59 Last-Minute Homemade Valentine’s Day Treats

Fudge Bonbon Cookies

These fudgy favorites are double delights—the cookies are flavored with both chocolate chips and chocolate kisses. Drizzled with white chocolate on top, they’re fancy enough for a buffet table. —Janice Smith, Cynthiana, Kentucky

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

You’ll have an irresistible valentine’s day treat with this gooey peanut butter centered candy. Spice up these homemade peanut butter cups to fit the holiday theme with pretty mini muffin liners and colored sprinkles. —LaVonne Hegland, St. Michael, Minnesota

Cinnamon Cherry Cobbler

It’s not a misprint—there really are just two ingredients in this spiced cherry dessert. It’s a good valentine’s day brunch idea for sweet-lovers, too. —Terri Robinson, Muncie, Indiana

Red Velvet Marble Cake

I watched my grandma prepare her red velvet showstopper many times for family get-togethers. The fluffy butter frosting perfectly complements the flavor of this gorgeous cake.—Jodi Anderson, Overbrook, Kansas

Mini Brownie Treats

I like to take these quick and easy treats to potlucks and family gatherings. They’re always well received! —Pam Kokes, North Loup, Nebraska

Chocolate Chip-Cherry Chunk Cookies

My grandmas and mom created this recipe with chocolate chips, cherries and spices, a combo of their favorite parts of different cookies. Then dad made ice cream to turn them into ice cream sandwiches. We’d eat these sandwiches in the summer heat, each bite cooling us as the ice cream melted down our arms. —Wade Rouse, Fennville, Michigan

Ganache-Topped Chocolate Cake

To say this cake is elegant would be an understatement. It’s worthy of special occasions, but once you learn how to make chocolate ganache, it’s so easy to whip together that you can enjoy it any day of the week. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Cheery Cherry Cookies

With a tall glass of ice-cold milk, a couple of these cherry cookies really hit the spot for dessert or a snack. The coconut and bits of cherries provide a fun look and texture.
—Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana

Red Velvet Spritz Cookies

I had never come across a red velvet spritz recipe, so I decided to create one. The hint of cocoa makes these taste like red velvet cake. Add peppermint flavoring for a little extra kick. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Dipped Cherry Cookies

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

Jumbo Brownie Cookies

Make these deeply fudgy cookies for a valentine’s day treat, and you’re sure to make an impression. A little espresso powder in the dough makes them over-the-top good. —Rebecca Cababa, Las Vegas, Nevada

Air-Fryer Mocha Pudding Cakes

Looking for a last-minute, speedy dessert to make for your loved one? Pop these mouthwatering mini cakes in the air fryer and you’ll have the a valentine’s day treat for two in no time.—Debora Simmons, Eglon, West Virginia

Heart’s Delight Eclair

This lovely and luscious treat is rumored to have been the favorite dessert of European royalty long ago. It’s a valentine’s day treat that’ll win over the hearts of everyone. —Lorene Milligan, Chemainus, British Columbia

Giant Buckeye Cookie

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

Butter Cookies

This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

We love these easy Valentine’s Day dinners, too.

Chocolate Bread Pudding

This is a fun recipe because the chocolate makes it different from traditional bread pudding. It's a rich, comforting dessert. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

Double Chocolate Martini

Is it a beverage or a dessert? Don’t let its looks fool you: This chocolate martini recipe is potent but good! It’s the perfect valentine’s day treat to start off a night out with your special one. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

Take a look at these romantic Valentine’s Day dinners to make at home.

Lemon Cheesecake Squares

Whether I'm hosting friends or sending a plate to work with my husband, these creamy elegant lemon cheesecake bars are always a hit. It's a wonderful make-ahead dessert that easily serves a large group.

Red Wine and Chocolate Cupcakes

Looking for the perfect valentine’s day treat to show off your love? These red wine and chocolate cupcakes are the perfect match for your special day. —Candace Cheney, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Looking for more ideas? Here’s our collection of the best romantic desserts.

