Adventures of Mel

Category: Valentine’s Day

Heart Shaped Valentine Rice Krispie Treats with M&M’s
Make easy heart shaped Valentine Rice Krispie treats with M&M’s and sprinkles. Cute Valentine’s Day snack that’s perfect for kids, classroom, and a Valentine’s Day party! Or make just because for a sweet heart shaped dessert filled with crispy chocolaty bites.

Classic Rice Krispie treats are an all time favorite dessert, loved by many, and they’re so easy to reinvent for all your favorite holidays. I mean, how cute are heart shaped Rice Krispie treats, Christmas tree Rice Krispie treats, and snowman Rice Krispie treats?

Heart shaped Valentine’s Rice Krispie treats are super easy to make, and just as cute too. Only they’re perfect for Cupid’s special holiday.

Why You’re Going to Love This Recipe
- Valentine’s Day Rice Krispie treats don’t use a lot of ingredients. This easy recipe is very simple to make.
- Even though these delicious treats are very festive, you can decorate them with minimal effort. Mix in a bag of Valentine M&M’s, sprinkle on a handful of heart shaped sprinkles, and you’re pretty much set.
- Rice Krispie Valentine treats make the perfect treat for a classroom party, as well as a special after school snack or fun dessert for your sweethearts on Valentine’s Day. They’re the perfect way to say I love you.
Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

You’ll need to gather just a few simple ingredients to make heart Rice Krispie treats…
- Salted Butter – Use real butter, not margarine. And use salted butter so you get that extra boost of flavor from the salt.
- Vanilla Extract – Most Rice Krispie treat recipes don’t call for vanilla, but I really love the flavor it gives to these wonderfully chewy treats.
- Sea Salt – Don’t leave this out; it really helps give a boost of flavor to these heart shaped Rice Krispie treats.
- Mini Marshmallows – You can use big marshmallows or marshmallow cream (though ingredient amounts differ), but mini marshmallows melt more quickly and efficiently.
- Rice Krispies cereal – You can use any brand of crisp rice cereal or Rice Krispie cereal you want; I prefer to use either Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice or Millville (from Aldi) because they’re gluten-free.
- Valentine M&M’s – These colorful M&M’s give an extra festive touch to your Valentine treats.
- Valentine Sprinkles – Feel free to use whatever sprinkles you can find, the tinier the better, because you don’t want to take away from the flavor of your treats.
How to Make Valentine Rice Krispie Treats

First things first, you’ll need to make the treats.

How to Make Rice Crispy Treats
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat.
2. Then stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
3. Add the mini marshmallows, and stir ’til they melt into a smooth, creamy mixture.
4. Next begin to stir in the Rice Krispies cereal, partially stirring them in to your marshmallows.
1. Now for the best part… Stir in the M&M’s candies, and finish mixing everything together.
2. Wet your hands with water; then spread the Rice Krispies cereal mixture into a greased 9×13 baking pan. (Note: Sometimes I’ll use a regular cake pan, but if I know I’m cutting out shapes, I’ll use my more shallow brownie pan. The brownie pan really allows me to get in with the cookie cutter and not have to fight with the sides of the pan. OR you can also go the route of sticking parchment paper or wax paper in your pan, grease it with non-stick cooking spray, and spread the mixture on top of the paper. That way when it comes time to cut out the heart shaped treats, you can just pull the whole thing, by the paper, out of the pan, then cut.)
3. Be sure to add the sprinkles right away, so they’ll stick to the warm marshmallow treats. If you wait too long, the sprinkles will just fall right off.
How to Shape Valentines Rice Krispie Treats

You can use cookie cutters to make any kind of shapes you want.

Once you’ve spread your Rice Krispies treats mixture in your pan or baking sheet, you can go ahead and start cutting out heart shapes with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. I recommend dipping it in water before cutting, so the treats will fall right off the cutter.

Be careful because the treats will still be quite hot, so just take your time.

Decorating and Flavor Alternatives for These Treats

There are many things you can do to decorate Rice Krispie hearts for Valentine’s Day. First let’s talk about decorating.

How to Decorate Rice Krispie Treats
- Skip adding M&M’s to the mixture, and add M&M’s Minis on top instead. You’d probably need to pipe on a little marshmallow fluff or melted candy melts and then sprinkle them on.
- Use a piping bag to pipe a thin zig zag of melted red, white, or pink candy melts or melted chocolate all over the top of your Rice Krispie treats, and add Valentine sprinkles.
- Instead of Valentine sprinkles, use pink Nerds. Kids LOVE Nerds.
- Add festive sprinkles right into the Rice Krispie squares recipe instead of sprinkling them on top.
- Make pops out of your Rice crispy treats by adding a lollipop stick into each of the treats.
- Dip a portion of or the whole treat into melted candy melts or melted chocolate, and sprinkle with sprinkles.
- Try different Valentine shape cookie cutters! Maybe X’s and O’s for hugs and kisses.
- Decorate your heart-shaped Rice Krispie treats with adorable little Cupid’s arrows made out of toothpicks and gummy hearts.
Alternative Flavor and Color Options
- Make pink Rice Krispie treats by adding pink food coloring to the melted marshmallow mixture.
- Add enough strawberry Jello mix to your marshmallow mixture to give the treats both a strawberry flavor and a pink color, sorta like strawberry Rice Krispie treats.
- In addition to M&M’s, add a handful of white chocolate chips into the crispy treat mixture.
- Make heart-shaped Fruity Pebbles rice crispy treats instead!
As you can see, the options are endless with this sweet treat.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Can I make Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies treats in advance?
Yes, you can totally make these ahead of time. Make them the day before, and you’re all set for the party the next day. I wouldn’t make them more than 1-2 days in advance, though, as they can grow stale over a couple of days.

Why are my treats not chewy?
There may be a couple of reasons your treats aren’t chewy. First, your marshmallows and cereal may not have been fresh; be sure to use fresh marshmallows and non-stale cereal. It’s also important to cook the marshmallow mixuture on low to medium heat, so the marshmallows slowly and evenly melt. Also, did you press hard when you pressed the finished mixture into the pan? It’s important to lightly press them into the pan and don’t overly compress them down. Lightly pressing them will help with keeping the treats soft and chewy, rather than hard and tough as nails.

Why are my Rice Krispie treats not crispy?
You shouldn’t have this problem if you follow this recipe to a t. But it could be that the recipe calls for too much butter. Too much butter will give an overly soft treat that doesn’t compact together into a nice, uniform, crispy treat.

How should I store Rice Krispie treats with M&M’s?
It’s important to store your treats in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag. You’ll probably want to eat them within the first 2 or 3 days.

Creative Valentine Gifting Ideas

If you want to use this recipe to make treats for a Valentine’s Day party and you’re gifting the treats to classmates or friends, here are just a few easy ideas for creative packaging and gifting.
- Use sandwich bags as treats bags. Or if you want something cuter…
- Go to Dollar Tree and get Valentine’s Day treat bags for the Rice Krispie treats. Be sure to get enough bags for everyone on your list. This is one of my favorite places for cheap party supplies.
- While there, you can either buy Valentines…
- You can make Valentines…
- Or you can find loads of cute printable Valentines on Etsy, like this Crispy Rice Treat Valentine or this Friendship Treat Valentine.
- You can also make a homemade dinosaur Valentine box and print free dinosaur Valentines to pair with these heart shaped snacks.
More Valentine’s Day Treats You’ll Love:

If you want more Valentine treats, you’ll love these heart shaped chocolate whoopie pies and Valentine snack cakes.

While these Ritz Cracker chocolate peanut butter cups are one of our favorite Christmas treats, they make an excellent Valentine’s Day dessert too. Valentine marshmallow pops are another easy treat you can make in a jiffy.

Crazy Adventures in Parenting has a recipe for the cutest li’l Minions Valentine’s Rice Krispies treats. Mom on Timeout shares how to make the cutest easy Valentine’s Day patties.

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Heart Shaped Valentine Rice Krispie Treats

Make easy heart shaped Valentine Rice Krispie treats with M&M's and sprinkles. Cute Valentine's Day snack for kids, classroom, and party!
Large Sauce Pan
Dutch oven
Heat-Resistant Spatula
9×13 Brownie Pan
Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter
5 tablespoons salted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
6 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (*)
10 ounces Valentine M&M's
1/4 cup Valentine sprinkles
Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
Melt the butter in a large sauce pan or Dutch oven over low to medium heat.
Stir the vanilla extract and salt into the butter.
Add the mini marshmallows to the melted butter mixture, stirring until the marshmallows have fully melted.
Remove the mixture from the heat, and partially stir into the Rice Krispies cereal.
Once you’ve partially mixed together the melted marshmallows with the Rice Krispies cereal, stir in the Valentine's M&M’s candies and finish mixing everything together.
Spread the Rice Krispies treats mixture into a pan.
Immediately sprinkle on Valentine sprinkles, so they'll stick to the warm marshmallow treats.
Cut heart shaped Rice Krispie treats with a regular or mini size heart shaped cookie cutter. Work your way around the edge, then in toward the middle.
And that's it. Your chocolate filled Valentines treats are ready to serve and enjoy!
*You can use any brand of crisp rice cereal you want, including Kellogg’s; I prefer to use either Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice or Millville (from Aldi) because they’re gluten-free.

Can I make Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies treats in advance?

Yes, you can totally make these ahead of time. Make them the day before, and you’re all set for the party the next day. I wouldn’t make them more than 1-2 days in advance, though, as they can grow stale over a couple of days.

How should I store Rice Krispie treats with M&M’s?

It’s important to store your treats in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag. You’ll probably want to eat them within the first 2 or 3 days.

