Valentines Baking Made Easy

Just because you don't have buckets of spare time and wads of excess cash doesn't mean that you don't want that special someone to know you care on Valentine's Day. I'm not sure that the list below actually counts as Valentine's "baking", but they are all really sweet gestures which are sure to please.

So for those of you who want to put in the effort, but just don't have the time, carry on reading for Valentine's baking made easy! All of these recipes are guaranteed to take minimal time and only basic supplies.

Heart-shaped ice cream sandwiches

     Instead of just serving ice cream for your Valentine’s dessert, turn it up a notch and serve your loved one a Valentine’s ice cream sandwich. Take a heart cookie-cutter and two cookies. Use the cutter to cut a heart out of each of the cookies and cut another one out of ice cream. Place a cookie heart on the bottom, then the ice cream, then the other cookie – it’s that easy! You can make as many of these as you like and store them in the freezer until you’re ready to serve them.

 Chocolate-dipped strawberries

What says romance better than chocolate-dipped strawberries? Nothing, that’s what! And now that you’ve got your hands on this easy recipe, you’ve no excuse not to treat your special someone. Melt dark, milk or white chocolate in the microwave with cream. For every 50g of chocolate you use, use about 20ml of cream. Remove from the microwave every 20 seconds to stir and to make sure it doesn’t burn. When fully melted, hold each strawberry by its leaves and dip into the melted chocolate. Try and balance the strawberries on their leaves on a plate so the chocolate doesn’t smudge. Leave in the fridge to set – about 30 minutes should do it.

Chocolate fondue

      Chocolate fondue is a great, inexpensive alternative to an extravagant chocolate fountain. Simply place some dark, milk or white chocolate in a microwavable bowl with some cream. For every 50g of chocolate you use, use about 40ml of cream. Heat this up in the microwave – removing every 20 seconds to stir and to make sure it doesn’t burn. When you have thick, melted, chocolatey goodness, pour into a small serving bowl and accompany with strawberries, marshmallows, cookies, or whatever you wish.

    Sandwiches with a heart window

     Do you prepare your love’s lunch? Then this is a great way to add a bit of Valentines sparkle to their day. Cut the bread into the shape of a love heart using a large heart cookie-cutter or use a smaller cutter to cut the middle section out of the top slice of bread.

       Heart-shaped jellies/jello

These heart-shaped jellies – or jello – are super-easy to make and look incredibly cute. Invest is a silicone heart tray – you’ll find them next to the ice-cube trays in the kitchen section of most household shops. Simply adapt the recipe on the packet of jelly so you have enough to fill your tray. I chose strawberry jelly because it’s red, but you can use any flavour you like – use your imagination. Serve with ice cream or regular cream and you have a sweet Valentines snack.

   Toast with heart butter and heart jam

    Most of us grab a piece of bread and a toaster when we’re looking for a fast breakfast, but why not make it love-themed on Valentine’s Day? Simply make the toast as you usually would, but instead of spreading the butter, cut a heart shaped piece of butter with a cookie cutter.