17 Red Velvet Desserts to Make This Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is one of our favorite food holidays—it’s the perfect excuse to treat ourselves to a big box of chocolates, add some heart-shaped accents to whatever we’re cooking up and, of course, indulge in plenty of swoon-worthy desserts. And, while chocolate tends to get most of the attention on February 14th, we’re here to remind you that red velvet (which only contains a little bit of cocoa!) is every bit as festive and delicious. From Valentine’s day cookies and cupcakes to creamy-dreamy cheesecakes, there are plenty of ways to turn your favorite red velvet-inspired sweets into a festive dessert—starting with this gorgeous Valentine’s Day cake. Adding strawberries to a red velvet cake is a fun twist on the classic chocolate-and-strawberry combo. Whole strawberries hidden inside the cream cheese filling make a dramatic reveal when the cake is sliced open.

There’s no need to commit to a big-batch dessert for a date night or other small celebration. This recipe for whoopie pies with rich cream cheese frosting sandwiched between tender red velvet cookies is perfectly portioned for two. Plus, you can have them ready in just an hour, including cooling, and no electric mixer or special equipment is needed.

This pie reveals two lovely layers when sliced: A smooth cream cheese layer on the bottom and sweet red velvet cake batter on top. Be sure to let the pie cool completely before slicing and serving. It’s delicious finished with whipped cream, but you can always slather on a thin layer of your favorite cream cheese frosting if you’re feeling extra-decadent.

What could be more tempting than a layer of red velvet-swirled cheesecake on top of a rich, chocolately brownie?