Desserts, Valentine’s Day
American
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January 27, 2022
Mom’s Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
How to make the best cut out sugar cookie recipe. My mom’s recipe for crisp, soft sugar cookies you can decorate with icing and sprinkles.

Cutout sugar cookies are definitely one of my favorite Christmas treats. I’ve made these soft cut out sugar cookies every Christmas for as long as I can remember.

What makes this recipe special is that my mom taught me how to make it, just like a lot of recipes I love to make. She’s the best at making these yummy Christmas sugar cookies, and she taught me everything I know about baking them.

To make these cut out cookies special, all the Christmas cookie cutters come out, along with my old friend, the rolling pin. We roll and re-roll the dough, cutting out snowmen, Christmas trees, bells, and stars.

After the cookies have baked and cooled, it’s time to decorate, and the kids have so much fun with this. Jaden’s cookies are usually decorated to the hilt; they make my teeth hurt just looking at them.

We keep the decorating simple, using butter knives to spread the icing on… Then sprinkle a few of our favorite sprinkles to add a little crunch.

Rolled sugar cookies, along with our favorite mint chocolate crinkle cookies and reindeer thumbprint cookies, usually end up on a plate with a glass of milk come Christmas Eve. And they always disappear, so apparently, Santa likes them too.

Of course, like my pumpkin sugar cookie recipe in the fall, you can also make these cookies for other holidays (like Valentine’s Day) and even in between as an everyday cookie recipe. My boys love using their race car, dinosaur, and Bigfoot cookie cutter too. And sometimes I even use this recipe to make sugar cookies for mini fruit pizzas!

WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

If you’d rather skip all of my cookie baking tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the soft cut out sugar cookie recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- All-purpose flour – I use my favorite gluten-free flour, along with xanthan gum, to make them gluten-free cut out cookies. Works like a charm.
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Pure cane sugar – or granulated sugar.
- Ground nutmeg – I added this ingredient on my own because I love the flavor kick it gives to the cookies.
- Unsalted butter
- Buttermilk – I make my own by adding about a tablespoon of vinegar to a glass measuring cup, then adding milk to the 1/2 cup line. The vinegar sours the milk, so it becomes an excellent substitute for buttermilk.
- Vanilla extract
- Large eggs
- Sugar cookie icing, optional – Again, my mom’s recipe, and I’ve gotcha covered with how to make it.
Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

Sifter – to sift the flour and other dry ingredients together.

Pastry Blender – to cut the butter into the dry ingredients.

Mixer – My stand mixer makes mixing up cookie dough so much easier.

Rolling Pin and Christmas Cookie Cutters – for cutting out all sorts of festive shapes.

Cookie Sheet – for baking the cookies.

Wire Rack – This will give your cookies a place to cool.

HOW TO MAKE THIS CUT OUT SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE

Before you get started, be sure to gather all of your ingredients. This recipe has multiple stages, from mixing up the dough to rolling it out and cutting out the cookies.

HOW TO MAKE THE SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH
1. Sift, then measure the flour.
2. Sift or mix the flour with the baking soda, salt, sugar, and nutmeg.
1. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients.
1. Work the butter in until the mixture is as fine as corn meal.
1. Give the eggs a slight beating with a whisk.
1. Then in a separate mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla extract with the slightly beaten eggs.
1. Add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients.
1. Mix ’til you have a smooth cookie dough.
HOW LONG TO CHILL THE DOUGH

At this point, you’ll need to cover the dough closely with wax paper or plastic wrap, and chill it in the refrigerator overnight or at least 3-4 hours.

HOW TO ROLL SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH AND CUT OUT SHAPES

Be sure to pre-heat your oven to 425°F.
1. When you’re ready to roll out the dough, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, coating the dough with flour and kneading it until it’s less sticky and more pliable.
1. Then roll the dough out to about a 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness.
1. Cut out the cookies with floured cookie cutters.
1. Place the cutout cookies on an un-greased baking sheet, and bake at 425°F for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies begin to turn slightly golden. Allow them to cool on a wire rack.
Icing Alternative: If you don’t want to decorate your cookies with icing, you can sprinkle each cookie shape with sugar before baking. Colored sugar is especially festive.

WAYS TO DECORATE CUTOUT SUGAR COOKIES

As I’ve said before, around here, baking cutout sugar cookies is a family tradition. Every Christmas I always looked forward to decorating these cookies with my mom, and now it’s no different with my own kids.

Decorating sugar cookies is a great way to spend some much-needed time with the family, and there is no limit to creativity with this recipe. Here are some of the ways that we like to decorate our own cookies.
- Sugar cookie icing – I make my own powdered sugar icing, but you can even use a can from the store if desired. You can use cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, whipped cream frosting, or even a simple powdered sugar glaze.
- Sprinkles – This is another no-brainer, and it’s easily my kids’ favorite decoration, probably due to the wide variety of different shapes and colors available in the supermarket. With kids, they also make a big mess!
- Rainbow Nonpareils – This is my personal favorite way to decorate after icing the cookies. These tiny sprinkles give a little crunch to each sugar cookie.
- Colored sugar – This is a great option if you’d like to keep it easy; you can even use regular sugar. Just sprinkle it on before the cookies are loaded into the oven.
HOW TO STORE DECORATED SUGAR COOKIES

Decorated sugar cookies must be stored in layers in between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. The wax paper is essential in keeping the icing in-tact, preventing the cookies from sitting on top of each other and bleeding into each other.

Rolled sugar cookies are best enjoyed the first few days after baking.

WHY ARE MY SUGAR COOKIES HARD?

There are many possibilities as to why your cut out cookies are hard, but the most common and overlooked reason is that they’re overcooked.

Sugar cookies are fully cooked when the edges have just reached a light golden brown and the middle has begun to form miniature cracks, around 8-10 minutes at 425°F for this recipe. Any more than this will result in sugar rocks, not cookies.

It’s also possible that you’re overworking the dough; this can work the gluten in the flour to the point of elasticity, which makes for a hard, chewy cookie. When it comes to working the dough, keep it to the bare minimum!

HOW TO PREVENT CUT OUT COOKIES FROM SPREADING

Although this is a very common problem, it can be easily avoided. Here are some tips to keep your sugar cookies from spreading.
- Chill the dough – Chilling the dough helps tremendously to prevent spreading. The colder the temperature, the less greasy your dough will be; this is essential.
- Don’t over-mix – Over-mixing will destroy the natural structure of your cookies, and they simply won’t hold together; in fact, the excessive amount of air introduced into the dough during this process can actually cause your cookies to collapse in the oven! Don’t mix any more than you have to.
- Use colder butter – Using room temperature butter is best. If the butter is too warm, it will melt into the dough and create a greasy mess with no structure whatsoever.
- Work the dough properly – Don’t overwork the dough, and don’t roll it out more than you have to. As you work the dough, the heat of your hands will melt the butter, creating an excessive amount of grease that will most certainly cause your cookies to spread in the oven.
- Use plenty of flour – Having enough flour is crucial in baking a spread-resistant sugar cookie. These cookies are naturally fatty, and they need just the right amount of flour to soak up any grease that forms; be precise.
CAN YOU FREEZE SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH?

Yes, there are a couple of ways to freeze raw sugar cookie dough, depending on whether you plan to freeze the entire dough ball or freeze individual cutout cookies. Raw dough will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
- To freeze the dough before cutting out the cookies, simply roll it into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and place it in an airtight container in the freezer.
- Otherwise, you can go ahead and cut out the cookies beforehand, placing them in between alternating layers of wax paper in an airtight container.
Bake the frozen cutout cookies as normal, adding a few minutes to make up for the frozen state. On the other hand, a glob of uncooked dough will need to be thawed until you are able to cut through the dough with a sharp knife, around 30 minutes at room temperature, or several hours in the refrigerator.

CAN YOU FREEZE BAKED OR DECORATED COOKIES?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze baked and decorated sugar cookies.

Once they are decorated, place the completely cooled cookies in sealed freezer bags, ensuring that they each have plenty of space. Next, stack these freezer bags into airtight containers in the freezer.

When you pull the cookies out of the freezer, let them thaw for several hours at room temperature. Never let your decorated cookies thaw in the refrigerator, as the resulting condensation will ruin your icing.

MORE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COOKIES
- Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Jello sugar cookies – Make them in festive colors!
- Chocolate Lover’s Christmas Light Cookies
- Butter Almond Snowball Christmas Cookies
- 30 Classic Christmas Cookies
You can find even more holiday recipes on my list of favorite Christmas recipes!

GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

If you love these Christmas cut out cookies as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

How to make the best cut out sugar cookie recipe. My mom's recipe for crisp, soft sugar cookies you can decorate with icing and sprinkles.
Stand Mixer
Pastry Blender
Rolling Pin
Cookie Sheet
Cookie Cutters
Wire Rack
Cookie Dough:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups cane sugar
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs (slightly beaten)
Cookie Icing:
4 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup whole milk
6 cups powdered sugar
Food coloring ((optional))
Sugar Cookies:
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground nutmeg, salt, and sugar.
Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it is as fine as corn meal.
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and slightly beaten eggs.
Add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients, mixing ’til you have a smooth cookie dough.
Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator overnight, or at least 4 hours.
Pre-heat the oven to 425° F.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, coating the dough with flour and kneading it until it's less sticky and more pliable.
Then roll the dough out to about a 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness.
Cut out cookies with floured cookie cutters.
Place the cutout cookies on an un-greased cookie sheet, and bake at 425° F for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies begin to turn slightly golden.
Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Cookie Icing:
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
Add the milk to the mixture.
Slowly add the powdered sugar to the mixture, mixing it in as you go; the finished icing should be smooth, creamy, and spreadable.
Optional Step: At this point, you can add food coloring, if desired.
Decorate the sugar cookies with icing, sprinkles, and nonpareils.
*I make my own buttermilk or sour milk by adding about a tablespoon of vinegar to a glass measuring cup, then adding milk to the 1/2 cup line. The vinegar sours the milk, so it becomes an excellent substitute for buttermilk.

