary).
Mint Chocolate Strawberries
In a Katy Perry wig, Jenny Kelley waltzes her way to the grocery store and through this simple recipe. Just clean off your strawberries, melt the chocolate (mixed with mint abstract if you choose), cover the strawberries with the melted chocolate, and wait for it to harden.
Pecan Turtles and Chocolate-Covered Bacon
Carolyn Flemister provides double the chocolate dosage with two recipes in one video. For the pecan turtles, melt the chocolate and caramel, place pecans in small clusters, and coat them with the caramel and chocolate. While you’re waiting for your pecan turtles to harden, cook some bacon in the oven, cover it with melted chocolate, and you have a treat both Ron Swanson and Epic Meal Time can enjoy.
Peanut Butter Fudge
Let’s take a short break from chocolate with this no-cook recipe from Joy of Baking’s Stephanie Jaworski (although there are plenty of recipes online if you prefer chocolate). With a cup of peanut butter, a cup of melted butter, ¼ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla abstract, and 1 pound of powdered sugar, it’s easy enough to create your own fudge to last you days (or a matter of hours).
Red Velvet Cake
Celebrate the official color of Valentine’s Day with a red velvet cake: Monique of Divas Can Cook breaks down the recipe to make a nonstick and moist cake, but don’t forget the secret ingredient: coffee.
Caramel Chocolate Candy
Once you’ve melted the Candy Melt and hardened the caramel sauce, just mix the two together in a silicone candy mold and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Strawberry Scones (Gluten-Free)
If gluten is your body’s mortal enemy, there’s no need to fret. Jenny Kelley makes an encore appearance on this list. Mix all of your ingredients into a bowl with a fork so it resembles cornmeal, roll the dough in gluten-free flour, and cut scones into shapes with cookie cutters.
Nutella-and-Strawberry-Filled Crepes
Blend flour, milk, two eggs, melted butter, a little bit of sugar, and a pinch of salt to make the batter, and drop ¼ cup portions into a pan to cook. Once you have enough crepes, soften the Nutella in a microwave so that it’s easier to spread on the crepe, add strawberries, fold it, and add some whipped cream for a classic French treat.
Chocolate Mousse
You don’t even need an oven for this mousse recipe. Just microwave dark chocolate with some milk, whisk some egg whites and double cream, and fold all the ingredients together with some orange zest. Place in the fridge for at least an hour before garnishing with cream and more orange zest, and enjoy.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
It’s never a bad time for chocolate chip cookies, but have you ever baked them from a homemade recipe? For this recipe, gradually add your ingredients into a mixer, and then drop balls of dough on a cookie sheet to bake—if the dough makes it that far.
Photo via iloveflavor/YouTube
