Easy Valentine’s Day Treats
Submitted by Hera Lee
February is considered the month of love, and is when Valentine’s Day is celebrated. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show your loved ones how much you love them. My favorite way to express my love to my friends and family is through baking cute, sweet treats! Whether you have a Valentine this year or not, here are three easy Valentine’s Day treats you can make alone or with a special someone.
1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Although chocolate covered strawberries are basic valentine treats, they are such a classic because they’re easy to make and are absolutely delicious!
Ingredients:
- 24 medium strawberries, washed and dried very well
- 8 ounces of good quality chocolate or melting wafers, chopped
- 4 ounces white chocolate or melting wafers, chopped
- Red food dye coloring (optional)
- Heart-shaped sprinkles (optional)
Instructions:
- Line a baking sheet or the counter with parchment or wax paper. Make sure your strawberries are completely dry before beginning (any water will ruin them).
- Add the chocolate to a microwave safe bowl. Melt at 50% power for 30 second intervals, stirring in between. When chocolate is almost melted, remove from the microwave and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Dip each strawberry into the chocolate, turning to coat all sides. Lift and let the chocolate drip for a moment, then place on the prepared baking sheet. Complete with remaining strawberries. Refrigerate 5-10 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened.
- While the chocolate is hardening, melt the white chocolate according to the same instructions as the milk chocolate (optional: dye the white chocolate with red food dye to make the chocolate pink.) Pour the melted white chocolate into a pastry bag (or a zip top bag) and cut a small piece off the tip of the bag. Drizzle back and forth over the strawberries. Sprinkle with heart-shaped sprinkles if needed.
- Refrigerate until firm. Store strawberries in the refrigerator.
2. Love Letter Pastries
This recipe is for anyone who wants an alternative vegan Valentine’s Day treat other than basic chocolate covered strawberries. You can also opt for a gluten-free flour to make this gluten free as well.
Ingredients:
- 240g of plain flour
- 2 tablespoons of caster sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
- 220g of dairy-free block butter (cold and cut into small cubes)
- Ice-water (see method)
- 1 jar of vegan friendly strawberry jam
- Dairy-free milk (optional)
- Icing sugar (dusting, optional)
Instructions:
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, sift together the flour and sugar. Add in the cold and cubed butter and mix until it resembles sand. You can mix by hand or in a food processor.
- Add in the ice water 1/2 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together. It may require 1-2 tablespoons of ice-water. You want the dough to be smooth and slightly sticky, but not too wet or dry.
- Wrap the dough in some grease proof paper and place into the fridge for 30 minutes or until it feels firm. This will help to prevent sticking when you roll it out.
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (or 350°F). Fan and line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper.
- Lay a sheet of greaseproof paper on your worktop and dust with some flour.
- Roll out the dough in-between 2 sheets of flour-covered greaseproof paper until it’s a large rectangle. Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into a diamond shape (approximately 10 cm on each side). Place on the lined trays. Repeat until you’ve used up almost all the dough. Use a mini heart shaped cookie cutter to use out shapes with the remaining dough.
- Spoon a teaspoon or two of strawberry jam into the middle of the diamond shapes. Fold three of the corners into the center (sides and bottom) so that the pastry looks like an open envelope. Press the corners in to seal the jam in (refer the images above for examples).
- Brush the pastry with some dairy-free milk and stick on the hearts into the center (see photos for reference). Sprinkle over some sugar, this will help give the pastry a golden color and will also make it crispy on top.
- Bake the pastries in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown in color.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool. The pastry will be a little soft when first out of the oven, but will crisp up beautifully.
- Serve with a sprinkling of icing sugar. You could even add a drizzle of a simple glaze on top!
3. Red Velvet Swiss Roll
This easy but cute homemade swiss roll will taste so much better than store-bought ones. You can also get a little creative and use other types of batter instead of red velvet, such as confetti cake!
Ingredients:
Red velvet Swiss roll:
- 4 eggs (room temp)
- 150 grams granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 95 grams flour
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk (or regular milk)
- Red gel food coloring
Filling and coating:
- Jam of your choice
- 350 grams butter (room temp)
- 300-400 grams powdered sugar
- 250 grams white chocolate (melted)
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream (room temp)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line your pan with parchment paper.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt) and set aside.
- In a big bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the eggs on the highest setting for about 3-4 minutes. Slowly add the sugar and continue to beat for another 1-2 min. The batter should be double in volume, pale in color, and very airy. Add the oil, red food coloring, buttermilk, and vinegar. Mix for a few seconds until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined, don’t overmix.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan. Spread into an even layer and slam the pan against the counter to get rid of the air bubbles.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 12-15 min. The cake is done once it springs back when lightly touched.
- Lay down a towel or parchment paper on your countertop (the same size as the cake).
- As soon as the cake is done baking, take it out and flip it over onto the towel/parchment paper. Roll into a roll and let cool completely. Work on your filling and coating in the meantime.
- Melt the chocolate and set aside to cool down.
- Using a handheld mixer, whip the butter for 2 min until soft and creamy. Add the melted chocolate and mix together for about 30 seconds. (The chocolate can’t be too hot or the butter will melt)
- Slowly add sugar, a little at a time. Once all of the sugar is added, pour in the heavy cream and whip for another 30 seconds until fluffy.
- Add more confectioner’s sugar if needed.
- Once the cake has cooled down, carefully un-roll the cake and spread an even layer of buttercream all over. Dollop some jam and use the back of a spoon to spread it around.
- Carefully roll it back into a log shape and place it in the fridge to harden for about 20 min.
- Using the leftover buttercream spread an even layer all over the roll and smooth out the sides.
- Color some of the buttercream red and pipe some hearts or do whichever design you want. Done!
I hope you follow one of these three recipes for Valentine’s Day this year and enjoy eating them with a special someone!
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