*Icing Alternative: If you don’t want to decorate your cookies with icing, you can sprinkle each cookie shape with sugar before baking. Colored sugar is especially festive.

WAYS TO DECORATE CUTOUT SUGAR COOKIES

As I’ve said before, around here, baking cutout sugar cookies is a family tradition. Every Christmas I always looked forward to decorating these cookies with my mom, and now it’s no different with my own kids.

Decorating sugar cookies is a great way to way to spend some much-needed time with the family, and there is no limit to creativity with this recipe. Here are some of the ways that we like to decorate our own cookies.

Sugar cookie icing – I make my own powdered sugar icing (linked in the ingredients list above), but you can even use a can from the store if desired. You can use cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, whipped cream frosting, or even a simple powdered sugar glaze.

Sprinkles – this is another no-brainer, and it’s easily my kids’ favorite decoration, probably due to the wide variety of different shapes and colors available in the supermarket. With kids, they also make a big mess!

Rainbow Nonpareils – This is my personal favorite way to decorate after icing the cookies.

Colored sugar – this is a great option if you’d like to keep it easy; you can even use regular sugar. Just sprinkle it on before the cookies are loaded into the oven.

HOW TO STORE DECORATED SUGAR COOKIES

Decorated sugar cookies must be stored in layers in between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. The wax paper is essential in keeping the icing in-tact, preventing the cookies from sitting on top of each other and bleeding into each other.

Rolled sugar cookies are best enjoyed the first few days after baking.

HOW TO PREVENT CUT OUT COOKIES FROM SPREADING

Although this is a very common problem, it can be easily avoided. Here are some tips to keep your sugar cookies from spreading.

Chill the dough – Chilling the dough helps tremendously to prevent spreading. The colder the temperature, the less greasy your dough will be; this is essential.

Don’t over-mix – Over-mixing will destroy the natural structure of your cookies, and they simply won’t hold together; in fact, the excessive amount of air introduced into the dough during this process can actually cause your cookies to collapse in the oven! Don’t mix any more than you have to.

Use colder butter – Using room temperature butter is best. If the butter is too warm, it will melt into the dough and create a greasy mess with no structure whatsoever.

Work the dough properly – Don’t overwork the dough, and don’t roll it out more than you have to. As you work the dough, the heat of your hands will melt the butter, creating an excessive amount of grease that will most certainly cause your cookies to spread in the oven.

Use plenty of flour – Having enough flour is crucial in baking a spread-resistant sugar cookie. These cookies are naturally fatty, and they need just the right amount of flour to soak up any grease that forms; be precise.

CAN YOU FREEZE SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH?

Yes, raw dough will last up to 3 months in the freezer.

To freeze the dough before cutting out the cookies, simply roll it into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and place it in an airtight container in the freezer.

Otherwise, you can go ahead and cut out the cookies beforehand, placing them in between alternating layers of wax paper in an airtight container.

Bake the frozen cutout cookies as normal, adding a few minutes to to make up for the frozen state. On the other hand, a glob of uncooked dough will need to be thawed until you are able to cut through the dough with a sharp knife, around 30 minutes at room temperature, or several hours in the refrigerator.

CAN YOU FREEZE BAKED OR DECORATED COOKIES?

Yes. Once they are decorated, place the completely cooled cookies in sealed freezer bags, ensuring that they each have plenty of space. Next, stack these freezer bags into airtight containers in the freezer.

When you pull the cookies out of the freezer, let them thaw for several hours at room temperature. Never let your decorated cookies thaw in the refrigerator, as the resulting condensation will ruin your icing.
Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
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November 5, 2020
Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers with Peanut Butter
Make chocolate covered Ritz crackers with peanut butter in a jiffy. Quick and easy no bake recipe, only 3 ingredients, and they’re the perfect bite-sized candy for the holidays, family gatherings, parties, and celebrations!

Ritz cookies are another one of our favorite treats during the holiday season, and I’ve made them for years. My family can’t go a Christmas without making peanut butter Ritz crackers and rice crispy peanut butter balls; they make great Valentine’s Day and Easter candies too.

Every single Christmas when I was a kid, my mom would make chocolate covered Ritz crackers with peanut butter, along with this easy buckeye recipe.

I remember we’d store these crunchy little Ritz cracker peanut butter cups in the stairwell of our old farmhouse because there was no heat and they’d stay nice and chilled there. My bedroom was at the top of said stairwell, so of course, I’d help myself as I climbed past on the way to my room.

So Many Reasons to Love This Christmas Candy
- Chocolate Ritz crackers are so easy to make! And they’re no bake cookies, so they’re quick too! It’s super easy to make a double batch or triple batch of these delicious goodies.
- You need a grand total of 3 ingredients to make them, unless you want to get creative and add extras, like festive sprinkles or sea salt flakes. But they’re delicious just the way they are.
- I mean, if you think about it, what goes together better than chocolate and peanut butter?
- As a sweet and salty treat, they’re the best of both worlds. You get a sweet snack, while at the same time, a salty snack. Yum!
- They’re the perfect no bake treat for celebrations, holidays, and special occasions. They make an especially festive holiday cookie tray.
- Along with a cold glass of milk, they make the perfect yummy treats for Santa.
If you’re looking for more homemade candy, you may enjoy making chocolate peanut butter bars, homemade chocolate covered cherries, and chocolate covered almond coconut trees.

Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

You just need 3 simple ingredients to make Ritz cracker cookies dipped in chocolate…
- Ritz Crackers – If you want to make these little Ritz cookies gluten-free, you can use these crackers instead.
- Creamy Peanut Butter – I prefer Skippy Natural Creamy. And I LOVE using honey peanut butter too.
- Chocolate Melting Wafers – You can also use semi-sweet chocolate chips, chocolate baking bars, or almond bark.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers with Peanut Butter

First things first, you’ll need to prep by placing a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Then…
1. Use a knife to spread peanut butter between 2 Ritz Crackers, sandwiching the peanut butter crackers together.
2. Set each sandwich cookie on the wax paper covered baking sheet, in preparation for dipping.
How to Prep Chocolate for Dipping

You’ll need melted chocolate that’s ready to go. Depending on the chocolate you decide to use, you can melt it a few different ways:
- Melt it using a double boiler on the stove – The double boiler method is basically a pan inside of another pan with boiling water in the bottom pan. It allows for more even melting without burning, and it also keeps the chocolate warm for dipping.
- Melt it in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl or Pyrex measuring cup – This is usually the route I go. I like to use my glass measuring cup for melting the chocolate wafers in the microwave, according to package directions, usually in 15 to 30 second intervals, stirring after each increment ’til the chocolate is melted. The depth of my measuring cup makes dipping a lot easier
- Or enlist the help of your family, and use a fondue pot for dipping.
Also, depending on the type of chocolate used (chocolate almond bark, candy melts, or chocolate chips), some people like to use shortening or paraffin wax, adding it into their chocolate as it melts. This allows for a thinner coat and stretches the chocolate a little further. If you use a good quality chocolate, you likely won’t need that extra step.

I started using Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers a few years ago, and I love them so much better than almond bark. They’re so much easier to work with, and they have fantastic flavor.

How to Dip Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers
1. Once the chocolate is melted, dip each cracker sandwich in the melted chocolate, using the forks or tongs.
2. Shake off any excess chocolate before placing the chocolate peanut butter Ritz cracker cookies back on the wax paper covered sheet pan to dry.
3. When all your crackers have been dipped, chill them in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove them from the freezer and place them in an airtight container or festive Christmas tin (lined with wax paper) in the fridge.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

How should you store chocolate Ritz crackers with peanut butter?
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. They can be kept out at room temperature, but they won’t keep as long as they will if you keep them in the fridge or freezer. Kept chilled, they’ll last up to 2 weeks.

Can you freeze Ritz cracker cookies?
Yes, you can! Just be sure to keep them in an airtight container in between layers of wax paper, to avoid freezer burn.

Can I use a different nut butter?
Of course! You can use almond butter, cashew butter, etc.

Alternative Recipe Variations for Ritz Cookies
- Use marshmallow fluff instead of peanut butter in between the crackers.
- Add a layer of marshmallow fluff, along with peanut butter, for an even creamier treat.
- Use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy, especially if you like a crunchier treat. Or use a different nut butter, like almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
- Double or triple the layers on your cracker sandwiches, using more crackers and more peanut butter for a triple layer treat.
- Instead of dipping in chocolate, dip the cracker sandwiches in melted white chocolate chips, melted butterscotch chips, milk chocolate, peanut butter chips, mint chocolate chips, etc. The sky’s the limit.
- Drizzle the dipped crackers with white chocolate or dark chocolate. Or double dip, dipping half of each cracker in chocolate and half in white chocolate… You get the idea.
- Add sprinkles, sea salt flakes, or festive sugar on top of each of your Ritz crackers dipped in chocolate, before the chocolate hardens.
More Holiday Dessert Recipes

If you love this Ritz cracker cookies recipe as much as I do, you’ll love these recipes too…
- You and your family will really enjoy candy cane bark.
- Did you know you can make hot chocolate cookies with hot cocoa mix?!
- And check out my list of favorite Christmas and Holiday Recipes!
- My friend Kelly at Eat Picks has a very yummy recipe for homemade Thin Mint cookies.
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers with Peanut Butter

Make chocolate covered Ritz crackers with peanut butter in a jiffy. Quick and easy no bake recipe perfect for holidays and parties!
Wax Paper
Baking Sheet
Double Boiler
Pyrex Measuring Cup
Candy Dipping Tools
Festive Christmas Tins
3 sleeves Ritz Crackers
1 cup creamy peanut butter
20 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers ((or chocolate chips))
Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Use a table knife to spread peanut butter between 2 Ritz Crackers, sandwiching the crackers together.
Set each sandwich cookie on the wax paper lined baking sheet, in preparation for dipping.
Add the chocolate to a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl; and melt, starting at 30 seconds, then stirring every 15-20 seconds, 'til melted and smooth.
Using 2 forks or tongs, dip each cracker sandwich in the melted chocolate; shake any excess chocolate off before placing back on the wax paper to dry.
When all the crackers have been dipped, chill them in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove them from the freezer, and place them in an airtight container. They're best stored in between layers of wax paper in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Depending on the type of chocolate used (chocolate almond bark, candy melts, or chocolate chips), some people like to use shortening or paraffin wax, adding it into their chocolate as it melts. This allows for a thinner coat and stretches the chocolate a little further. But if you use a good quality chocolate, you likely won’t need that extra step. I started using Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers a few years ago, and I love them so much better than almond bark. They’re so much easier to work with, and they have fantastic flavor.

