Fourteen Valentines Desserts!

Maybe you're hosting a party for valentines day, or maybe you're staying in alone. Either way, your taste buds deserve a sweet treat for the special day, right?

 Here are 14 recipes to help you switch things up for the holiday, and to have some fun along the way.

Bars:
1. Chewy Cocoa Brownies (pictured above)
2. Chewy Peanut Butter Bars (pictured below)
3. Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars (a favorite of my family for years)







Cakes:
4. Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake
5. German Chocolate Cake
6. Heavenly Angel Food Cake (pictured above)
7. Simple Ice Cream Cake





Candies:
8. Angel Food Candy
9. Coconut Joys
10. Foolproof Fudge
11. Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites (pictured above)





Cookies:
12. Brownie Biscotti (pictured above)
13. Dark Chocolate Chip Comfort Cookies (these are amazing! Too bad I no long eat peanut butter or gluten.)

Misc. 
14. Homemade Eclairs 


Have a great Valentines day, and make sure to enjoy some treats with your loved ones!

-Bethany

Recipe: Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

I made these around Christmas time, and they were delicious.

I think that they would be cute for Valentines day if you sprinkled the chocolate end in red and pink sprinkles. Or this candy coating would look great, too.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar (you may need more)
3/4 cup brown sugar (you may need more)
Pretzels
1 bag chocolate chips

Combine peanut butter and softened butter in a large bowl. Add the sugars and stir to combine. At this point if the filling will roll easily into balls without sticking to your hands you're ready to go. If not, add more sugar ( a little bit of each) until you reach a consistency that is easy to roll.
Scoup teaspoonfuls and roll each portion into a ball and set on a cookie sheet. When all the balls are rolled sandwhich between two pretzels. Stick the tray in the freezer for about half an hour.
Melt chocolate chips. Remove the pretzel sandwiches from the freezer and quickly dip each half-way into the melted chocolate. Return to the tray and repeat with remaining sandwiches. When all are dipped, return the tray to the freezer until chocolate is hardened. Store the sandwiches in the refrigerator until serving time.

Recipe from HERE.


"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which as been opened for us."
Helen Adams Keller

--Bethany

Recipe: Angel Food Candy

Recently angel food has become one of my favorite treats. It is so delicious.

I have never made it myself, but below is the recipe that my family uses.

Angel Food Candy
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 pound dipping chocolate


In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and vinegar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Cook without stirring until the temperature reaches 300 degrees (hard crack stage) on a candy thermometer. Do not overcook. Remove from the heat and quickly stir in baking soda. Pour into a buttered 9x13 in. pan. Do not spread candy; mixture will not fill pan. When cool, break into bite size pieces. Dip in melted chocolate, then place on wax paper until the chocolate is firm. Store in a tightly covered container.




"Happiness is made to be shared."
Anonymous 


--Bethany

Recipe: Coconut Joys

Coconut joys. 

A delicious, coconut-y, buttery treat. 

I think you'll like this one. 

Coconut Joys
1/2 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
3 cups (8 oz) coconut
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate


In medium bowl melt butter. Add powdered sugar and coconut. Mix well. Shape rounded teaspoons of mixture into balls. Make indent in center of each and place on cookie sheet. Melt chocolate. Fill centers with melted chocolate. Store in refrigerator.


Makes 3 or so dozen.




The Kindest thing you can do for the people you care about is to become a happy, joyous person. 
Brian Tracy 


--Bethany

Recipe: Foolproof Fudge

If you're looking for a delicious, easy fudge recipe, then this is the one for you!

Yum... just looking at these pictures makes me hungry for some fudge...

Foolproof Fudge
18 oz. chocolate chips
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup nuts, optional


Over a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla (and nuts, if using). Spread on a wax paper lined 8x8 pan. Chill until solid, then cut and serve.




"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances." 
Martha Washington 

--Bethany