Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Valentine's Day Sweet Treats

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Even though the "day of love" is just around the corner, I'm treating my sweet tooth this entire month! 

This is most definitely the one time of the year where you'll find me surrounded by cheesy decorations and an abnormal amount of pink tones on my Instagram feed. But, it's February, and rules are meant to be broken sometimes. 

In an effort to help you WOW your sweetie this Valentine's Day (or just treat yourself, I fully support that!), I've rounded up my favorite recipes for you to spread some love! Let's kick things off with some one-bite wonders, shall we?

Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups


MINI STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CUPS

Ingredients:
Dough - 
6 Tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt


Filling - 
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup strawberries, diced

Instructions:
  1. Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until creamy. Add egg, almond extract and vanilla. Beat well!
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture and stir until well combined.
  3. Roll into 1" balls and place in well greased mini muffin pans. Make an indentation in the dough with your thumb (or the back of a spoon).
  4. Bake at 350 degree F for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned on the edges. Use a spoon to press the dough down in the middle of the cup, and allow to cool on cooling rack completely. 
  5. For filling: Beat whipping cream until stiff and set aside. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add whipped cream, and beat together until well combined. Fill cookie cups with filling.
  6. Top with diced strawberries and serve! 

RED VELVET CRINKLE COOKIES

Ingredients:
1 package Duncan Hines Signature Red Velvet Cake mix
2 large eggs
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp cornstarch

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degree F, and grease baking sheets.
  2. Combine cake mix, eggs, butter and lemon zest in large bowl with wooden spoon until blended.
  3. Blend sugar and cornstarch, set aside.
  4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in sugar mixture. Place 2-inches apart on prepared pans. 
  5. Bake 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges are set. Cool cookies 1 minute on pan, and then allow to cool completely on wire rack. Enjoy!

Strawberry White Chocolate Truffle Pie

STRAWBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PIE (W/ OATMEAL PIE CRUST)

Ingredients:
Crust -
1 cup quick oats
1/3 cup sifted flour
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup butter (5 Tblsp plus 1 tsp), cold

Filling - 
2 1/2 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen (I used fresh)
1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted
1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup agave
1/8 tsp salt

Directions:
  1. For the crust - Combine the oats, flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Press it firmly on the bottom and sides of your lightly greased pie pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Once cooled, fill with filling.
  2. For the filling - In a bowl, cover the cashews with water and let sit at least 4 hours. Then drain and pat dry. Combine all ingredients into high-powered blender or food processor. Blend until a super-smooth texture is achieved. Can add more sweetener here, until desired taste is reached. Pour into prepared pie crust and refrigerate. *Top with white chocolate shavings and extra strawberry pieces, if desired!
V-DAY PARTY POPCORN SNACK MIX

Ingredients (mix options):
Mini pretzels
Skinny Pop popcorn
Cereal (Chex and Cheerios work best)
Peanuts (or any nut of choice)
M&Ms or other bite-sized candies
Sprinkles
Chocolate Chips
Potato Chips
Candy Melts (pink, white and red)

Directions:
  1. In a large roasting pan, mix all chosen ingredients except M&M's, sprinkles and candy melts. *Don't over fill the dish, you'll need room to toss all together! 
  2. Melt candy melts in a microwave safe dish in 30 second intervals until almost melted. Stir until completely melted and smooth. Use a spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate over the dish of snacks - as much as desired. Mix as needed to coat. Once mixed, but the coating is still warm and melty, add sprinkles of your choice and M&M's to the mix. Stir to combine.
  3. Spread the snack mixture out onto a baking sheet and allow to cool. Break apart as desired and store in airtight bags/container. *Party mix with popcorn will remain fresh tasting about 2-3 days, and a bit longer without popcorn.
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting


RED VELVET CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients:
Cake - 
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 oz red food coloring
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp vinegar

Frosting - 
12 oz cream cheese, softened
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
6 Tbsp salted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 9-inch round baking pans well and set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl add flour, baking soda and salt. Sift in cocoa powder then whisk mixture 20 seconds, set aside.
  3. In another bowl, whip together sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Mix in vegetable oil. Blend in eggs one at a time, mixing until well combined after each addition. Mix in egg yolks and then add red food coloring.
  4. In a measuring cup, measure out buttermilk and whisk in vanilla extract and vinegar. In rotations in large bowl, add 1/3 flour mixture and alternate with 1/2 buttermilk mixture, mixing until well combined before any new additions. Divide mixture evenly between three baking pans. Bake for 26-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in cake pan for 10 minutes and allow to cool completely on wire rack. Once cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
  5. For the frosting - In a bowl, whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Once you achieve thick texture, coat each layer of your cake with frosting and serve! 

Who's ready (or already) to stuff their faces with sweets this entire weekend?! Do you have a favorite V-Day treat?
xx,
B

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13 comments

  1. i am so in for anything red velvet! these all look amazing! my hubby made me smores rice krispy treats yesterday as an early treat and they are so good!

    xoxo, Preeti
    www.ninesto5.com

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  2. Whyyyyyy did you post all these amazing recipes? They all look so yummy and I want to make them all!
    Karen | GlamKaren.com

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  3. yum! i'm having a brunch on Saturday! still need to come up with my menu. pinning this!
    elle
    Southern Elle Style

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. My husband's favorite cake choice is red velvet. It would make a great v-day surprise!

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  6. OMG drooling! I am a huge lover of all things red velvet!!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  7. these look so delicious!! I love the little strawberries!

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  8. My mouth is watering! I need a slice of red velvet right now!

    Sportsanista

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  9. OMG mouth = watering. These looks so pretty!!! How do you do the?! I am so not domestic.

    Cameron Proffitt

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  10. I'm getting a serious sweet tooth just looking at the post! OMG yummmm!

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  11. Everything looks delicious!!
    My biggest qualm with red velvet cake is that it's only a color and not a flavor :( Lol When I first found that out, I was like "...this cake lied to me?"

    But your treats look yummy!

    www.LoveNiki.com

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  12. Oh my goodness! All of this looks so delicious!

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