You can also melt the chocolate using a double boiler on the stove. This is basically a pan inside of another pan with boiling water in the bottom pan. It allows for more even melting without burning, and it also keeps the chocolate warm for dipping.

Sweet Snacks
American
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March 14, 2019
Fresh Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
How to make the most delicious strawberry swirl cheesecake recipe, with a graham cracker crust, creamy homemade filling, and fresh strawberries.

One of my favorite desserts is strawberry cheesecake. Make that a strawberry swirl cheesecake with a fresh strawberry sauce or strawberry jam swirled into the cheesecake filling, and it’s definitely a dessert to behold.

While white chocolate raspberry cheesecake is my absolute favorite cheesecake, this cheesecake recipe is definitely right up there with it.

While there are a few steps (mainly the swirling and the cooling process), it’s a fairly easy cheesecake to make. And I like that it doesn’t require a ton of ingredients.

Now you can definitely make this cheesecake without any strawberry swirl and just serve it with fresh strawberries or the separate strawberry sauce. But the swirl really adds an oomph to this very yummy dessert.

Looking for more cheesecake recipes? You may also enjoy pumpkin spice cheesecake (made in the Instant Pot) and no bake lemon cheesecake.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE STRAWBERRY SWIRL CHEESECAKE RECIPE?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious strawberry cheesecake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

Tips for How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake

Before I send you willy-nilly to the recipe card, I’ll give you a few tips regarding the crust, the creamy filling, and how to make a really flavorful, delicious strawberry sauce to swirl into your cheesecake.

Let’s Talk about the Crust First

The crust really is the foundation for your dessert. So you wanna make it good.

My boys actually love a chocolate cookie crust for cheesecake, and I do too. It would probably pair really well with a strawberry cheesecake.

But this time, I decided to make a graham cracker crust. It’s easy, you just press it into your pan, and then you bake it for about 10 minutes.

A graham cracker crust is the more traditional cheesecake crust. But you could always use other alternatives, like vanilla sandwich cookies, Nilla Wafers, Pecan Sandies, even gluten-free graham crackers for a gluten-free crust.

What Kind of Cream Cheese Should I Use?

While you can use low fat cream cheese, I’ve had the best luck with full fat cream cheese. Also, full fat cream cheese doesn’t necessarily have all the additives they add in when they remove things from the cheese to make it “lite.”

You really want a creamy cheesecake filling, so never settle but always go for full fat.

When it comes to brands, I’ve had great success with brands like Philadelphia, Great Value, and Aldi’s Happy Farms.

Tips for How to Make the Strawberry Sauce for Cheesecake

While I have another strawberry sauce that’s not quite as sweet, it works better for a topping more than a swirl.

One thing I’ve learned in developing this recipe is that strawberries are really temperamental, and it can be hard to get a really flavorful strawberry taste when you bake them.

A few tips for making your strawberry sauce for cheesecake, especially a swirl cheesecake…
- Use fresh strawberries over frozen. Frozen strawberries add a lot of water that you just don’t want, and they’re not quite as flavorful as fresh either.
- Make sure you use good strawberries that really pack the flavor. The fresher the better, though I’ve found some really good ones at our grocery store lately.
- When you’re making a swirl, you’ll need strawberry purée. So use a blender to purée those berries up really well.
- You’ll need to bring all of your ingredients to a boil and then cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken up and turns a beautiful red color.
Now you can avoid making a strawberry sauce altogether and just use strawberry jam. But there’s something about this sauce that really makes the cheesecake.

Tips for How to Make the Cheesecake Filling
- Using a mixer, mix together the softened cream cheese, pure cane sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Using an egg separator, separate the egg yolks from the whites, and add the yolks into the mixture, mixing well.
- When your filling is creamy and smooth, pour half the filling into your crust.
- Spoon about 1/4 cup strawberry sauce on top of the filling, adding small dollops of sauce here and there.
- Swirl the sauce into the filling with a table knife or wooden skewer.
- Pour the rest of the filling on.
- Add another 1/4 cup strawberry sauce, adding small dollops of sauce here and there all around the top of the filling.
- Again, swirl the sauce into the filling with a table knife or wooden skewer.
- Bake, cool, and chill according to the recipe instructions in the recipe card below.
Using the Water Bath Method While Baking

The Kitchn has an excellent tutorial with really helpful tips for how to make the perfect cheesecake. In fact, that’s where I learned how to use the water bath method for making a cheesecake even more creamy.

Before you bake your cheesecake, wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with a good layer of aluminum foil, with foil extending over sides from the bottom of your pan. Maybe even add a couple layers, to help keep water from getting to your cheesecake.

Then place the pan down in a roasting pan with at least an inch of water in it. I use a turkey roasting pan.

This provides a steam bath environment for your cheesecake as it bakes and keeps it very moist.

What Causes Cheesecake to Crack, and How Can I Prevent That?

So this is a problem with any kind of cheesecake and some kinds of pies, like pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, etc.

The water bath method will help with this, as it will keep the cheesecake from drying out.

Essentially, that’s what causes it to crack, is when it dries out. It can happen when it’s baked too long and sometimes even when it’s cooled too quickly.

That said, when cheesecake is done, it should be set around the edge but still a little jiggly in the middle. The center is almost set but not quite set.

More Strawberry Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Can Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake Be Frozen?

As long as you use a full fat cream cheese, cheesecake should freeze well.

Just make sure you cool the cheesecake first. Then chill it.

Once it’s chilled, you can wrap it up with a layer or two of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil.

According to Eat By Date, cheesecake shelf life is up to 6 to 8 months in the freezer.

What to Serve with Strawberry Cheesecake

You can either swirl on a little canned whipped cream, or make homemade whipped cream and use a decorating bag and large tip (I used Tip 1M) to swirl it on.

And, of course, you can serve it with fresh strawberries.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make This Dessert:

9″ Springform Pan – This kind of pan is necessary for cheesecake, so you can easily remove the sides of the pan when serving.

Aluminum Foil – To prevent water from getting into your cheesecake while baking, you can wrap the outside of your pan with foil.

Medium to Large Saucepan and Spatula

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – This will ensure a smooth cheesecake filling.

Egg Separator – Easily separate the yolks from the egg whites.

Roasting Pan – Add about an inch or so of water in the roasting pan; then place the springform pan inside the roasting pan for baking.

Get the printable recipe!

If you love this strawberry swirl cheesecake recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Fresh Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

How to make the most delicious strawberry swirl cheesecake recipe, with a graham cracker crust, creamy homemade filling, and fresh strawberries.
1 graham cracker crust
Strawberry Sauce:
1/2 cup strawberry purée
6 tablespoons pure cane sugar
1 1/4 tablespoons corn starch
1/8 cup water
Cheesecake Filling:
32 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup pure cane sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
4 large egg yolks
Make your graham cracker crust in a 9″ springform pan (sprayed with cooking spray). You’ll want it ready to go after the cheesecake batter is all mixed up.
Line the outside of the springform pan with aluminum foil; this will keep water from getting into your cheesecake during baking.
Whisk together the corn starch and water in a small glass measuring cup.
Add the corn starch mixture together with the sugar in a medium to large saucepan.
Mix in the strawberry purée.
Bring the mixture to a boil on low to medium heat, constantly stirring with a spatula to avoid scorching.
Once the mixture boils, cook it for 3 to 5 more minutes, or until it thickens and turns a deep red.
Remove the strawberry sauce from the heat, and allow it to cool.*
Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 325°.
Using a mixer, mix together the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
Using an egg separator, separate the egg yolks from the whites, and add the yolks into the mixture, mixing well.
When your filling is creamy and smooth, pour half of it into your crust.
Spoon about 1/4 cup strawberry sauce on top of the filling, adding small dollops of sauce here and there.
Swirl the sauce into the filling with a table knife or wooden skewer.
Pour the rest of the filling on, and add another 1/4 cup strawberry sauce, adding small dollops of sauce here and there all around the top of the filling.
Again, swirl the sauce into the filling with a table knife or wooden skewer.
Place the cheesecake-filled springform pan in a roasting pan that has an inch or so of water in the bottom.
Place the whole pan into the oven, and bake at 325° for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the cheesecake is cooked through.**
Leave the cheesecake in the oven, and turn the oven off. Allow it to cool in the oven, with the oven door open, for about 30 to 45 minutes. You want a slow cooling process, in order to avoid cracks.
Now you can remove your cheesecake from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
Once your cheesecake has completely cooled at room temperature, cover and place it in the refrigerator, and allow it to chill overnight.
When you’re ready to serve it, just release the springform pan, slice it up, and serve with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
*I like to put my strawberry sauce in the freezer while I go about mixing up my cheesecake filling. About 30 minutes in the freezer (with occasional stirring) will cool it enough that you can finish making the dessert.

