Sweet Desserts For Your Sweet

Valentine's Day is a great occasion to celebrate that someone special in your life. Flowers, candy and cards are all well and good but, as we all know, the way to someone's heart is through their stomach.  Here are four recipes from Iowa Ingredient to help you express your love. 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

chocolate covered strawberries

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. strawberries
  • 6 oz. dark chocolate
  • muffin papers
  • tissue
  • box

Directions

Wash and dry the strawberries. Use a soft towel to get them as dry as possible.

Set up a double boiler to melt the chocolate. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment. Holding berries by the leaves dip them in as much chocolate as you like. Gently shake off excess. Place on baking sheet to set.

When all berries are coated put the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set. Line your box with tissue paper. Place each strawberry in a muffin paper and add to the box. These are best served the day they are made, and at room temperature. If you want to refrigerate them, condensation may occur.

 

Champagne Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 - 31/2 c. powdered sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4 Tbsp. Champagne
  • 2 Tbsp. heavy cream
  • 1 white cake mix, prepared - both standard size and mini cupcakes work well


Directions

Make sure cupcakes are completely cool before frosting. In a large bowl, cream butter until it is light and fluffy. Add salt and half of the powdered sugar. Beat until sugar is mostly incorporated then add the rest of the sugar. Beat until mixture comes together in the middle of the bowl. Add champagne and cream and beat for another 2 - 3 minutes until it is light and fluffy. Frost cupcakes as desired and top with sprinkles.

 

Blueberries Foster

Ingredients

  • 2 pats of butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup black raspberry liqueur (Chambord)


Directions

Get your skillet very warm, medium-high heat. Add the butter and brown sugar. Stir to create syrup in the skillet. Do not burn the syrup. Turn heat up to high on the burner. Add Blueberries; they will darken in color. Add liqueur - WARNING: The liqueur will catch fire! Allow the dish to simmer until all the alcohol has burned off. Set the dish aside or serve warm over ice cream.

 

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Strawberries

flourless chocolate cake

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dark Dutch chocolate
  • 11 Tablespoons butter
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1 Tablespoon spearmint
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon chocolate syrup

Directions

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Create a double boiler with water boiling in the main pot, and a metal dish on top. Once hot, add chocolate and butter. Blend until mixture is melted and smooth like chocolate syrup. Take the chocolate mixture and pour into a mixing bowl. Add five eggs to mixing bowl. Mix for approximately one minute. In a lightly greased 9 inch baking pan, add chocolate and egg mixture. Bake at 375 for 15-17 minutes. Use a toothpick in middle to check if it's been baked through. Let cool to room temperature.

In a bowl add strawberries and fresh spearmint. Add enough balsamic vinegar to just cover strawberries. Mix in honey.

After chocolate cake has cooled, cut into eight slices. Add a stripe of chocolate syrup to plate. Add chocolate cake slice to plate. Add strawberry mixture to plate. Serve and enjoy! Approximately 8 servings