25 Heart-Shaped Treats to Send to Your Valentine

By Victoria Spencer
Updated February 03, 2020
Sure, flowers are nice, but homemade food gifts are the sweetest tokens of affection—especially when they're heart-shaped.
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Chelsea Cavanaugh

Sure, flowers are nice, but there's something about receiving a homemade food gift that feels extra special. If you really want your token of affection to be a hit this Valentine's Day, you can't go wrong with something heart-shaped. That's why we encourage you to bake your sweetheart cookies, cupcakes, or chocolates in this holiday-inspired shape. You can even get your kids in on the fun. These sweet treats are just right for the smallest Valentines, so be sure to bake an extra batch for your child's class.

If you love to bake, break out your heart-shaped cookie cutters because we've got iced cookies, sandwich cookies, and more in these sweet shapes. You could also pipe hearts of meringue or the chocolate batter for whoopie pie hearts. The options truly are endless. Not a baker? No problem! There's no baking required for our easiest heart-shaped foods, like the marshmallow hearts that decorate the prettiest mug of hot chocolate you'll ever see, or the jam hearts atop a yogurt parfait.

If your loved one prefers savory to sweet, serve them heart-shaped salmon snacks or goat cheese-stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto in the shape of a heart. Either would be an ideal appetizer if you're cooking a romantic meal at home this February 14th. And what better way is there to start a home-cooked Valentine's dinner than by shaking up a martini with a "beeting" heart garnish for your love? Last but not least, don't forget breakfast in bed. We've got plenty of delicious heart-shaped ideas for you: from waffles made in a heart-shaped iron and coffee topped with frothy milk hearts, you're bound to find a delicious, romantic recipe here.

And because love isn't only hearts, we snuck in some kisses by topping our Lemon-Date Bars with powdered sugar smooches. No matter who you're spreading the love to this February 14th, these recipes for heart-shaped treats are the way to do it.

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Sweetheart Thumbprint Cookies

Johnny Miller
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Say "I love you" with these buttery, jam-filled cookies. Feel free to use any flavor jam such as apricot, raspberry, or peach—whatever will make their heart flutter.

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Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Hearts

Kana Okada
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Surprise your Valentine with a mug of hot cocoa in bed. To sweeten the deal, cut a marshmallow (mini, regular, jumbo—any size works) in half to make two circles. Snip the tops and pinch the bottoms, then set your affections afloat.

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Heart S'mores Bars

Kana Okada
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Enjoy all the toasty feels of s'mores for Valentine's Day, no campfire required, by making a few tweaks to a standard batch of cereal bars. Cook the marshmallows under the broiler for a minute, so they're nicely charred, then stir in crushed graham crackers and chopped chocolate. Let cool before stamping out hearts with a cookie cutter.

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Iced Heart Cookies

CHELSEA CAVANAUGH
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It's amazing what you can do with a batch of simple sugar cookies and some pink and white royal icing. These striped hearts are just one of our favorite ways to decorate cookies for Valentine's Day.

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Fig Hearts

Addie Juell
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Dining at home this February 14? Start with this romantic riff on devils on horseback: figs are stuffed with goat cheese, cut into a hearts, wrapped in prosciutto, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

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Chocolate Heart Cupcakes

Kate Mathis
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Nothing says "I love you" quite like homemade baked goods. Show your sweetheart that, like the chocolate and vanilla in these darling heart cupcakes, you two are a perfect match.

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Cinnamon Toast and Yogurt Parfaits

Pernille Loof
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Get a sweet start to the day with these easy, thoughtful Valentine's Day breakfast ideas. Cinnamon-sugar toast is emblazoned with Xs, Os, and hearts, while make-ahead yogurt parfaits are adorned with piped jam hearts. Whip up both for a winning meal.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Hearts

Chelsea Cavanaugh
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Like peppermint patties but so much more festive! Once you master tempering chocolate, this recipe is a cinch.

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Conversation Heart Cookies

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Spark a new relationship with these sentimentally iced sugar cookies. Let the royal icing dry completely before you stamp them with sweet nothings.

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Dark- and White-Chocolate Shortbread Hearts

CHELSEA CAVANAUGH
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These concentric heart cookies are as stunning as they are delicious. Fragrant vanilla brings out the flavor of both the dark and white chocolate.

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Chocolate Eclair Hearts

Anna Williams
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Chocolate lovers (chocolate pate a choux, chocolate filling, and chocolate glaze), Francophiles, and sweethearts everywhere will adore these petit eclairs.

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Almond-Rye Heart Cookies

Jonathan Lovekin
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Perfect for a snowy Valentine's Day or for a sweetheart who loves the alternative, these crunchy cookies—made with almonds and rye flour for a delicate sweetness—should be on your must-make list.

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Lox Hearts

Aaron Dyer

The natural color of smoked salmon makes it fitting for open-faced heart-shaped tea sandwiches. Serve them as an appetizer before a romantic Valentine’s Day meal, or enjoy them with friends over cocktails. To make, spread a layer of cream cheese onto thin slices of lightly toasted rye bread; top with sliced Nova lox. Then stamp out sandwiches using a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

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Peanut-Butter-and-Jam Heart Cookies

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Everyone's favorite sandwich will be just as beloved in cookie form. All you need to create the hearts in these peanut butter cookies is raspberry jam and your fingers.

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Buckwheat Waffles with Fresh Ricotta and Citrus

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This start-the-day-well meal pairs with a cup of coffee, a flute of Champagne, and a kiss. Our heart-shaped pancakes or eggs and toast are also festive options.

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Lemon-Date Bars

Anna Williams
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Okay, we know these lemony treats aren't heart-shaped, but they capture the same sentiment! Give one or two or three kisses, and hugs too if you fancy, in bar cookie form. To make the Xs and Os, make stencils from card stock. Place one on top of each square, then dust with confectioners' sugar. Carefully lift off stencils.

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Heart Sandwich Cookies

Jonathan Lovekin
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Pink or chocolate? A small heart or a larger one? Love is full of heart choices. These sweet cookies are sandwiched with a filling inspired by the Oreo.

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Whoopie Hearts with Raspberry Meringue

Burcu Avsar
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The key to getting the shape just right for these chocolate-raspberry treats? Using resealable plastic bags to pipe both the batter and the meringue.

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Brownie Heart Cupcakes

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A brownie cupcake frosted with pink buttercream and topped with a brownie heart just might be the ultimate love note.

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Cappuccino Heart Foam

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Channel your inner barista and whip up a festive cappuccino for a loved one.

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Chocolate Ganache Heart Tartlets

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Decorate rich bittersweet chocolate tarts with a rainbow of meringue hearts for a super-festive dessert.

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Heart-Glazed Cornmeal Cookies

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Use a cookie cutter to stamp a heart shape into these addictive cornmeal treats before baking, then finish with a bright-pink vanilla glaze.

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Couscous Crunch Bar

Aaron Dyer
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Couscous in a dessert? You bet! It gives this chocolate candy a wonderful texture.

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Pear-Raspberry Heart Pies

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Looking for a romantic on-the-go treat? Try these buttery handheld pies stuffed with a spiced pear-raspberry filling.

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Meringue Letters and Hearts

Kate Mathis
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Say it with meringue! Spell out your love with these snowy cookies that are crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

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