**The cheesecake should be firm around the edge and a little jiggly in the middle when it’s done. The center should be almost set but not quite set.

Desserts
American
how to make cheesecake filling, how to make strawberry cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry swirl cheesecake
February 12, 2019
Olive Garden White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Make Olive Garden’s white chocolate raspberry cheesecake at home. Who doesn’t love a decadent homemade dessert with a raspberry swirl and Oreo cookie crust?

I’ve had a thing for Olive Garden’s white chocolate raspberry cheesecake since way back when I was in college. There’s something about the Oreo cookie crust, the raspberry swirl cheesecake, and the white chocolate candy flakes that make this dessert simply heavenly.

Now even though it seems to be available at Cheesecake Factory, we can’t get this cheesecake at Olive Garden anymore. Never fear, though, because we all know that homemade is better anyway.

And especially in this case, homemade is way better. You’re going to absolutely love this cheesecake from the first bite.

Who’s up for their favorite raspberry swirl cheesecake? (Raises hand enthusiastically)

Related: Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake, Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake, and Jello no bake cheesecake.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE RECIPE?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious white chocolate raspberry cheesecake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

Tips for How to Make White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake:

Once you have your chocolate cookie crust (or you can make a graham cracker crust if you prefer) and raspberry sauce for cheesecake made, it’s pretty much smooth sailing from here.

While cheesecake can be temperamental, I’m hoping this post will help answer any questions you might have about the process of making it.

What Kind of Cream Cheese Should I Use?

While you can use a lower fat cream cheese, I’ve had the best luck with full fat cream cheese. Also, full fat cream cheese doesn’t necessarily have all the additives they add in when they remove things from the cheese to make it “lite.”

We want a creamy cheesecake batter, so always go for full fat.

When it comes to brands, I’ve had great success with brands like Philadelphia, Great Value, and Aldi’s Happy Farms.

Tips for Making Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake
- Using a mixer, mix together the softened cream cheese, pure cane sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Using an egg separator, separate the egg yolks from the whites, and add the yolks into the mixture, mixing well.
- When your batter is creamy and smooth, pour half the batter into your crust.
- Spoon about 1/3 cup raspberry sauce on top of the batter, adding small dollops of sauce here and there.
- Swirl the sauce into the batter with a table knife.
- Pour the rest of the batter on.
- Add another 1/3 cup raspberry sauce, adding small dollops of sauce here and there all around the top of the batter.
- Again, swirl the sauce into the batter with a table knife.
- Bake, cool, and chill according to the recipe instructions in the recipe card below.
Using the Water Bath Method While Baking

The Kitchn has an excellent tutorial with tons of super helpful tips for how to make the perfect cheesecake. In fact, that’s where I learned about the water bath method for making a cheesecake even more creamy.

Before you go to bake your cheesecake, wrap the outside of the pan with a good layer of aluminum foil, maybe even a couple layers, to keep water from getting to your cheesecake.

Then place the pan down in a roasting pan with at least an inch of water in it. I use a turkey roasting pan.

This provides a steam bath environment for your cheesecake as it bakes and keeps it very moist.

What Causes Cheesecake to Crack, and How Can I Prevent That?

So this is a problem with any kind of cheesecake and some kinds of pies, like pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, etc.

The water bath method, described above, will help with this, as it will keep the cheesecake from drying out. Because essentially, that’s what causes it to crack.

It dries out, which can also happen when it’s baked too long and sometimes even when it’s cooled too quickly.

That said, when cheesecake is done, it should be set around the edge but still a little jiggly in the middle.

Can Cheesecake Be Frozen?

As long as you use full fat cream cheese, cheesecake should freeze well.

Cool the cheesecake first. Then chill it.

Once it’s chilled, you can wrap it up with a layer or two of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil.

According to Eat By Date, cheesecake shelf life is up to 6 to 8 months in the freezer.

Adding the Finishing Touches

When your cheesecake has completely cooled and chilled, you can add shreds of white chocolate and swirls of whipped cream.

It’s easiest to shred the white chocolate with a vegetable peeler. Then sprinkle it all over the top of the cheesecake.

And you can either swirl whipped cream on with the can, or make homemade whipped cream and use a decorating bag and large tip (I used Tip 1M) to swirl it on.

Ok, so I know this cheesecake is a more complicated dessert to make. But isn’t it worth it to have your favorite dessert, made in your very own kitchen?

This recipe really isn’t that difficult either. It requires a few extra steps and it requires a little patience, but all in all, it’s a pretty simple recipe. If I can make it, you can too.

Kitchen Tools You May Need to Make This Dessert:

9″ Springform Pan – This kind of pan is necessary for cheesecake, so you can easily remove the sides of the pan when serving.

Aluminum Foil – To prevent water from getting into your cheesecake while baking, you can wrap the outside of your pan with foil.

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – This will ensure you have a smooth cheesecake batter.

Egg Separator – Easily separate the yolks from the egg whites.

Roasting Pan – Add about an inch or so of water in the roasting pan; then place the springform pan inside the roasting pan for baking.

Vegetable Peeler or Chocolate Shaver – for creating curls of chocolate for the top of the cheesecake.

Decorating Bag or Cupcake Decorating Set – You can decoratively add the whipped cream on top of the cheesecake with this.

Get the printable recipe!

If you love this raspberry cheesecake recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

Sign up to receive my newsletter, filled with delicious recipes and outdoor travel adventures, in your inbox:

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Olive Garden White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Make Olive Garden’s white chocolate raspberry cheesecake at home. Who doesn’t love a decadent homemade dessert with a raspberry swirl and Oreo cookie crust?
1 chocolate cookie crust
32 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup pure cane sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
4 large egg yolks
2/3 cup raspberry sauce
4 ounces white chocolate
2 cups whipped cream
First things first, make your chocolate cookie crust in a 9" springform pan (sprayed with cooking spray). You’ll want it ready to go after the cheesecake batter is all mixed up.
Line the outside of the springform pan with aluminum foil; this will keep water from getting into your cheesecake during baking.
Pre-heat the oven to 325°.
Using a mixer, mix together the softened cream cheese, pure cane sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
Using an egg separator, separate the egg yolks from the whites, and add the yolks into the mixture, mixing well.
When your batter is creamy and smooth, pour half the batter into your crust.
Spoon about 1/3 cup raspberry sauce on top of the batter, adding small dollops of sauce here and there.
Swirl the sauce into the batter with a table knife.
Pour the rest of the batter on, and add another 1/3 cup raspberry sauce, adding small dollops of sauce here and there all around the top of the batter.
Again, swirl the sauce into the batter with a table knife.
Place the cheesecake-filled springform pan in a roasting pan that has an inch or so of water in the bottom.
Place the whole pan into the oven, and bake at 325° for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the cheesecake is cooked through.*
Leave the cheesecake in the oven, and turn the oven off. Allow it to cool in the oven, with the oven door open, for about 30 to 45 minutes. You want a slow cooling process, in order to avoid cracks.
Now you can remove your cheesecake from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
Once your cheesecake has completely cooled at room temperature, cover and place it in the refrigerator, and allow it to chill overnight.
Next day, your cheesecake is ready to decorate, with white chocolate and a small batch of whipped cream.
Shave or curl the white chocolate with a vegetable peeler or chocolate shaver until you have enough chocolate to cover the top of your cheesecake.
Sprinkle the chocolate over the entire top of the cheesecake.
Add small swirls of whipped cream all around the edge of the cheesecake.
Finally, slice the cheesecake up and serve!
*The cheesecake should be firm around the edge and a little jiggly in the middle when it’s done.

Desserts
American
raspberry cheesecake, raspberry cheesecake recipe, raspberry swirl cheesecake, white chocolate raspberry cheesecake
This post was originally written in February 2018. It was updated and republished with more photos and tips in January 2019.
January 25, 2019
Easy Heart Shaped Pancakes with Chocolate Chips
How to make fluffy heart shaped pancakes with chocolate chips, using a cookie cutter. Easy, kid-friendly breakfast you can make for any occasion. Perfect for weekends, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and more!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and after that, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and all those celebratory family holidays. Chocolate chip heart pancakes and heart shaped buttermilk pancakes are a great way to say “I love you” to the ones you love.

All you need are a few simple ingredients and a heart shaped cookie cutter. Then you can make a small batch of the most festive I love you pancakes ever.

If you love blueberry pancakes, you can make heart shaped blueberry buttermilk pancakes. If you want to make more pancake shapes, strawberry dinosaur shaped pancakes are super fun to make.

Why Make Heart Pancakes?
- Chocolate chip pancakes from scratch are fluffy pancakes full of chocolaty goodness.
- You can make this heart-shaped pancakes recipe for different holidays and occasions; make it into Valentine pancakes for a fun Valentine’s Day breakfast, Mother’s Day pancakes, anniversary pancakes, birthday pancakes… The list could go on.
- They’re yummy and so much fun!
Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

To make this heart pancakes recipe, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients…
- All-Purpose Flour – We use unbleached all-purpose flour. If you want to make these gluten-free, like I do much of the time, use a good gluten-free all-purpose flour (<– my favorite one). You can also sub pancake mix if you want, though do keep in mind, pancake mix usually has all the dry ingredients including flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar; so you likely won’t need those extra dry ingredients.
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Sea Salt – You can use regular table salt, as well.
- Cane Sugar – You can also sub granulated sugar.
- Unsweetened Applesauce – I love that this is an eggless pancake recipe. Instead of eggs, I like to sub in unsweetened applesauce.
- Buttermilk – If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make soured milk, which works just as well. You’ll need white vinegar and milk, about a tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of milk. This recipe calls for 3/4 cup buttermilk, so you’d need to add about 3/4 tablespoon of white vinegar to the milk to sour it. Step 1: To make sure you have the right amount of liquid, add the vinegar into a liquid measuring cup first. Step 2: Then add the milk to the desired level or measurement. Step 3: Stir it and let the milk mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes. And that’s it! Before you know it, your milk will be perfectly soured just like buttermilk.
- Canola Oil – You can sub butter 1:1, which these days I use more than I do canola oil. Butter just gives a richer flavor.
- Chocolate Chips – Use whichever kind of chocolate chips you like, semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate.
You’ll also need a heart shaped pancake mold, or even simpler, a heart shaped cookie cutter to make your pancakes into the shape of a heart. A metal cookie cutter works best; plastic cookie cutters are a no go on the stove. However, you can use any size heart cookie cutters, even mini heart cutters.

