Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to slow down, stay in, and cook something a little extra special. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two, a cozy family meal, or a sweet brunch to start the day, this collection of Valentine’s Day recipes has everything you need.

From elegant main dishes and classic sides to decadent desserts and festive treats, these recipes are designed to impress without feeling intimidating. Because celebrating love should feel fun and delicious.

Elegant Main Dishes

These main dishes are perfect for creating a restaurant-worthy Valentine’s Day dinner right at home. The restaurants around here are always insane so we celebrate at home and I love it! Think comforting classics, elegant steaks, and rich, slow-cooked favorites that feel truly special.

Cooking filet mignon can feel a little intimidating because no one wants to mess up an expensive steak. But here’s the truth: once you know how to cook filet mignon the right way, it’s actually one of the easiest, most forgiving cuts of beef you can make at home.

No grill required, no fancy chef skills needed, just a simple method that works every single time. Tender, juicy, restaurant-quality filet mignon made right in your own kitchen.

In college there were only a couple of restaurants and quickly Texas Roadhouse became my favorite. A Dallas filet, loaded baked potato, no sour cream and house salad with ranch. It was my go-to and I’ve never forgotten that Dallas filet!

Over the years, I have become such a home body though. Is that normal? Once you become “middle-aged”, hitting the town starts to lose it’s appeal? Is that thing? Well, it’s a thing for me, and going out for Valentine’s Day along with every other human just sounds blah! So I’m cooking a fancy (but so easy) dinner at home again this year. Filet mignon it is! All the fancy restaurants can eat their heart out!

What You Need to Cook Filet Mignon at Home

You only need a few simple ingredients to add flavor to the filets, a good cast iron skillet and a pair of tongs. It really is that easy! Oh, a meat thermometer is very helpful too if you have one!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Filet Mignon: A tender, buttery cut of beef that cooks quickly and stays incredibly juicy.
  • PRO TIP: Look for evenly sized steaks so they cook at the same rate.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the steak and helps create a beautiful crust.
• Ground Black Pepper: Adds just enough warmth and bite to balance the richness of the filet without overpowering it.
• Oil: Used to get a hot, even sear. Choose a neutral oil with a higher smoke point so the steak browns beautifully without burning.
• Unsalted Butter: Melted into the pan at the end for basting, adding richness and that classic steakhouse flavor.
• Garlic: Cloves infuse the butter with savory flavor as the steak finishes cooking.
• Fresh Rosemary: A

Sweet, buttery, and filled with fruity jam, these Valentine’s Day Thumbprint Cookies with Jam are the perfect treat for sharing the love. With soft centers, crisp edges, and a drizzle of creamy white chocolate, they’re as beautiful as they are delicious.

Simple ingredients and a whole lot of heart make this Valentine’s cookie recipe one you’ll want to make year after year.

This classic thumbprint cookie recipe uses just the right amount of butter, while still delivering that rich, buttery flavor! They’re shaped into sweet little hearts, baked with love, and perfect for Valentine’s Day!

The first time I had a thumbprint cookie, I was in elementary school and my mom had this little cookbook for kids. That was so cute with these darling little graphics of kids cooking almost precious moments style. Remember those little kids that were so popular? The only problem was the recipe turned out dry and boring.

I’ve been hesitant to share a thumbprint cookie ever since, but this one is absolute perfection and it’s almost like a cross between a sugar cookie and a melt in your mouth butter cookie. I prefer to use a seedless jam, but do whatever you’ve got on hand. My extra touch? A little drizzle of white chocolate and making the indents into the shape of a heart really takes these to the next level for Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients For Valentine’s Day Thumbprint Cookies

You don’t need anything fancy to make these Valentine’s thumbprint cookies! Just a handful of pantry staples that come together to create the perfect treat.

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Chocolate and cherries just belong together, don’t they? I’ve always believed there’s something incredibly romantic about that combo—rich chocolate, bright cherries, a little burst of tart sweetness—and this chocolate cherry cake brings it all together with almost no effort.

My grandma looooved cherry cordials. I remember having them at her house one Christmas and instantly, the moment I bit into them I knew… these are not for me…haha!

Nowadays my taste buds have grown up quite a bit and I can see how much cherries and chocolate belong together!

Because this cake stays unbelievably moist (thank you, cherry pie filling!), it’s a total crowd-pleaser for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or honestly any night you want something that feels a little special without getting too fussy. Trust me—one bite and you’ll know why this cake keeps disappearing around here.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake

If you’re a chocolate lover, this cake is about to become a new favorite. A boxed chocolate cake mix and canned cherry pie filling come together for a rich, ultra-moist chocolate cherry cake that tastes way more homemade than it is—without the extra effort.

• Easy and Impressive: Because the base starts with a cake mix, the batter comes together in minutes. Mix, bake, cool—done. It’s the kind of dessert that feels special without adding stress to your day.
• Extra Chocolatey: The frosting doubles down on the chocolate with both melted chocolate and cocoa powder for deep, fudgy flavor—no dry or overly sweet frosting here.
• Generously Frosted: The recipe makes enough frosting for a thick, dreamy layer (the way I like it!), but you can use less and stash the rest in the fridge for another dessert if you want.
• Pretty Finishing Touches: Add a sprinkle of chocolate chips or a few extra cherries on top for color and texture—it makes each slice look irresistible.

Slice into squares and serve—no one has to know how easy it was.

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This is the most deliciously moist Red Velvet Poke Cake recipe! The sweetened condensed milk gets poured all over and the fluffy cream cheese frosting makes it a truly decadent dessert everyone can’t stop eating!

This easy red velvet poke cake is perfect for holidays like Valentine’s Day or Christmas, but it’s just as good for birthdays or “just because” baking days. It’s simple to make, stunning to serve, and always gets rave reviews!

I see red velvet poke cakes everywhere, but they all have a thick pudding on top, and I gotta be honest, that’s not my thing. So, I went back to the basics and started with a simple sweetened condensed milk topping and guess what? I’ll never make it another way! It’s so good!!!

What is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a cake that is baked and then poked with holes all over. The holes are then filled with a creamy mixture (like pudding, sweetened condensed milk, caramel, or cream cheese). For this recipe, the red velvet makes it extra festive for Christmas or Valentine’s Day! Red velvet desserts are perfect for the holidays!

What Flavor is Red Velvet Cake?

Red velvet is a perfect blend of both chocolate and vanilla. It has a subtle cocoa flavor and has a lot of red food coloring added to give it the signature red color.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Red Velvet Cake Mix: The base of the cake — gives that signature red velvet flavor, color, and soft texture without extra steps.
• Instant Red Velvet Pudding: Adds rich flavor and extra moisture, keeping the cake soft and tender after baking.
• Sour Cream: Brings tanginess and creaminess while making the cake ultra-moist and fluffy.
• Canola Oil: Adds moisture and tenderness — helps the cake stay soft even after chilling.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients and provide structure, helping the cake rise properly.
• Whole Milk: Adds richness and helps blend everything smoothly for a velvety batter.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Soaks into the holes for that signature creamy sweetness in every bite.

Frosting

• Cream Cheese: Adds tang and depth to the frosting, keeping it from being overly sweet.
• Butter: Gives the frosting richness and a silky, spreadable texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting for that smooth, fluffy finish.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors with warm, subtle sweetness.
• Christmas Sprinkles or Mini Chocolate Chips: Add festive color, fun texture, and instant holiday cheer!

How to Make a Red Velvet Poke Cake

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350 ℉ and grease a 9×13″ pan.
2. Combine
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