Candy, Truffles, and Other Treats to Make for Your Valentine

As far as Valentine's Day desserts are concerned, there is no shortage of cakes, puddings, and tarts to bake. But what if you're looking to make something a little different this year? Maybe you've decided to go all out with the savory courses and want a little treat that you can make ahead of time. Perhaps you just need a recipe that can be easily wrapped up and gifted to friends and neighbors. Whatever your reasons, this small but carefully curated list of unique sweet treats will be fun to make and a thrill to give.

We would be remiss not to pay homage to the grandaddy of Valentine's Day ingredients: chocolate. From truffles to bonbons to eclairs, we've woven chocolate into half of this list. But we realize that some palates prefer a twist of bright citrus, or crave the crunch of a sugar cookie, so we've made sure to include those, too. While the typical box of chocolates won't be going away anytime soon, this year try your hand at something a little more homespun and DIY—it's a special way to show the people in your life how much they mean to you.

Easy Truffles

You just can't help falling in love with this truffle recipe, and here's why: Boasting a super short ingredient list and an even shorter prep time, it also includes a no-roll variation for extra ease.

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Valentine Heart Pops

Part cookie, party candy, you'll delight the whole crew on Galentine's day with these pretty pops.

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Sesame Caramels

If the key to unlocking your crush's heart is password-protected, try saying "open sesame" with these irresistible caramels.

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Chocolate-Dipped Luxardo Cherries

Round out your nightcap with some homemade bonbons that will go especially well with a Manhattan. If you've never indulged in Luxardo cherries before, forget everything you know about those fluorescent red copycats and buy a jar of the original maraschinos.

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Lemon Jellies

Here's a not-so-subtle way to tell your Valentine to pucker up: Gift them a box of these tart and tasty lemon jellies.

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Chocolate Eclair Hearts

Zelda Fitzgerald once said, "Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold." In this case, however, we happen to know these pastry hearts can hold the perfect amount of silky smooth chocolate whipped cream.

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