How to Make Heart Shaped Pancakes

Making heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes is super easy.

How to Make Pancake Batter
1. Whisk or sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
1. Make a depression or well with your spoon in the center of the flour mixture.
2. Add the applesauce, buttermilk, and canola oil to the well.
3. Stir everything together just until moistened. The batter will be quite thick.
4. Then fold in (gently mix in) the chocolate chips.
How to Shape the Pancakes

Shaping the batter into heart shapes happens as you cook the pancakes. You’ll need a heart shaped pancake mold, or even simpler, a heart cookie cutter.
1. Lightly spray a griddle or skillet, as well as the cookie cutter or pancake mold, with cooking spray, and heat on medium-low heat.
2. Place the greased cookie cutter on the hot griddle or hot skillet, and spoon the pancake batter into the cookie cutter, spreading the batter out to the edges with your spoon. You can also use a pancake batter dispenser or squeeze bottle to squeeze the batter onto the griddle.
1. Cook the pancake for about 1 to 2 minutes, and then you can just remove the cutter.
2. Cook the pancake another couple minutes on its first side and flip it using a pancake turner. Allow it to cook on low to medium heat until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
3. As each heart shaped pancake cooks through, place them on a covered baking sheet in a warm spot ’til ready to serve. Then repeat the above steps to cook the rest of the pancakes.
Serve heart pancakes with strawberry jam, strawberry sauce, raspberry sauce, fresh raspberries, fresh strawberries or other fresh berries, whipped cream, pure maple syrup, powdered sugar, and whatever else your heart desires. They’re so yummy!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

TIP #1 – Some pancake batters will start to dimple, and that’s when you know to flip the pancakes. However, this pancake batter is pretty thick, so it doesn’t usually dimple for me.

TIP #2 – As you take the pancakes off the griddle, keep them warm by putting them on a cookie sheet or pizza pan in a slightly heated oven.

Won’t the pancake batter just leak out the edges of the cookie cutter?
Shaping pancake can be difficult, but since this pancake batter is a thicker batter, this is not an issue. As long as you leave the cookie cutter on the pancake for 1-2 minutes while it cooks, you should be able to remove the cutter without messing up the heart shape. As you remove the cutter, you can then start a new pancake and so on and so forth.

How should leftover pancakes be stored?
Since these pancakes do have milk in them, I’d err on the side of caution and refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.

More Pancake Recipes and Breakfast Ideas
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Heart Shaped Pancakes with Chocolate Chips

How to make fluffy heart shaped pancakes with chocolate chips, using a cookie cutter. Easy, kid-friendly breakfast you can make for any occasion. Perfect for weekends, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and more!
Large Mixing Bowl
Heart Shaped Pancake Mold
Heart Cookie Cutter
Griddle
Pancake Batter Dispenser
Pancake Flipper Spatula
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons cane sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons canola oil (or butter)
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Whisk or sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
Make a depression or well with your spoon in the center of the dry ingredients.
Add the applesauce, buttermilk, and canola oil to the well.
Stir everything together just until moistened. The batter will be quite thick.
Then fold in (gently mix in) the chocolate chips.
Lightly spray a griddle or skillet, as well as the cookie cutter, with cooking spray, and heat on medium low heat.
Place the greased cookie cutter on the griddle, and spoon the pancake batter into the cookie cutter, spreading the batter out to the edges with your spoon.
Cook the pancake for about 1 to 2 minutes, and then you can just remove the cutter.
Cook the pancake another couple minutes and flip it.* Allow it to cook on low to medium heat until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
As each heart shaped pancake cooks through, place them on a covered baking sheet in a warm spot 'til ready to serve.* Then repeat the above steps to cook the rest of the pancakes.
When all your pancakes are cooked, serve them while warm.
*Some pancake batters will start to dimple, and that’s when you know to flip the pancakes. However, this pancake batter is pretty thick, so it doesn’t usually dimple for me.

*As your pancakes get done and you take them off the griddle, keep them warm by putting them on a cookie sheet or pizza pan in a slightly heated oven.

How should leftover pancakes be stored?

Since these pancakes do have milk in them, I’d err on the side of caution and refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.

Pancakes, Waffles, & French Toast
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January 18, 2019
Valentine’s Day Heart Garland Cute and Easy Sewing Project
I’ve had it in my mind to make a heart garland for quite some time, especially after making Valentine marshmallow pops. I knew I wanted to sew the hearts together, but I hadn’t had my sewing machine out for a long time, so I felt a little green behind the pedal.

As I started working on this sewing project, I realized how much I’d missed sewing. The thing with this project is… Don’t let a little sewing scare you off. This Valentine’s Day heart garland is super easy to make. You can make it as big or as small as you prefer.

You can even sew it by hand if you don’t have a machine; it will just require a different stitch by hand.

Supplies You’ll Need for a Valentine’s Day Heart Garland

You’ll need a few supplies to make this garland…
- Heart image you can cut out – I used a printable heart shape from What Mommy Does.
- Pencil
- Fabric – I used super cheap fat quarters.
- Fabric scissors
- Thread to match or contrast with fabric
- Sewing Pins
- Small amount of pillow stuffing
- Rick Rack
- Mini clothespins – I found pink and mint colored clothespins in the scrapbook section at Hobby Lobby.
- Sewing machine – If you don’t have one, you can always sew by hand.
How to Create Heart Shapes for a Garland

Print the heart image you’ve chosen to use. I wanted a smaller heart shape for my garland. Cut the image out.

You may want to wash and iron the fabric you’ve chosen to use. Lay your fabric out on a flat surface, and place the heart image on the fabric. Draw around it with a pencil, and cut out each fabric heart.Repeat this step for as many hearts as you plan to use on your garland. You’ll need 2 fabric cutouts for every heart. For example, I cut out 32 heart shapes to make 16 hearts.

Once all your hearts are cut out, you’ll need to put your hearts together with stuffing and pins. Place fabric heart on table with the wrong side of the fabric facing up. Add just a bit of pillow stuffing, and cover over with another heart, this time with the right side of the fabric facing up. Pin the two hearts together with the stuffing in between. Repeat these steps for every heart.

How to Sew the Hearts Together and Create a Valentine’s Day Heart Garland

Prep your sewing machine with the color thread you plan to use. I used a contrasting pink thread for all my shapes. A little history behind the thread… I have a whole box full of thread that once belonged to my grandma. This particular spool full of pink thread still had a green Walmart price sticker on it, so that tells you how old that thread really is. Grandma loved to sew.

Now where were we? You’ll be using a zig-zag stitch.

Stitch around the outside edge of each heart with a zig-zag stitch, being careful to stay close to or right on the edge. Remove the pins as you sew.

Once you’ve sewn all the hearts, cut a long piece of rick rack to use as your garland. The length will depend on how many hearts you’ve chosen to use.

Add each heart to the rick rack, using mini clothespins. You can place your hearts straight on or give them a little tilt for even more charm.

Form a knotted loop at each end of the garland, which you can use to hang it up wherever you choose.

And there you have it… A super cute Valentine’s Day garland or bunting you can re-use year after year!

More Valentine’s Day Projects
- Dino Valentine box
Can’t craft it just yet? That’s ok! Be sure to pin it for later!
January 31, 2017
Easy and Fun Valentine Marshmallow Pops
Use candy melts and marshmallows to make easy Valentine marshmallow pops. A kid-friendly Valentine’s Day recipe, they make perfect party treats with oodles of decorating ideas.

If you’re still looking for a fun treat to make with your kids this Valentine’s Day, Valentines marshmallows are something both you and your kids will love. Awhile ago, I shared my recipe for cherry chip cake pops…. Valentine marshmallow pops are a slightly easier treat and oh so fun and kid-friendly to make.

Ingredient Notes:

Snowman marshmallow pops are another fun marshmallow dessert for kids, especially during the wintertime.

Gather a few supplies, including the following:
- Marshmallows – Use regular marshmallows, jumbo marshmallows, or sometimes you can find heart shaped marshmallows in stores around Valentine’s Day.
- Wilton Candy Melts – You can use any color you want, including pink candy melts, white melts, red, etc. You can also use chocolate melting wafers.
- Valentine Sprinkles – All sorts of Valentine-themed sprinkles.
- Paper Straws – use these for the lollipop sticks.
- Paper Towel for Work Space – This will catch all the extra sprinkles and drips from the melted candy melts. It definitely makes cleanup a LOT easier afterward.
- This Wilton Cake Pops Decorating Stand comes in handy too.
How to Make Valentine Marshmallow Pops
1. The first step is to place marshmallows on the paper straws. Insert the paper straws into the center of your marshmallows, letting the straw act as a lollipop stick.
1. Be creative and make different designs, like doubling up heart shaped marshmallows on one stick.
How to Melt the Candy Melts and Chocolate for Dipping

Depending on the dipping candy you decide to use, you can melt it a couple different ways:
- Melt using a double boiler on the stove – This is basically a pan inside of another pan with boiling water in the bottom pan. It allows for more even melting without burning, and it also keeps chocolate warm for dipping. If you’re wanting to use different colors, this may not be the easiest way to melt the candy melts. So instead…
- Melt it in the microwave – This is usually the route I go. Just follow the package instructions for melting. Usually, you heat and stir in 15-second intervals until the candy is melted and smooth enough for dipping.
One Important Tip: Depending on the type of chocolate you use, some people like to add shortening or paraffin wax to their chocolate as it melts. This allows for a thinner coat and stretches the chocolate a little further. If you use a good quality chocolate, you likely won’t need this step.