Banana Brownies

This recipe comes from my Grandma Schlientz. Any time there are ripe bananas around our house, it’s banana brownie time! People are always surprised to learn that bananas are the secret ingredient. —Christine Mol, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Raspberry Chocolate Puffs

This chocolaty, flaky dessert is one of my favorite show-off recipes because it makes a spectacular presentation. The best part? It’s actually surprisingly easy and quick to make. —Anneliese Deising, Plymouth, Michigan

Pomegranate Cosmo

Every soiree needs a signature drink. Sugar dresses up this simple cosmo that lets you enjoy a cozy evening with friends and still shake things up. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Frozen Fruit Whip

A fast finale to any meal is as close as the freezer. Everyone has room for some of this light, refreshing dessert.—Tanya McKay, Wells, Nevada

Chocolate Pecan Fondue

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

Frosted Red Velvet Cookies

My student job in college was in the bakery. These dreamy morsels take me back to that special place and time. Red velvet lovers will appreciate this fun take on the cake. —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota

Chocolate Banana Bundles

Banana with chocolate is such an irresistible combo that I make this quick dessert often. You can also top these tasty bundles with the butter and brown sugar mixture left over from coating the bananas, or sprinkle on a dash of sea salt. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey

Old-Fashioned Hard Candy

The color of this old-fashioned hard candy is beautiful, and people are surprised by the wonderful watermelon flavor! —Amy Short, Milton, West Virginia

Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktails

This valentine’s day treat will add that final enchanting touch to your day. The cotton candy melts away, leaving behind its pretty pink color to fit the holiday theme.
—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Contest-Winning Easy Tiramisu

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

Sweetheart Coconut Cookies

Ruby red jam and coarse sugar add a festive look to these crisp sandwich cookies that are the perfect gift for loved ones on valentine’s day. —Jo Ellen Helmlinger, Columbus, Ohio

Spearmint Thins

No time to bake cookies from scratch? Create a tasty valentine’s day treat in little more than half an hour by doctoring butter-flavored crackers with vanilla chips and mint candies.—Kathleen Felton, Fairfax, Iowa

Berry Trifle

This Berry Trifle is a delicious salute to summer! I usually serve it during the summer when fresh berries are bountiful, but you can also prepare it with frozen cherries and light cherry pie filling during cooler months. —Brenda Paine, North Syracuse, New York

Cherry Almond Mousse Pie

Treat your loved ones to a luscious pie with chocolate, cherries and nuts in a creamy vanilla mousse. It’s a sweet yet refreshing valentine’s day treat. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas

Healthy Apple Crisp

This easy dish is a tradition in my family. It's as quick as a boxed cake mix but it's a healthier dessert choice. It's ideal in fall when it seems that everyone has a bag or two of fresh apples to give away! —Terri Wetzel, Roseburg, Oregon

Homemade Hot Cocoa

This homemade hot chocolate recipe will make people think you fussed, but it is so simple. —Cheryl Reitz, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Lava Chocolate Cakes

True decadence at its best, these chocolate lava cakes created by the Taste of Home Cooking School feature a warm, gooey chocolate center that oozes out onto the dessert plate. Whether you enjoy it garnished with a dollop of whipped cream or sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, you'll want to lick the plate clean!

Easy Lemon Berry Tartlets

These fruity, flaky tartlets filled with raspberries and topped with lemon-tinged cream cheese are a sweet ending to your valentine’s day. They are elegant yet come together quickly and easily. —Elizabeth Dehart, West Jordan, Utah

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pizza

Kids go crazy for this gooey dessert pizza, although adults snap it up too. Everyone loves the chewy crust and the amazingly delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter. —Bernice Arnett, Marshfield, Missouri

5-Ingredient Fudge

You’re moments away from a pan of creamy fudge. Just microwave, stir and spread. This easy homemade fudge recipe is the best for a valentine’s day treat to enjoy with others. —Sue Tucker, Edgemoor, South Carolina

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

This soft and chewy low-carb cookie recipe, developed by our Test Kitchen, calls for canola oil instead of butter to reduce the saturated fat. It's hard to eat just one!

