Studies have shown that baking altruistically for others helps lower your stress levels and make you feel more satisfied when you bake. So, why not spend a weekend with your apron and mixing bowl as you whip up some stress-busting Valentine’s Day treats for those you love?
Cherry Pie Pops
These miniature heart-shaped pies are just the right balance of tart and sweet, and are easier to make than you might think! The filling is just your favorite cherry jam, but you could also use any other flavor of jam, peanut butter, or chocolate-hazelnut spread. While the recipe calls for homemade pie dough, don’t let that keep you from whipping up these confections – just use store-bought dough.
Meringue Hearts
Learning to bake with meringue opens up a whole new world of confectionery delights! These sweet pink hearts are easier than you’d think to make and are sure to delight your friends and family. As a tip, before you make the meringue, wipe out the bowl of your stand mixer with a little lemon juice or vinegar to remove any residual traces of grease, which inhibits your egg whites from whipping up properly.
Valentine’s Day Doughnuts
Who doesn’t love holiday-themed doughnuts? This recipe calls for baking the doughnuts rather than frying them, which makes them more attainable for the home baker. Even better, you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry already! Candy melts make the icing in this recipe, keeping things easy and mess-free!
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
If your childhood was filled with ooey-gooey chocolate and vanilla whoopie pies, this red velvet version will feel like the grown-up equivalent. You can shape them into hearts by tracing heart shapes onto your parchment paper and piping the batter inside the shapes.
Heart-Shaped S’more Cookies
Don’t worry, this tasty, kid-approved treat is super easy thanks to pre-made heart-shaped marshmallows. Plus, the whole batch comes together in under 10 minutes!
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Chocolate Covered Pretzels
To make this classic salty-sweet treat Valentine-themed, you’ll use pink, red, white, and classic chocolate candy melts for dipping. Add in some heart-shaped sprinkles and you’ve got the easiest Valentine’s treat ever.
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