A Bit of Chocolate for Valentine's Day

It’s quite curious how we’ve turned a martyr’s feast day into a much-anticipated date to have a romantic meal or to give a loved one something sweet. And there seems to be a popular consensus that chocolate is the most romantic sweet treat of all. Chocolate is even a common balm for the lonely soul, so if romance is not in order for St. Valentine’s Day, chocolate often still is.

I’m a little disappointed that there isn’t more chocolate in The Messy Apron Archives. (There are a lot of chocolate chips, but I’ve kept this list to desserts in the mostly chocolate range.) I think most of the major dessert groups are represented, though, from cookies and candies to cakes and pies.

Here are all the most decadent heavily-chocolated sweet treats from The Messy Apron Archives:

For cake, there’s Mulled Wine Chocolate Cake, which is tipsy-ed up a bit with red wine and spices, and Hazelnut Cake with Chocolate Glaze, which might break my rule of needing to be mostly chocolate to be included here, but the chocolate topping on this cake brings it to the right level.

Not much is cuter than cupcakes (except for your Sweet Baboo, of course), so here's Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

 

And, for a flourless chocolate treat, there’s this Flourless Bittersweet Chocolate Torte.

Cookies and bars are a quicker to get on the table than some other desserts if you’re in a hurry. These Mint Chocolate Cookies can probably be adapted to have more chocolate or some other flavor you love instead of the mint if you like.

 

 

And Cocoa Chocolate Chip Brownies and Irish Cream Brownies need no extra cheerleading, I’m sure.

Speaking of Irish cream, this Chocolate Irish Cream Cheesecake is a winner, too. 

 

One might not be thinking of ice cream at this cold time of year, but when it’s Valentine’s Day and chocolate is involved, the cold doesn’t really seem to matter. Rich Chocolate Ice Cream is great on its own, garnishing a cake, or between your favorite cookies. Chocolate Mint Ice Cream with Andes Mints is delicious, too.

 

For pie, there’s this Chocolate Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Marshmallow Topping

Or, again with the mint, Peppermint Brownie Pie.

If candies are your favorite, you can go homemade with Bittersweet Almond Amaretto Truffles.

For pure creamy comfort, you can’t beat Chocolate Pudding, especially if you’re eating the whole batch all by yourself.

And finally, this Chocolate Cookie Butter can be part of a Valentine’s breakfast, used to doctor up store-bought cookies, or, if Valentine’s day is not for you, you can curl up on the couch with a jar of it and a whole bag of pretzels. No one would dare to judge.

After all, we’re all human, and humans are the kind of creatures who grow an ancient execution into a romantic, or at least friendly, holiday to get us through the rest of winter.