Chocolate Dessert Recipes for Valentine’s Day

Yossy Arefi’s chocolate lava muffins could be made for 2, a wonderfully romantic dessert.Ryan Liebe for The New York Instances. Meals Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Printed Feb. 7, 2025Up to date Feb. 7, 2025

Milk chocolate is nice for a fast hit of nostalgia or sugar, however darkish chocolate is for actual chocolate lovers. The desserts beneath spotlight the true complexity of this ingredient — its savoriness, its fruitiness and acidity, and its sweetness. Make these chocolate-forward desserts for the good friend, member of the family or associate who has actually caught with you thru life’s bitter moments — and its candy ones. Learn on for darkish chocolate recipes that allow this ingredient’s richness shine and, sure, fulfill on a degree of pure deliciousness, too.

This elegant dessert from Yossy Arefi puffs up like a soufflé within the oven earlier than you enable it to deliberately collapse. The ensuing cake has a wealthy, creamy middle and a lightweight, crisp exterior you received’t quickly neglect. And to make it much more memorable — and chocolaty — use chocolate with round 70 p.c cacao.

Recipe: Chocolate Soufflé Cake

These Valentine’s Day classics from Eric Kim are a crowd pleaser, certain. However they’re additionally an schooling: Making them may even train you learn how to mood chocolate, and understanding this important method — which supplies that shiny, completely snappable chocolate coating you see in professionally made sweet — pays dividends in future desserts.

Recipe: Chocolate-Coated Strawberries

This two-ingredient dessert from David Tanis is the right factor to make and stash in your freezer. Throw it on a platter with berries and your favourite store-bought cookie, and also you’ve bought a completely hands-off dessert the following time you host visitors or want an emergency candy snack.

Recipe: Pistachio Chocolate Bark

This warming chocolate beverage was first ready 1000’s of years in the past by Mesoamerican girls who drank it for its medicinal properties. This model, which Kiera Wright-Ruiz tailored from Churrería El Moro in Mexico Metropolis, is greatest made with Celyon cinnamon, which is milder and sweeter than cassia cinnamon. Commenters level out that you could riff on the unique recipe and make it spicier by including black pepper, cayenne or cloves.

Recipe: Mexican Scorching Chocolate

For a dessert that delivers each sophistication and a contact of nostalgia, make Yewande Komolafe’s sandwich cookies. Marshmallow fluff nestled between malted chocolate shortbread evokes childhood cups of scorching cocoa, however a darkish chocolate ganache topping makes these stuffed with chocolaty depth match for adults.

Recipe: Malt Chocolate and Marshmallow Sandwiches

This Melissa Clark recipe, like many chocolate cake recipes earlier than it, harnesses the facility of espresso to make the chocolate taste all of the deeper. It additionally requires soaking the cake in whiskey, which provides notes of caramel, praline and booze. The whiskey taste is distinguished, so make certain to make use of one you actually love.

Recipe: Whiskey-Soaked Bundt Cake

The items of 70 p.c darkish chocolate folded into the batter are solely the beginning on the subject of refined, savory flavors. The pastry chef Zoe Kanan additionally consists of nutty components like black sesame paste, sesame seeds and rye flour. Your cookie eaters in all probability received’t be capable to establish seaweed’s taste outright, however the saltiness and umami taste can have them coming again for extra.

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies With Black Sesame and Seaweed

Mild and fluffy however nonetheless so wealthy, chocolate mousse is a type of kitchen wonders that appear like they need to be achievable solely in eating places — however it’s truly really easy to make at house. Right here, David Tanis forgoes folding in whipped cream (as many recipes name for), opting as an alternative to make use of egg whites for elevate. Because of this, you get a extra sturdy chocolate taste. Splashes of espresso and citrus add intrigue, and the candied ginger, a beautiful garnish, additionally lends a welcome kick.

Recipe: Darkish Chocolate Mousse With Candied Ginger

Do-it-yourself ice cream can really feel intimidating, and to reduce that intimidation issue, Melissa Clark skips the fussy custard-making on this recipe. Just a few tablespoons of bourbon come to the rescue, softening the feel of the ice cream and guaranteeing that it received’t freeze strong.

Recipe: Bittersweet Chocolate Ice Cream

Lava muffins had been one thing of a restaurant fad within the ’90s, however that’s a part of their attraction. It’s romantic to make Yossy Arefi’s tackle this dessert in a 10-ounce baking dish completely sized to serve two. However you may as well divide the recipe into two muffins and bake them in ramekins. In reality, right here’s an thought: Have one cake solo on the evening of Valentine’s Day, then eat the opposite for breakfast the following day.

Recipe: Chocolate Lava Cake for Two

A number of complicated flavors be a part of forces on this recipe from Samantha Seneviratne — Earl Gray, orange zest, and, in fact, darkish chocolate. The Earl Gray provides refined floral notes, however some commenters counsel rising the quantity of tea to make it extra distinguished. Fold in chopped items of darkish chocolate slightly than utilizing chips so that you get pleasant, uneven pockets of melty richness.

Recipe: Earl Gray Tea Cake With Darkish Chocolate and Orange Zest

Cherries and chocolate are a beloved taste mixture for a cause, and these buttery shortbread bars from Melissa Clark bear that out. Cherry jam supplies a vivid pop in opposition to a wealthy, creamy ganache. That stated, you possibly can select any taste of jam you need. It’s non-obligatory so as to add a splash of booze to the ganache, however for those who do, select one which matches your jam taste, like Kirsch for cherry and Grand Marnier for orange.

Recipe: Darkish Chocolate-Cherry Ganache Bars

This pudding from Melissa Clark combines the deep chocolate taste of a French chocolate custard with the convenience of an American stovetop chocolate pudding. Heavy cream and brown sugar give this an additional creamy, fudgy texture. Prime with crème fraîche for a vivid distinction to the wealthy chocolate.

Recipe: Darkish Chocolate Pudding

Typically you need a straightforward dessert; others, you need to make a showstopper. For these instances, there’s this chocolate truffle tart from Erin Jeanne McDowell. A press-in crust and an easier-than-it-looks ganache filling make this achievable even for newbie bakers. You possibly can prime the tart with home made truffles rolled in cocoa powder, chopped nuts, and vibrant freeze-dried fruit powder for a enjoyable challenge, however it’s additionally advantageous to make use of store-bought truffles.

Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Tart

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