Lark Crafts

Oh Valentine’s Day: you strange, romantic, pink, pressure-filled holiday. You tell us that we should probably be in looove, we should probably be giving or receiving flowers (or candy or cards or chocolate or all of the above), and we should most definitely have some sort of heart-associated response to this time of year. Or at least that’s how it seems when I accidentally walk through the card aisle of my favorite large store that begins with a T and has a white bull terrier mascot.

Yes, I like pink, and things with doilies, and who doesn’t like receiving flowers? But the whole “you should be in love [with someone fancy] on this particular day” message doesn’t quite jive with my sense of love. I’m more about being in love—appreciative love—with folks throughout the year, and with doilies as an optional concept. I’d rather high-five my coworkers, give secret cards to my friends, and smooch my baby god-nieces all year long, and call that Valentines. Know what I mean?

That’s why I love the sweet part of Valentine’s Day—the dessert part. You don’t have to be madly in love (or in angst) to fall head over heels for a divine molten chocolate lava cake or a gorgeous assortment of artfully decorated sweet heart cookies. And I dare you not to laugh when it comes to snarky conversation hearts (seriously, who hasn’t wanted to dispense a little heart-shaped token that baldly says, “It’s You”?)

*links to all recipes and food geniuses below

There’s no end to the inspirational, mouth-watering V-Day desserts out there—heck, you probably have an awesome photo and recipe on your own blog! But here are a couple recipes that caught my eye (and made me want to sit politely in these food bloggers’ kitchens with the small hope that I could sneak a quick bite of their delicious creations). My conversation heart to these recipes would say: “Wow.”

link to: Molten Lava Chocolate Cake by Lick My Spoon

link to: Chocolate Covered Raspberry Macarons by Whisk Kid

link to: Sweet Hearts: Homemade Conversation Hearts by Cakespy

link to: Chocolate Marble Cheesecake with Coconut, Lemongrass, and Kaffir Lime by 17 and Baking

link to: Heritage Red Velvet Cake by Sprinkle Bakes

link to: Valentine’s Sugar Cookies with Poured Royal Icing by Bakers Royale

link to: Spiced Raspberry & White Chocolate Truffle Tarts by Sprinkled with Flour

link to: White Chocolate Lemon Truffles by K Bakes

*photo of heart doilies from here.