Brownie Affogato Sundaes

We can’t resist brownie sundaes. I combined an affogato (coffee-based beverage) idea with a brownie to get this decadent sundae that mixes it all in there: warm, cold, sweet and salty. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington

Contest-Winning Mocha Fondue

At our friends’ 25th anniversary celebration, several couples had fun concocting this chocolate fondue. With fresh fruit, marshmallows, pretzels and vanilla wafers as dippers, you and your loved one will want to dive into this dessert for your own anniversary, or make it as a special valentine’s day treat to show your love! —Karen Boehner, Glen Elder, Kansas

Heavenly Filled Strawberries

These luscious stuffed berries are the perfect bite-sized valentine’s day treat that everyone will be gushing over. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia

Cherry Kiss Cookies

Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored valentine’s day treats look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin

Rocky Road Cookie Cups

Traditional rocky road ice cream has nuts, marshmallows and chocolate. Using prepared cookie dough makes it easy to put the flavors together in these fast, kid-friendly rocky road cookis. —Charlotte McDaniel, Jacksonville, AL

Cherry Cream Cheese Dessert

Pretty layers of graham cracker crumbs, tasty filling and fruit topping make these cherry cream cheese desserts a standout! For a nice change, you can substitute blueberry pie filling or another fruit flavor for the filling called for in the recipe. —Melody Mellinger, Myerstown, Pennsylvania

Valentine Cutouts

Cool, fruity and creamy, these gelatin valentine’s day 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

Marshmallow Pops

Making these pops is a fun activity for a children’s valentine’s day party because any age can participate. Customize these valentine’s day treats for the holiday by rolling them in pink and red sprinkles. —Marcia Porch, Winter Park, Florida

Quick Cherry Turnovers

Refrigerated crescent rolls let you make these fruit-filled pastries in a hurry. My family loves these turnovers for breakfast, but they’re so delicious, they’d be welcome any time of the day. Feel free to experiment with other pie fillings as well. —Elleen Oberrueter, Danbury, Iowa

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

This cookie recipe—a favorite of our four children—has been in my collection for years. Sometimes I'll substitute mint-flavored chips for the semisweet chocolate chips. Either way, the chocolate cookies disappear quickly. This is one of our favorite easy chocolate chip cookie recipes. —Sheri Ziesemer, Olympia, Washington

No-Bake Chocolate-Pecan Tartlets

At the last minute, I frantically came up with this treat for a holiday tea. The tartlets were quickly gobbled up. Now, I make them for our annual Teacher Taster's Choice and special family gatherings. —Joy Johnson, Culbertson, Montana

Black Bean Brownies

You’d never guess these rich, velvety chocolate treats contain a can of black beans. Who would have thought black bean brownies would be so amazing? —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island

Mocha Pudding Cakes

These mouthwatering mini cakes make the perfect valentine’s day 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

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Crazy about chocolate chips? This chewy, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie has plenty, not to mention lots of heart-healthy oatmeal. The gang’ll come back for seconds so this big batch recipe is perfect. This is the best 'oat choc chip cookies recipe' you'll ever taste! —Diane Neth, Menno, South Dakota

Homemade Butterfinger Bites

Bent on using up a stash of leftover candy corn, I decided to experiment. Turns out, if you melt it, mix it with peanut butter and coat the balls with chocolate, you get a softer, denser version of a Butterfinger bite. Who knew? They’re delicious! —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Warm Chocolate Melting Cups

These little cakes have become a favorite of our guests. They are always surprised that such a chocolaty dessert is so light­—less than 200 calories apiece! —Kissa Vaughn, Troy, Texas

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

These valentine’s day treats feature white chocolate and cranberries for a delightful taste. They add a perfect loving feel to any cookie tray. —Donna Beck, Scottdale, Pennsylvania

Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse

I love chocolate and this is so quick and easy to make that I can surprise my family anytime of the year. Feel free to add toppings of your choice. —Karla Krohn, Madison, Wisconsin

Little Holiday Cakes

My college friend shared this cupcake recipe that has pie crust on the bottom, raspberry jam in the middle and cake on top—scrumptious for a buffet or potluck. —Dana Beckstrom, Salt Lake City, Utah