These festive sugar-coated red velvet cookies are perfect for Valentine's Day. They're just as delicious as they are beautiful. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
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Here’s a lovely dessert that your guests will think is almost too pretty to eat! I love the graceful heart shape of the raspberry meringue. —Mary Lou Wayman, Salt Lake City, Utah
My daughter loves all things pink, so this recipe was just right for her birthday. Even my teenage son (not a fan of pink) ate his share, too. —Paulette Smith, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Lunch on the go just got a whole lot sweeter. Tuck jars of rich chocolate custard into lunch bags for a midday treat. These desserts in a jar are fun for picnics, too. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
My Grandma Gigi loved berry cakes. This cake is a tribute to her. —Kristin Bowers, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
These simple
Valentine's Day cookies are the first thing to disappear from dessert tables. They're cute, colorful and extremely fast to make. —Darcie Cross, Novi, Michigan
I first made these cakes for a friend when I lived in the dorms at college and had no access to appliances. Little did I know I would be making them 20 years later for my children! —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina
Enjoy frosting sweet sentiments onto these
Valentine's Day cupcakes by baking a batch ahead of time using no-fuss cake mix. You don't even need a heart-shaped muffin tin to make them. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your Valentine's Day dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina
Dress up special occasions with these high-fashion fruit treats! The strawberries are easy to decorate, and folks love them. —Gisella Sellers, Seminole, Florida
This Moscow mule cake is my favorite cake I've ever made from scratch. It's so moist and flavorful, and it reminds me of my favorite cocktail. —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri
When our kids have friends sleep over, I like to surprise them with this chocolate treat. Our favorite dippers include fruit, marshmallows, cookies and pound cake. —Suzanne McKinley, Lyons, Georgia
Our seven children and four grandkids voted this festive, flavorful cookie a “keeper.” We gave a batch to our mail carrier, in thanks for trudging through so much snow, and she asked for the recipe. —Ruth Anne Dale, Titusville, Pennsylvania
My triple chocolate mousse tart is all you need. You don't have to have any specific order to the layers, so get creative. —Samantha Hernandez, Vacaville, California
This cobbler came about because I love chocolate-covered strawberries. Top it with whipped cream, either plain or with a little chocolate syrup stirred in. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
This is one of my mother's go-to recipes. It's a yummy spin on classic chocolate chess pie. — Ann Dickens, Nixa, Missouri
I found this recipe in an old cookbook and changed a few ingredients to suit my family's taste. They really enjoy this candy pizza. You'll love how fast, fun and simple it is! Get the kids to help you spread the toppings. —Becky Thesman, Enid, Oklahoma
While being poached, the pear absorbs the sweetness and spice from the sugar, wine, cinnamon and peppercorn. It makes an easy, yet elegant, dessert that's perfect for a special night. —Kiersten Atkinson, Birmingham, Alabama
This moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for special dinners. (Be sure to check out our other
Valentine's Day cakes and cheesecakes!) —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
The divine flavors of this simple Black Forest cake will impress your guests and leave you with many requests for the recipe! —Kimberly Campbell, Wheeling, West Virginia
This truffle recipe was created from ripe bananas and my imagination, and the outcome blew my family and friends away! I don’t particularly like bananas, but I could eat these truffles all day long. —Michele Lassuy, Orlando, Florida
The creamy texture and lovely look of this strawberry cheesecake always get compliments. —L.C. Herschap, Luling, Texas
Here’s a delectable dessert that’s simple but feels upscale. With its fresh raspberries and Nutella-covered homemade pastry crust, you and your guests won’t be able to get enough. —Christina Seremetis, Rockland, Massachusetts
I love chocolate and nuts, and they come together deliciously in this torte. Serve it with sweetened whipped cream or your favorite ice cream. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois
Although I have some great "from-scratch" recipes, this chocolate strawberry celebration cake uses a boxed mix with plenty of doctoring. It has become a popular groom's cake that gets more attention than the wedding cake. —Nora Fitzgerald, Sevierville, Tennessee
This recipe makes a great quick dessert for a special supper…or anytime. It's easily doubled if needed. What a fun use for pudding snack cups! —Betty Claycomb, Adverton, Pennsylvania
My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
Having unexpected company? Make a fabulous dessert in minutes and relieve some of the stress of presenting a beautiful finish to the meal! It doesn’t get any easier than these quick, delicious parfaits. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Fresh strawberries are full of water, so they have a tendency to weigh down cake batters and make soggy cakes. That’s why these strawberry cupcakes rely on strawberry jam or preserves. The concentrated flavor is just right for light and tender cupcakes. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Nancy C. Evans of Phoenix, Arizona captured the spicy cinnamon flavor of Mexican chocolate in her original recipe for biscotti. The spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar is a nice addition to most recipes that feature Mexican chocolate flavors. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cherries and chocolate come together in this dazzling coconut cheesecake. It's a Valentine's Day showstopper! —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
A friend shared this rich velvety chocolate mousse recipe with me. I love to cook and have tons of recipes, but this one is a favorite. Best of all, it's easy to make. —Judy Spencer, San Diego, California
There's nothing better than a sweet, from-scratch delight like traditional cherry pie. These precious little hand pies always go fast when I sell them at my pie bakery! —Allison Cebulla, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
My sister gave me this recipe a few years back when I was looking for an elegant fruit dish to serve guests. I sometimes serve this party-pretty fruit treat at brunch—just before the main dish. It’s also sparkly and special enough to double as a light dessert. —Andrea Barnhoom, Scottsville, New York
My chai-flavored tart boasts chocolate and caramel layers tucked inside a salty pretzel crust. Truffles on top make it extra indulgent. —Chantal Bourbon, Montreal, Quebec
I needed a quick dessert for my daughter's bridal shower, and a co-worker gave me this vanilla mousse recipe. It's so pretty with almonds and raspberries on top. —Marina Castle, Canyon Country, California
I enjoy making this lovely coffee cake for anniversaries, Valentine's Day and other special occasions. I found the recipe more than 30 years ago, and I've been making it ever since. The delicious treat is a hit with family and friends. (Find even more
Valentine's Day pastries and breads!) —Norma Hammond, Leland, Iowa
What could be better than a brownie crust layered with chocolate cheesecake and topped with chocolate ganache? These cheesecake bars will satisfy even the biggest chocolate lovers out there. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin
(Try these other
ganache desserts, too!)
