Valentine’s Day treats: A tradition of decadence
There is never a bad time to show your people how much they’re loved, but Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate love. And we say what better way to honor this than with delicious Valentine’s Day desserts?
Many people believe that Valentine’s Day, as its been celebrated for centuries, was influenced by the ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia, which coincidentally, fell every year on the 15th of February.
The Romans were known for their great feasts and offerings, which usually included lots of wine and sweets, so it doesn’t seem like a stretch, given how much we celebrate February 14 by indulging lavishly in sweets — and possibly wine, too!
(But for the record, historians think Lupercalia and Valentine’s Day are unrelated and that the date similarity is truly just a coincidence. For one thing, Lupercalia was more brutal and bloody than romantic.)
In any case, today — and for most of American history — our Valentine’s Day traditions extend beyond celebrating only our relationship partners.
Celebrate love with delicious homemade Valentine’s Day desserts
Valentine’s Day celebrations now include parents and grandparents, siblings and children, friends and classmates or coworkers — anyone we especially care about and to whom we want to extend a token of our affection.
A lot of us celebrate with Valentine’s Day treats like flowers, candy, cards, and gift baskets. But there are many other ways to show your loved ones how much you care on this special day.
One of our favorite traditions is making homemade sweet treats for our Valentine/s. You might start with heart-shaped sandwiches for breakfast or brunch, heart-shaped sandwiches for lunch or a snack.
Just make sure you knock their socks off at some point in the day with one of these decadent Valentine’s Day desserts!
SEE MORE: Look what you can do for Valentine’s Day! Make these cute homemade Valentines to share (1981)
Valentine’s Day dessert ideas
This charmingly vintage homemade "Love Me Tender" Valentine cake with fluffy white lollipop frosting is decorated with crushed cherry candy. For Valentine’s Day, Washington’s Birthday or any day, give them something made with love for dessert, like these deliciously indulgent rocky road bars and a sweetheart fudge pie! This fresh and gorgeous dessert practically screams romance! Four thin yellow cake layers tower upward – separated by thick creamy whipped cream with fresh berries – in this delicious classic strawberry torte recipe from the 60s! Make this pink heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s Day -- or a bridal party or for a birthday, for a wedding anniversary, or just to please someone you love any time of the year. This spectacular and colorful dessert is sweet and simple and sure to impress your beloved Valentine! Down to the wire? No worries! Pudding mix and whipped topping combine with velvety cream cheese to create a sinfully delicious dessert that only takes 20 minutes to make. Thank heaven. Originally promoted for Christmas back in the day, we know heart cookies are perfect year-round -- and that goes double for Valentine's Day. Just customize your heart-cookie decorating to be seasonally-appropriate! This mildly-flavored and lightly-sweetened cookie is just right for those whose tooth isn't all that sweet. Is your Valentine's love language chocolate?? If so, check out this classic and oh-so-decadent recipe for a chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake – a delicious retro dessert from 1990! The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right? Okay, it’s cliche, we know, but the old-fashioned dating advice in this charming ad isn’t the worst the 50s had to offer. Anyway, Valentine’s Day is always the perfect excuse to make a sweetly pink cake — whatever the era and whomever the lucky recipient happens to be! Celebrating Valentine's Day as a family? This classic retro no-bake cheesecake is a cinch to make -- even kids can do it! -- and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Two deliciously festive pink vintage cherry cake recipes here – one version made with boxed mix, and the other made from scratch. Both perfect for Valentine's Day -- have a look! Love is love is love! This rainbow cake recipe from 1962 just hits different when you're baking it for your 21st century Valentine. 😉 If you didn't make fudge for Christmas this winter, you can make it up for Valentine's Day. We have an amazing collection of recipes, from super-easy, no-fail fudge, to advanced level fudgemaking, depending on how ambitious (or infatuated) you're feeling!
Vintage Valentine cake with lollipop frosting: Retro recipe from the 40s
Sweetheart fudge pie & Rocky road bar recipes from 1982
Classic strawberry torte recipe (1967)
Make a sweet heart-shaped cake for Valentine's Day -- the old-fashioned way (1949)
Jell-O Crown Jewel retro dessert (1957)
Striped Delight vintage dessert recipe (1985)
Holiday cookie box: Almond heart cookies (1961)
Try this classic chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake recipe
This sweet & simple Valentine’s Day cake from the 50s is a delightful way to ‘win your man’
No-bake pudding cheesecake retro recipe (1972)
Vintage cherry blush cake & cherry-nut cake recipes
Retro rainbow cake for Valentine's Day
The ultimate guide for making perfect fudge like your grandma used to make PLUS 14 famous & delicious fudge recipes
