Love is in the air! It’s Valentine’s Day!

But it’s just another ordinary day in this household.

My hubby and I stopped celebrating Valentine’s Day after a few years of dating.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of having my sweetheart declare his love for me, whisk me off to a romantic evening, all while being showered with gifts.

And it’s not that we dislike the holiday or have anything against it.

We just decided that it was one less thing we have to celebrate since our anniversary AND both of our birthdays are close to that date.

I have to admit that I do miss it though.

One year, hubby (who was still my boyfriend back then) was deployed overseas for the Marines. It would be 10 long months before we were thankfully reunited again.

Our relationship was still pretty new at the time. We hardly knew each other but our connection was strong.

I missed him horribly even though he had only been gone for a few weeks. It was our first Valentine’s day apart.

While it seemed like everyone around me was struck by Cupid’s arrow, I was feeling pretty depressed and lonely.

The next day there was a knock at the door. 

Who could it be? Probably someone to visit my roommate.

I opened the door and was immediately engulfed by balloons. A white teddy bear trapped inside a huge clear balloon was staring right back at me.

Oh… there was more.

The delivery man handed me the rest of my surprise.

A big box of red roses with a few heart-shaped helium balloons tied to it.

An adorable and almost life-like stuffed puppy.

And a card, which I later discovered had the most thoughtful handwritten note inside.
*swoon*

What is all this?!? I was so confused.

After I thanked the delivery man and closed the door, tears immediately raced down my cheeks as I fell to the floor. I had completely lost it.

I had found out later that before my sweetie left the country, he set all this up…JUST FOR ME!

He’s definitely a keeper!

Even though we didn’t get to spend the day together, it was my most memorable Valentine’s Day ever!

Nowadays, it’s just another quiet night at home with the family. If we’re feeling extra special, we’d treat ourselves with a homemade dessert.

As I now watch my daughter grow up, I feel the urge to make Valentine’s Day special for her. This year, I’m starting a tradition of baking a dessert that our family can enjoy at the end of the night.

What better way to rekindle the holiday than something sweet for my sweeties? It’s another way of showing my family how much they mean to me.

Dessert Ideas for Valentine’s Day:

With that said, here are 8 dreamy desserts that you’ll continue to think about long after the last bite.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Chocolate lava cake is one of those desserts that look really intimidating but it’s actually pretty easy to make. It’s so decadent and almost sinful.

*wink wink*

I usually have all the ingredients in my kitchen so this would be my go-to dessert for a romantic date at home. It’s quick but still fancy enough to make the night feel special.

Plus, chocolate oozing out of the middle is a pretty amazing “wow” factor.

Individual Tiramisu Cups

I was first introduced to tiramisu at Olive Garden during my late teenage years. It was the best thing I’ve ever tasted!

I would make excuses to go there, just so I could eat it again and again.

I love the strong coffee flavor that this recipe has. Angie also notes that the rum is optional, but c’mon…

It really isn’t tiramisu without the booze! At least that’s just my opinion.

This is the ideal dessert for two because you don’t have to make a big pan of it. It’s a great miniature version of a classic dessert. 

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Sometimes I just want a reason to pull out my kitchen torch and play pastry chef for the night. Creme brulee is one of those recipes that allows me to do that.

What I love about this dessert is that I can make it ahead of time and torch the top right before I’m about to serve it.

Adding the flecks of vanilla bean into the custard raises the bar and makes it so much more luscious.

Chocolate Souffle With Creme Anglaise

When I hear the word “souffle”, I picture a fancy dessert that you would get at an expensive restaurant.

I’ve only ever eaten this a few times but I’m always blown away by how amazing it tastes. I can’t believe that I’ve never tried to make this before!

I absolutely love the addition of the Creme Anglaise to make it that much more decadent.

Churros Con Chocolate

Spain is by far one of my favorite places to visit. I would move to Madrid in a heartbeat.

Every time I eat churros con chocolate, it immediately takes me back to that happy place.

I remember the very first time that I had it at the famous Chocolateria San Gines. It was like heaven in my mouth.

That alone could be a good enough reason for me to move there tomorrow. But I don’t think my hubby and daughter would be on board with that rash decision.

This is a pretty interactive dessert. I usually only serve one bowl of chocolate so it gives us a good reason to snuggle up and share.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Because this is a Valentine’s Day post, I just had to include something red in here.

Red velvet cake is always a crowd favorite every time we make it for a party.

It’s rich, red and velvety (hence the name).

But what really gives it a boost into the “OMG, I have to have it” category is the cream cheese frosting. The tang perfectly balances the cake’s bold flavor and brings out the hint of buttermilk in the batter.

I like to garnish mine with chocolate shavings to give it a boost of chocolate flavor.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Eating a cheesecake is so satisfying. I prefer mine to be super smooth and creamy but not too heavy.

I like to keep it simple. A basic cheesecake topped with a homemade strawberry sauce. Nothing crazy.

Also, the graham cracker crust is a MUST!

I’ve had a few without the crust and it’s not the same. Then I feel like I’m just eating sweetened cream cheese.

Apple Cider Doughnuts

It’s always exciting when autumn rolls around. Pumpkin everything, hayrides and best of all, apple cider doughnuts.

I could eat these all year round!

I never understood why it’s such a big thing in the fall, but then people forget about it. You never really hear anything about it for the rest of the year.

These doughnuts are a great way to finish a casual dinner. They can be made ahead of time so you can just sit back and enjoy the rest of the night.

A Sweet Ending to Your Date Night

Wow your sweetheart with one of these desserts. It’ll make a memorable ending to your Valentine’s Day dinner.

These recipes are also perfect for a date night or even a small dinner party any time of the year.

Which of these desserts is your favorite? Do you have more than one?