35 Irresistible Chocolate Desserts for Valentine's Day

fudgy brownie cake
Photo: Chris Court

There's no better way to say "I love you" than with a delightful, decadent chocolate dessert. But better than any box of store-bought bonbons is a homemade dessert or treat to share. Whether you enjoy it with your partner, the family, or a group of friends is up to you, but we're offering a stellar selection of cacao recipes just right for the holiday of love. There are classic heart-shaped cookies and decadent raspberry-filled whoopee pies (of course, we have more heart-shaped ways to express your affection if your significant other isn't a chocolate lover), as well as cupcakes that aren't just cute—they're sophisticated and heartfelt, too.

If your heart desires a dessert to be shared, try a brownie cake or a mousse pie—or go with bite-sized treats like handmade truffles or chocolate-peanut butter cups. Package them in a special box or present them on a gilded platter—either way, your Valentine is sure to swoon over these heartfelt creations.

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Chocolate Heart-Shaped Cakes with Buttercream

flourless chocolate heart mini cakes topped with swiss-meringue buttercream
Johnny Miller

Mini flourless chocolate cakes get a flavor boost from dark rum and instant espresso. They puff up slightly in the oven, then set into a delicate, truffle-like consistency as they cool. Piped meringue buttercream decorations are the finishing touch that takes these decadent treats over the top.

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Loaf-Pan Buckeye Brownies

loaf-pan buckeye brownies
David Malosh

Bake brownies in a loaf pan using our small-batch recipe when you need a smaller amount of decadent treats. Inspired by buckeye candies—an old-fashioned confection of chocolate-dipped peanut-butter fudge—they are run through with a ribbon of rich peanut-butter cream that takes on a caramel flavor in the oven.

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Candied-Orange Chocolate-Caramel Tart

Candied-Orange Chocolate-Caramel Tart recipe
Paola + Murray

Chocolate and orange is a blissful combination, as this tart shows. It has a chocolate wafer crust, a citrus-infused caramel, and a thick layer of ganache on top. It's a dessert project that has delicious results.

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Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar

dark chocolate walnut date bar
Sidney Bensimon

It's rich and indulgent but also free of refined sugar and eggs and gluten-free. This dessert bar is our top choice for anyone with dietary restrictions or who prefers a healthier dessert.

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​​Molten Chocolate-Espresso Cakes

ed-b-molten-chocolate-cake-frosted-cutting-board-411-d111666.jpg
Yuki Sugiura

For a quick chocolate fix for your valentine, turn to these easy mini cakes. Serve them plain, or topped with a bit of ganache and a sprinkling of pistachios or a touch of flaky sea salt.

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Handwritten Valentine Cupcakes with Chocolate Glaze

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Sweet messages written in white chocolate adorn these easy one-bowl chocolate cupcakes.

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Vanilla Pudding Pie

vanilla pudding pie
Kate Mathis

For white chocolate lovers, there's this creamy, dreamy pie with white chocolate in the silky vanilla filling and a chocolate wafer cookie-crust.

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Mile-High Triple-Chocolate-Espresso Mousse Pie

mile high triple chocolate espresso mousse pie
Christopher Testani

A chocolate dessert that deserves a pedestal. This lavish sweet has two different chocolate mousses layered over a chocolate wafer crust. On top is an espresso cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

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Chocolate-Olive Oil Crisps

chocolate-olive oil crisps served on a blue plate
Johnny Miller

Made with olive oil instead of butter, these cookies have a crisp texture and more intense cocoa flavor. Serve them to your sweetheart on their own or with scoops of fruit sorbet.

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Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Hearts

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Give a sweet new meaning to the idea of "warm hearts" when you plop fluffy homemade marshmallow cut-outs into rich, creamy hot cocoa.

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Soft-Serve Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Soft-Serve Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Lennart Weibull

Talk about spectacular, these cupcakes are one tall treat. Under the semisweet chocolate glaze lies a both swirl of peanut butter and vanilla buttercream and under them, chocolate buttermilk cupcakes.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

edf_may06_des_choc.jpg

It's so easy to make your own version of this classic, coveted Valentine's Day treat. Coat the chocolate-dipped strawberries in pistachios as shown in this recipe, or branch out with other kinds of nuts, coconut, crushed cookies, edible glitter, and more fun surprises.

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Chocolate-Mousse Parfaits

Chocolate-Mousse Parfait Desserts
Justin Walker

Espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor in this light and luscious make-ahead mousse.

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Chocolate Heart Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes with milk-chocolate frosting
Kate Mathis

Sometimes love is black and white, as in these adorable heart-adorned chocolate-cherry cupcakes topped with vanilla-bean frosting.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Hearts

chocolates wrapping box hearts
Chelsea Cavanaugh

Soft, chewy homemade peppermint patties are bathed in dark chocolate to make gift-worthy bonbons for your valentine.

