These Valentine’s Day desserts are my favorite kinds of sweet treats. Maybe it’s because they don’t need to be over-the-top to feel special. A little chocolate, a little something creamy, or maybe a warm dessert shared straight from the pan. That’s my idea of romance!
Photo: Gayle McLeod
I’ve made every dessert on this list many times over, whether for a cozy date night in or Galentine’s party. And while they range from classic and elegant to secretly healthy, they all have one thing in common—they’re simple to make and guaranteed to impress. So whether you’re cooking for someone special or simply treating yourself, these are my go-to Valentine’s Day desserts. And they’re great to make alongside my romantic Valentine’s Day dinner ideas!
This is the Valentine's dessert I love making when I want something effortless but still undeniably romantic. You really can’t beat the combo of juicy strawberries and rich melted chocolate. It's classic!
Silky, rich, and surprisingly easy, this chocolate mousse is one of the best Valentine's Day treats you can make. I love serving this in small glasses for date night. Plus, it’s a great make-ahead dessert, which is always a win.
This is my favorite 2-ingredient dessert that always feels so luxurious. The combination of hot espresso with chilled vanilla ice cream is unmatched, but SO easy to make!
I love that this cake is naturally gluten-free and feels incredibly indulgent without being complicated. It's rich, fudgy, and intensely chocolatey. Basically a dream for chocolate lovers.
This is another amazing option for a luscious custard. But my favorite part has to be the macerated strawberries on top. All together, it's the perfect dessert that's creamy, lightly sweet, and so refreshing.
Warm, cozy, and full of caramelized goodness, Bananas Foster is such an underrated Valentine’s dessert. I love how quickly it comes together, and that flambé is such a fun kitchen moment! Serve it over vanilla ice cream for the ultimate cozy, romantic night.
If you love creamy custards, I can't recommend this French dessert enough! It's incredibly creamy, deeply chocolatey, and perfect for serving in individual jars.
This light and fluffy raspberry soufflé recipe is naturally sweetened with honey and perfectly pink from the raspberries. It truly is the color of love.
This is the only chocolate cake you should be making! Each slice is perfectly rich, moist, and no one will even know it's gluten-free and dairy-free. Plus, the chocolate buttercream frosting is oh, so good.
While you can make my paleo brownies, these sweet potato brownies are one of my favorite “secretly healthy” Valentine's Day treats. They’re fudgy, chocolatey, and no one ever guesses they're made with sweet potatoes!
Whenever I want a fun, shareable dessert that feels casual but Valentine's Day worthy—I make this chocolate hummus! Pair it with fresh strawberries, apples, or crackers for the ultimate Valentine's grazing board.
This one is for the mint-chocolate lovers (myself included). It’s light, creamy, and layered with just the right amount of chocolate richness. I love making this when I want something that feels celebratory and a little different from the usual chocolate dessert lineup.
This is the best combination of a crumbly chocolate crust, a smooth chocolate ganache filling, and a silky chocolate glaze. Plus, you can make this dessert up to two days in advance!
These cupcakes are my go-to when I want individual desserts that still feel festive. They’re soft, chocolatey, and a bite-sized variation of my paleo chocolate cake!
This is one of my all-time favorite healthy desserts. It’s a creamy and decadent blend of avocados, cacao powder, coconut milk, and a splash of vanilla, with the hazelnuts providing a delicious crunch!
If you make any of these Valentine’s Day dessert recipes, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
About the author
Lisa Bryan
Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.
