Sure you could bake some cupcakes, frost them pink and call them Valentine’s Day desserts, but you might want to be a little more creative when treating your Valentine this year.

 

One problem with many Valentine’s Day desserts, including the common pink frosted cupcakes, is the pink and red food coloring common in so many desserts on the holiday. Don’t be common. Try one of these desserts that don’t use food dyes but will let your Valentine feel the love just the same.

 

Raspberry Mini Churros with White Chocolate (at right)– Real raspberries blended with icing (confectioners) sugar give these little churros a red tinge without the artificial dyes. The churros are shaped like hearts, and they get dipped in a white chocolate sauce before being popped in your mouth. They’re a little bit of work but worth the effort once a year.

 

Heart Shaped Linzer Sandwich Cookies – Raspberry or strawberry jam add a little color to these sandwich cookies that are whole and the bottom layer and have a heart cut out on the top layer to let the jam show through. These would be a great lunchbox treat on Valentine’s Day.

 

All Natural Red Velvet Cake – Want to bake a red velvet cake without the red dye? Try pureeing roasted beets to color this Valentine’s Day classic cake. One food blogger went to great research and experimentation to get it just right. You need to see the photos to believe it.

 

Pistachio Crème Brulee – Not all Valentine’s Day desserts need to come with a pink or red tinge. This crème brulee is flavored with pistachio sugar that you make yourself before assembling this decadent dessert often served at romantic dinners.

 

Chocolate Cream Pots with Sour Cherries – Rich velvety individual servings of Grand Marnier flavored chocolate pots are topped with Morello cherries that have been bottled in syrup.

 

Chocolate Crepes with Strawberries – Homemade chocolate crepes are filled with store-bought whipped topping (but making your own whipped cream is so easy you’ll probably want to use that instead) and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Fresh strawberries are served on the side, and the dessert is especially pretty when served on a white plate.

 

Dark Chocolate Truffle Torte With White Chocolate Raspberry Buttercream - Once again, fresh raspberries are used to bring the festive color the buttercream that’s interspersed between four layers of flourless chocolate cake. That’s all covered with a chocolate ganache, topped with white chocolate leaves and a raspberry.

 

Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Covered Strawberries – Chocolate covered strawberries aren’t unusual for Valentine’s Day, but core them out and pipe some cheesecake that’s been whipped a bit into them, and you’ve got a yummy twist on a classic.

 

Poached Pears with Syrup and Crème Anglaise – Pears are poached in red with cinnamon, sugar and cloves, and then the poaching liquid is turned into a syrup. The pears are served with the syrup and a sweet cream sauce that you can make ahead.

 

Strawberry Zabaglione (at right) – This dessert serves exactly two – you and your someone special. It’s simple to make but looks elegant served in martini glasses (or old fashioned champagne snagged for next-to-nothing at the thrift store would work great, too). Egg yolks, sugar and sweet Marsala wine create a cream that’s served with strawberries.

 

Salted Caramel Mocha Latte – Drink your dessert with this decadent coffee house specialty that you can make in your own home. Steamed milk, strong coffee, lots of caramel, whipped cream and sea salt come together in a drink so creamy and yummy it can be called dessert.

 

What Valentine’s Day desserts do you plan on serving this year?

 

Photos: Stephcookie/Raspberri Cupcakes; Susan/Food Blogga