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No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cup Bars

sweetie-no-bake-chocolate-peanut-butter-cup-bars-102835192.jpg
CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

Sweet, fluffy peanut butter filling luxuriates between two blankets of dark chocolate in our homemade version of the classic candy. Swirl peanut butter hearts on top for an extra-loving touch.

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Dark- and White-Chocolate Shortbread Hearts

sweetie-dark-and-white-chocolate-shortbread-hearts-102835194.jpg
CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

Your valentine's heart will grow four sizes when you present them with these beautiful (and totally Instagram-worthy) layered shortbread cookies.

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Chocolate-Caramel Truffles

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CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

Inspired by Brazilian brigadeiros, these chewy truffles have a heart of rich, fudgy caramel made from sweetened condensed milk, cream, and chocolate.

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Couscous Crunch Bar

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Aaron Dyer

Crispy-rice crunch bars are for amateurs! Double down on the toasty, crunchy goodness when you make chocolate treats filled with pearl couscous and flaky sea salt.

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Chocolate-Pistachio Tartufo

tartufo-opt2-081-d112572.jpg
Bryan Gardner

Layers of ice cream and cookie crumbs coated in chocolate make the perfect romantic dessert for sharing. Grab two spoons and dive in to discover the two surprise maraschino cherries inside.

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Whoopie Hearts with Raspberry Meringue

whoopie-pies-0110-mld110690.jpg
Burcu Avsar

Make your valentine shout "whoopeeee!" with these heart-shaped chocolate whoopie pies filled with fluffy pink raspberry meringue.

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Fudgy Brownie Cake

fudgy brownie cake
Chris Court

Simple yet seductive, this dense, almost-flourless cake is pure chocolate bliss. Serve with an understated dusting of cocoa powder or dial up your garnish game with berries and whipped cream.

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Chocolate Pots de Creme for Two

Chocolate Pots de Creme For Two

These elegant chocolate custards will transport you to romantic French bistro with every silky bite.

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Chocolate Eclair Hearts

Chocolate Eclair Hearts
Anna Williams

Declare your love with heart-shaped cream puffs coated in a glossy chocolate ganache glaze.

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Vegan Chocolate Cake

mandy vegan chocolate cake
Bryan Gardner

Use your favorite dairy-free creamer to concoct this decadent vegan chocolate-mocha layer cake.

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Chocolate-Caramel Pecan Tart

chocolate caramel pecan tart
Robin Stein

A chocolate pastry crust envelops a fudgy pecan filling to create the most dreamy grown-up candy bar. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt takes things to the next level.

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Fudgy Chocolate Beet Cake

fudgy chocolate beet cake
Jonathan Lovekin

Spelt flour and puréed beets are the healthy secrets behind this moist, ganache-coated chocolate cake.

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Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

chocolate-skillet-cookie-228-d112793.jpg
Bryan Gardner

Cookies, like love, are meant to be shared, and there's plenty to go around when you bake up this great big chocolate-chip beauty.

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Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes

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Con Poulos

Achieve ultimate chocolate nirvana in these chocolate cupcakes filled with milk-chocolate pudding, coated in milk-chocolate ganache and decked out with chocolate curls.

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Chocolate-Raspberry Cake

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Con Poulos

Chambord raspberry liqueur and a fresh raspberry filling build layers of bright berry flavor into this centerpiece-worthy chocolate-buttermilk cake.

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Flourless Chocolate-Date Cake with Salted-Caramel Sauce

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Marcus Nilsson

A seductive mixture of dates and bourbon is at the base of this sophisticated cake.

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Chocolate Mousse Pie with Phyllo Crust

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Kate Mathis

Crisp, buttery layers of phyllo dough are coated in a layer of chocolate and then heaped with fluffy chocolate mousse in this all-new interpretation of chocolate cream pie.

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Raspberry-Filled Molten Chocolate Cupcakes

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Jonathan Lovekin

Tender, chewy, rich, and gooey—these molten chocolate cupcakes hit all the right notes. Don't forget the vanilla ice cream!

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Chocolate Tart with Chocolate Chip Cookie Crust

Chocolate Tart with Chocolate Chip Cookie Crust

This restaurant-worthy dessert is easy to make at home, especially if you use store-bought chocolate chip cookies to make the crust.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Semifreddo with Caramel Corn

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Semifreddo
Marcus Nilsson

Semifreddo is Italian for "half-cold," and this dessert is a mousse-like riff on ice cream cake. This one is for the chocolate and peanut-butter lovers among us, with meringue folded into dark chocolate and PB ganaches, layered in a loaf pan, and frozen. To knock it out of the park, serve it with our extra-nutty rendition of Cracker Jack.

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