Dip and Decorate Marshmallows
1. Dip the marshmallows in the melted candy melts, letting excess candy drip back into the bowl.
1. Now you’re ready to immediately grab the sprinkles and decorate before the candy coating hardens. You can create polka dots all over the marshmallows with candy beads and shake little sprinkles or hearts all over. Maybe even sprinkle a little candy sugar on top. Just be creative and let your kids do their thing; you never know what they’ll come up with.
1. Place the Valentine marshmallows in the marshmallow pop holder, and let the candy coating set.
There’s nothing like festive Valentine dipped marshmallows to wish someone a very Happy Valentine’s Day.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, you can, though it’d probably be best to make them only 1-2 days in advance, so they don’t get stale.

How should I store marshmallow pops?
They should be stored in an airtight container in a slightly cooler environment. Not chilled in the fridge, but you want them to keep their shape and the candy to not melt… So you don’t want them next to a stove or oven.

MORE VALENTINE’S DAY TREATS YOU’LL LOVE
Make a homemade dinosaur Valentine box to hold all your special Valentines!

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Valentine Marshmallow Pops

Use candy melts and marshmallows to make easy Valentine marshmallow pops. They make perfect kid-friendly Valentine's Day party treats.
Wilton Cake Pops Decorating Stand
Valentine Paper Straws
Paper Towels
12 ounces marshmallows
12 ounces candy melts
1/2 cup Valentine sprinkles
Insert the paper straws into the center of your marshmallows, letting the straw act as a lollipop stick.
Be creative and make different designs, like doubling up heart shaped marshmallows on one stick.
How to Melt the Candy Melts and Chocolate for Dipping
Depending on the dipping candy you decide to use, you can melt it a couple different ways… Melt using a double boiler on the stove – This is basically a pan inside of another pan with boiling water in the bottom pan. It allows for more even melting without burning, and it also keeps chocolate warm for dipping. If you're wanting to use different colors, this may not be the easiest way to melt the candy melts. So instead…
Melt it in the microwave – This is usually the route I go. Just follow the package instructions for melting. Usually, you heat and stir in 15-second intervals until the candy is melted and smooth enough for dipping.
Dip and Decorate Marshmallows
Dip the marshmallows in the melted candy melts, letting excess candy drip back into the bowl.
Immediately grab the sprinkles and decorate before the candy coating hardens. You can create polka dots all over the marshmallows with candy beads and shake little sprinkles or hearts all over. Maybe even sprinkle a little candy sugar on top.
Place the Valentine marshmallows in the marshmallow pop holder, and let the candy coating set.
Then they're ready to serve and enjoy!
One Important Melting Tip: Depending on the type of chocolate you use, some people like to add shortening or paraffin wax to their chocolate as it melts. This allows for a thinner coat and stretches the chocolate a little further. If you use a good quality chocolate, you likely won’t need this step.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes, you can, though it’d probably be best to make them only 1-2 days in advance, so they don’t get stale.

How should I store marshmallow pops?

They should be stored in an airtight container in a slightly cooler environment. Not chilled in the fridge, but you want them to keep their shape and the candy to not melt… So you don’t want them next to a stove or oven.

Desserts
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January 28, 2017
Heart Shaped Chocolate Whoopie Pies for Valentine’s Day
Remember when you were a kid and Valentine’s Day meant school parties with homemade Valentine boxes, gobs of Valentines, and yummy heart shaped treats like heart shaped chocolate whoopie pies?

With the holiday of love and hearts and sprinkled cupcakes just around the corner, Heart Shaped Chocolate Whoopie Pies are a most scrumptious treat, as are heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes.

This Recipe Has a Story

This recipe happens to be my grandma’s recipe for chocolate whoopie pies.

We didn’t really call them whoopie pies. Ever. I’m not sure why.

But that’s really what they are. Only our icing is more of a creamy sugar cookie icing made with powdered sugar.

I think original whoopie pies have a sort of marshmallow cream icing. Either way, they’re one of my favorite cookies.

Grandma would mix these up and pop them in the oven. When they came out, the entire kitchen smelled like chocolate.

We’d smooth a bit of icing on one cookie and sandwich them together.

To this day, they’re still a family favorite. Her recipe lives on.

How to Make Heart Shaped Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Below is the printable recipe.

You can make these round or heart shaped. To get the heart shape, I used a Wilton heart shaped whoopie pie pan.

If you don’t want to buy the pan, I imagine you could use a heart shaped cookie cutter to form each shape with dough. Just be sure to remove the cookie cutter before baking.

This is the most scrumptious cookie… If I could call it the king of cookies (besides my favorite chocolate chip cookies), I totally would. Enjoy!

MORE VALENTINE TREATS YOU’LL LOVE
- Valentine’s Day Rice Krispie treats
- Valentine snack cakes
Pack up your treats and Valentines in a DIY dinosaur Valentine box, and carry them to school.
Heart Shaped Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Chocolate sandwich cookies are a favorite family recipe passed down from generation to generation. Whether you call them sandwich cookies or whoopie pies, Heart Shaped Chocolate Whoopie Pies really do make a yummy Valentine's Day treat.
Cookie Dough:
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups cane sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
Icing:
2 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup whole milk
3 cups powdered sugar
Cookies:
Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
Cream (or mix) the butter and sugar together.
Then add the eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
Whisk or sift together the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt.
Mix the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. If the batter is too thin, you may need to add just a bit more flour.
Spray the whoopie pie pan with cooking spray. Drop 1-2 teaspoonfuls of cookie dough into each heart and smooth out.
Bake at 350° F for about 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.
Icing:
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
Add the milk to the mixture.
Slowly add the powdered sugar to the mixture, mixing it in as you go. You want a good consistency, not too runny or the cookies will slide apart; you want the icing thick enough to stay on the cookie but not so thick that it breaks the cookies apart when trying to spread it. Once everything is mixed together, the icing should be smooth and creamy, free of any lumps.
After the cookies have cooled, sandwich them together with the icing.
Serve and enjoy!
Valentine’s Day
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Can’t bake them just yet? Pin it for later!
January 20, 2017
Little Debbie Valentine Snack Cakes
Learn how to make a copycat version of sweet Little Debbie Valentine snack cakes. Heart shaped cakes are layered with a vanilla white creme filling inside and covered with a pink shell on the outside. They’re the perfect treat for a Valentine’s Day party!

Little Debbie Valentine Cakes… Who doesn’t love these scrumptious little cakes covered in a sweet pink shell?

Along with Christmas Tree Cakes, these heart snack cakes are one of my favorite Little Debbie treats. I say treat because they are an every once in a while treat, something to look forward to.

That being said, my boys have been trying to get me to try making more than a few Little Debbie copycat recipes for not just one but a few of our favorite Little Debbie treats. Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, what better time to try making Little Debbie Be My Valentine Snack Cakes than now?

If you’re looking for more heart shaped treats, you’ll love these heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes and heart shaped Rice Krispie treats. Pack up your Valentines in a sweet dinosaur Valentine’s Day box.

Ingredient Notes:

Let’s talk about a few of the ingredients…
- Cake Mix – While I prefer to use cherry chip cake mix because it gives a slightly pink tone to the cakes and I love the flavor of cherry chip, you can use any flavor you want. White cake mix or strawberry cake mix are a couple of yummy options that come to mind. You can even make Little Debbie Valentine chocolate cakes; use a chocolate cake mix or use this homemade chocolate cupcakes recipe for a moist chocolate snack cake.
- Cream Cheese – I recommend using full fat cream cheese vs. low fat.
- Butter – Use real salted butter rather than margarine; margarine will change the texture and outcome of your cakes.
- Marshmallow Fluff – You can use any marshmallow cream, but I love actual Fluff brand. Holy cow, the creamy factor that Marshmallow Fluff adds to frosting is ah-mazing.
- Candy Melts – If making pink Valentine’s Day Little Debbie cakes, you’ll want pink and white candy melts… Pink for the coating, white for the little decorative dribbles on top.
How to Make Little Debbie Valentine Snack Cakes

I had to think about this recipe for quite a while before attempting to make it; if you think of it like cupcakes, it’s really pretty simple to make.

First, Make Heart Shaped Cakes:
1. Mix the cake mix according to the package directions.
2. Spray a heart shaped mini cakes pan with cooking spray. Then fill the heart shapes in the pan with batter, about 2/3 of the way full.
3. Bake according to package directions for cupcakes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.
4. Remove the cakes from the pan and let cool on a wire rack.
Next Mix the Filling:
1. Mix together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
2. Add the powdered sugar, mixing well.
3. Then add in Marshmallow Fluff, making sure all the ingredients are mixed.
4. Once the cakes have cooled, slice them in half horizontally, add a layer of creme, and sandwich them back together.
Now Coat the Snack Cakes:
1. Melt the pink candy melts, according to package directions. Note: It can be difficult to shake excess candy coating off the cakes as you’re dipping and rolling, and the coating may need to be just a bit thinner; it may help to add a tablespoon of shortening to it during the melting process.
2. Gently dip (or roll) the cake sandwiches, one at a time, in the melted candy coating.
3. Set each dipped cake on wax paper. You may need to spoon a bit of candy coating on top of each cake once you’ve set it on the wax paper.
4. Once all the heart cakes have been coated, allow them to chill in the refrigerator until the coating has hardened.
5. Then melt the white candy melts, according to package directions.
6. Drizzle over the top of each cake in whatever pattern you desire. I used a bottle with a cake tip for this step.
7. Again, allow to chill until the candy coating has fully hardened.
These sweet little snack cakes were a hit with my boys, which is really what mattered. The cakes were gone in no time.

