Recipes to Try This Valentine’s Day

Everyone loves a good treat for Valentine’s Day. Maybe you’re making something for a friend or family member, or perhaps just a treat for yourself. Here are 3 recipes to try this Valentine’s Day.

White Chocolate-Strawberry Snack Mix

This snack mix is perfect if you’re looking for an easy snack to make and munch on while going about your day. To start, you’ll need:

1.2 ounces freeze-dried strawberries (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

5 cups crisp rice cereal squares, such as Rice Chex

4 cups honey whole-grain oat cereal, such as Honey Nut Cheerios

Three 4-ounce bars of white chocolate, chopped

1 cup pink candy-coated chocolates, such as pink M&M’s

1/4 cup red and white sprinkles, such as Jumbo Hearts and sprinkles

First, pulse the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until they are very finely ground or powdery in texture. If you don’t have a food processor, you can put the strawberries in a bag and crush them with your hands or a rolling pin. Pour the strawberries into a small bowl and whisk in 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar. Grab a larger bowl and combine the rice cereal squares and honey whole-grain oat cereal. Next, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate in 15-second intervals. Pour the melted white chocolate into the cereal mixture and gently mix it until it is evenly coated. After, pour the strawberry sugar mixture into the cereal mixture and mix until everything is coated pink. Finally, add in the candy-coated chocolates and sprinkles, and enjoy!

Red Velvet Cookies

If you’re more experienced in the kitchen, then this cookie recipe is for you. The recipe takes about an hour and a half to make so be sure you’re prepared to take on the challenge. To start, you’ll need:

1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature

¾ cup brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon milk

¾ teaspoon gel red food coloring

1 cup white or semi-sweet chocolate chips

First, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt and set the bowl aside. Next, take a hand mixer or stand mixer and beat together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until it’s creamy. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Take the bowl of dry ingredients and pour it into the mixer, add the milk and food coloring and mix until everything is combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Cover and chill the dough in the fridge for at least 1 hour. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Once the dough is chilled, scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of dough and place them 3 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake them for 11-13 minutes. Once they are done, let them cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once the cookies are completely cooled, enjoy them with a glass of milk!

Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats

If you’re looking for a delicious treat with less work, these Rice Krispie treats are for you. These treats take almost no time to make and will have you begging for more. To start, you’ll need:

6 tablespoons salted butter

7 cups mini marshmallows

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries

6 cups Rice Krispie cereal

1 cup white chocolate chips

First, line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper or foil and grease it with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Bring a pot to low low heat and melt the butter in it. Once the butter is melted, mix in 6 cups of marshmallows until melted. Mix in the freeze-dried strawberries and vanilla extract until everything is melted and combined. Remove the pot from the heat and mix in the rice krispie treats. Add in the remaining cup of marshmallows and white chocolate chips and mix until everything is evenly distributed. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and gently press it into the pan. Let it sit for 30-60 minutes, slice, and enjoy!

If you tried the recipes, let me know in the comments!

Sources

Kitchen, Food Network, and Amanda Neal. “White Chocolate-Strawberry Snack Mix.” Food Network, 20 Nov. 2020, www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/white-chocolate-strawberry-snack-mix-9541266. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

“Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies.” Sally’s Baking Addiction, 13 Dec. 2013, sallysbakingaddiction.com/red-velvet-chocolate-chip-cookies/.

Donangelo, Kathryn. “Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats (Easy Valentine’s Day Dessert).” Kathryn’s Kitchen, 18 Jan. 2023, kathrynskitchenblog.com/strawberry-rice-krispie-treats/#recipe. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.