Gourmet strawberries are pricey to order but easy to make. We serve strawberries with hazelnut spread as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or dessert. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
A "fool" is a British dessert that's usually made with custard. This is a modified, quicker version I created. My kids love it because it
doesn't taste like rhubarb—so I guess it's well named! —Cheryl Miller, Fort Collins, Colorado
When I was a nurse, my co-workers and I regularly swapped recipes during lunch breaks. This creamy cheesecake was one of the best I received. —Georgiann Franklin, Canfield, Ohio
This splurge dessert is the kind you just have to linger over. Plunge your fork into one of the cakes and the chocolate and conversation start flowing. —Deb Carpenter, Hastings, Michigan
I created these cookies for my family after I realized that we had been without Nutella for far too long! Tart dried cranberries are a natural pairing to the hazelnut flavor. We can’t get enough of these sweet cookies! —Nancy Mock, Colchester, VT
My favorite hockey team the Boston Bruins inspired these cupcakes. Add a love note on top using a little white icing. —Alisa Christensen, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
I always get compliments when I whip up this rich little cheesecake. With layers of caramel, chocolate and vanilla, it's an instant classic. —Erin Byrd, Springfield, Missouri
Cool, fruity and creamy, these gelatin valentine cut outs are noticeably richer than plain gelatin. They're a fun finger food that can be easily cut into whichever shape you'd like for any holiday or theme.
—Annette Ellyson, Carolina, West Virginia
I’m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila—you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour. You can customize it, too, by substituting other mix-ins for the chocolate chips. We serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream. —Arianna Harding, Cincinnati, Ohio
Baking a fun treat is a must when my four grandchildren come to stay for "grandma camp." Sometimes the grandkids help by piping the cake batter. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin
These mouthwatering mini cakes make the perfect treat for a twosome. My mom used to make these when I was a little girl. Now I whip them up for a speedy dessert. —Debora Simmons, Eglon, West Virginia
These rounds filled with fruit preserves were blue-ribbon winners at the county fair two years running. They're a family favorite! —Pamela Esposito, Smithville, New Jersey
Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania
Cookies that melt in your mouth and are practically fat-free—is it any wonder these crispy meringue morsels disappear as fast as I can whip them up? Friends and family love them. —Jo Ann Blomquest, Freeport, Illinois
Cherry pie filling and a melted chocolate drizzle top a rich, fudgy cake made from chocolate cookie crumbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ruby red jam and coarse sugar add a festive look to these crisp sandwich cookies that are the perfect gift for loved ones. My husband likes coconut, so I make these for his birthday. (Before you whip these up, make sure you have your
Valentine's Day baking gear on hand!) —Jo Ellen Helmlinger, Columbus, Ohio
This delicious red velvet pound cake is the perfect combination of flavors. Make sure the cake has cooled before icing it, and for extra crunch sprinkle some roasted pecans on top. —Robin Smith, Old Fort, North Carolina
Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin
I'm a proud wife, mom of three and grandma of many. I've cooked many things over the years, including these marshmallowy chocolates. —Dolores Wilder, Texas City, Texas
These luscious stuffed berries are the perfect bite-sized dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia
This scratch-made strawberry buttermilk cake is a family favorite. My grandma even carries out our family tradition by making this old-fashioned recipe each summer. —Claudia Lamascolo, Melbourne, Florida
A friend gave me this recipe a long time ago. It’s rich and creamy yet refreshing. —Norma DesRoches, Warwick, Rhode Island
Here's a recipe that's literally sealed with a "kiss." This cookie's bound to tickle any sweet tooth. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
Treat your loved ones to a luscious pie with chocolate, cherries and nuts in a creamy vanilla mousse. It's a sweet yet refreshing dessert. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas
A co-worker's mother gave me this gem of a recipe a few years back. I can never decide what's more appealing—the attractive look of the bars or their incredible aroma while they're baking! Everyone who tries these asks for the recipe. —Mimi Priesman, Pace, Florida
I used peanut butter in place of the butter in my take on a traditional cutout cookie, which turned out super nutty and soft. My children love to decorate the cookie with frosting, sprinkles and some creativity. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
This rich chocolate fudge is sure to delight someone you love. —Dorothy Anderson, Ottawa, Kansas
When my daughter, Katie, was 2, the juicy, ripe raspberries in my backyard inspired me to create this cutout cookie. It's become a mother-daughter tradition to pick the raspberries, choose the cutter shapes, cut out the cookies and frost them. —Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, Illinois
I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
Steal hearts this Valentine's Day with brownies that have cute frosting centers. They're simply irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Our Test Kitchen shares this recipe for a basic cheesecake that tastes great alone or with any number of garnishes. Try serving it with
Raspberry Sauce and
Sour Cream Topping.