More Valentine’s Day Recipes
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Little Debbie Valentine Snack Cakes

How to make a copycat version of Little Debbie Valentine snack cakes, pink heart shaped cakes layered with a vanilla white creme filling.
Heart Shaped Muffin Pan
Cake –
15.25 ounces Cherry Chip cake mix
1 cup water
1/2 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
Filling –
8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
3 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup Marshmallow Fluff
Coating –
12 ounces pink candy melts
12 ounces white candy melts
Cake –
Mix the cake mix according to the package directions.
Spray the pan with cooking spray. Then fill the heart shapes in the pan with batter, about 2/3 of the way full.
Bake according to package directions for cupcakes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Remove the cakes from the pan and let cool on a wire rack.
Filling-
Mix together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
Add the powdered sugar, mixing well.
Then add in Marshmallow Fluff, making sure all the ingredients are mixed.
Once the cakes have cooled, slice them in half horizontally, add a layer of creme, and sandwich them back together.
Coating –
Melt the pink candy melts, according to package directions. See Notes below.
Gently dip (or roll) the cake sandwiches, one at a time, in the melted candy coating.
Set each dipped cake on wax paper. You may need to spoon a bit of candy coating on top of each cake once you've set it on the wax paper.
Once all the heart cakes have been coated, allow them to chill in the refrigerator until the coating has hardened.
Then melt the white candy melts, according to package directions.
Drizzle over the top of each cake in whatever pattern you desire. I used a bottle with a cake tip for this step.
Again, allow to chill until the candy coating has fully hardened.
Store the pink heart snack cakes in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
It can be difficult to shake excess candy coating off the cakes as you’re dipping and rolling, and the coating may need to be just a bit thinner; it may help to add a tablespoon of shortening to it during the melting process.

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January 17, 2017
Homemade Dinosaur Valentine Box (Shoebox Craft Idea)
How to make a homemade dinosaur Valentine box from a shoebox, the perfect Valentine’s Day box idea for elementary school kids. Pair with printable dinosaur Valentines to give to classmates, friends, and loved ones!

My Jaden happens to love dinosaurs. Even though we don’t really have a Valentine’s Day party on the schedule, I still thought it’d be fun to make him a special dinosaur Valentines box he can put his Valentines in but also turn into a keepsake/treasure box after Valentine’s Day has passed.

I can remember making a special Valentine box for classroom Valentines every year when I was in elementary school. In fact, I still have one of those Valentine shoe box ideas in my cedar chest.

It just so happens I had a couple of shoeboxes, waiting to be used for a special shoebox craft or project of some sort, hangin’ out in my craft closet. When asked what dinosaur Valentine box he’d like to have, he chose his favorite, of course… a Triceratops Valentine box, a great way to use up old shoe boxes and the perfect place to stash your Valentine cards!

You’ll find printable dinosaur Valentine’s Day cards to go with your box for Valentine’s Day parties further below.

Materials and Supplies Needed for a Homemade Dinosaur Valentine Box:

To make this DIY dinosaur Valentine box, you’ll need a few simple supplies, most of which you can probably find at the dollar store or craft store.
- 1 shoebox
- Box cutters
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Hot glue gun & glue sticks
- Poster board – You can use red poster board or white card stock painted red.
- Craft Paint – Acrylic paint in any color/s you choose.
- Sponge paint brush
- 1 egg carton – Not styrofoam; you’ll need a cardboard egg carton.
- 2 small cardboard cones
- 2 large googly eyes
How to Make a Dinosaur Valentine Box

Note: This is a fun way for kids to get in on the crafting with this DIY dinosaur Valentine box, though they will need supervision, as it does require using a glue gun, box cutters, and craft knife.

I’ve had mixed feelings over this dinosaur Valentine’s Day box. Before the eyes or any other features were added and it was just the box with a crest, Dan mentioned it looked like Lisa Simpson. After it was completed, I kinda thought it looked like a razorback… I think it’s the red (the color Jaden chose) and the fact that we used to live in Arkansas, home of the Razorbacks, so we saw them everywhere all the time.

Either way, it’s a Triceratops Valentines box, and I’m stickin’ to it. So, here’s how to make this cute li’l guy.

First Make the Triceratops Crest

The first step in creating a Triceratops Valentine box is to cut the dinosaur’s crest from the poster board. The size of the shoebox will determine how large you need to make the crest.

To make the dinosaur’s crest, you’ll need to follow these steps…
1. Cut a large circle from the poster board, however large you want your crest to be, again depending on the size of your shoebox.
2. You’ll need to cut flaps on the bottom edge of the crest to prep it for gluing onto the top of the box.
1. Cut large triangles all around the outside edge of the crest, resembling the crest of a Triceratops.
2. Decide on placement of the crest, and use your box cutters to cut the lid of the shoebox in half, right in front of where the crest will sit. (We decided to cut our lid in half, so the crest remains stationary and is less likely to get torn up; and also because we used a shoebox with a flip-over lid.)
3. Next, use your hot glue gun to glue the back part of the shoebox lid down; that way, it can’t be lifted, thus maintaining safety of the crest.
4. Then just glue your crest in place, using the flaps you created, to do so.
Hardest part and best part of the craft is over… Whew!

Painting Your Homemade Dino Valentine Box

Now for the fun of painting and decorating, and this is where kids can especially get involved in the creative, crafty fun.

Paint your box whatever color you choose. We chose to use red poster board for the crest, which pretty much matched the paint that Jaden chose.

If you get a little paint on the poster board, that’s ok… Crafting is messy; embrace it! Fair warning: It may take several coats of paint to cover any writing on the shoebox.

You can also paint the tips of the crest a different color if you choose. We went with brown on the tips.

Decorating Your Dinosaur

Once the paint is dry, it’s time to add the finishing touches. This is where the egg carton and cardboard cones come in.

The lid of your egg carton should have an edge with round shapes on either end. When I saw this, I saw the perfect platform for the wiggle eyes to rest on.
1. Cut one whole side with the 2 round shapes out of the egg carton, leaving the flat edge around the bottom.
2. Paint this to match your box.
1. Once the paint has dried, add hot glue around the bottom edge, and put it in place on your box lid.
2. Then glue the googly eyes in place with a couple dots of glue.
1. You’ll need three horns. The two cardboard cones will work for the upper horns. Cut a rounded piece out of one side of each cone, so the horns will point outward from the box rather than straight up, when placed on the dinosaur’s face.
1. Add glue around the edge and glue in place, one horn on either side of the eyes.
1. For the third horn, you’ll need either a smaller cardboard cone or the pointed piece that sticks up out of an egg carton, which is what we chose to use… It’s all about using what you have. Cut the rounded cone shape out of the egg carton.
2. Add glue around the bottom edges of the cone, and place it on the edge of the box lid, centered between the eyes.
1. Lastly, the mouth… Use one of the edges you cut from the cardboard cones for the bottom part of the mouth, glueing the piece in place beneath the lid on the box itself.
2. Shape one of the egg carton bowls into a beak of sorts with scissors.
3. Glue the “beak” into place on the edge of the lid itself, beneath the single horn.
Making this cute Valentine’s Day box is so much fun, especially when you’re done and now you get to use it to hold all your Valentine’s Day cards.

Free Printable Dinosaur Valentines

Expert Tips and FAQ’s

Where do the Valentines go?
If you’re using the box as a Valentine box for classroom Valentines, you may want to cut a slit in the top of the lid, so there’s a place for the Valentines to go. We’re using it as more of a treasure or keepsake box, so we didn’t add the slit. You can also just have kids open up the front flap to deposit their Valentine cards.

Do I have to use a shoebox to make this DIY dinosaur Valentine’s Day box?
You can use any kind of box to create a really unique Valentines box, including a shoebox, cardboard mailbox, tissue box, or cereal box.

More Valentine’s Day Ideas

Just a few more fun ideas for Valentine’s Day, including Valentine treats…
More Valentine Box Ideas

My friend Mariah over at The Simple Parent, has 20+ Valentine boxes for boys. You’ll find all sorts of Valentine’s Day boxes for elementary school aged kids, including Valentine shoe box ideas!

If you’re on Pinterest, you can find a ton of creative Valentine box ideas, including…
- Monster box – Is this not the cutest thing? I can just imagine it saying, “Feed me!”
- Robot Valentine box
- Unicorn Valentine box
- T-Rex box
- Lego Valentine box
Just remember: This craft is not about perfection… It’s about creating something your child will treasure for years to come, and all because you took the time to make it with him/her. Just be creative and have fun with it!

You’ll find printable free dinosaur Valentines to go with your Valentine box below.

I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to leave a comment, and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can subscribe to my email list too.
Homemade Dinosaur Valentine Box

How to make a homemade dinosaur Valentine box from a shoebox, the perfect Valentine's Day box idea for elementary school kids. Pair with printable dinosaur Valentines to give to classmates, friends, and loved ones!
Box Cutters
pair of scissors
Craft Knife
Hot glue gun
Sponge Paint Brush
1 Shoebox
3-4 Glue Sticks
1 Poster Board
Craft Paint (any color)
1 Egg Carton (not styrofoam)
2 Small Cardboard Cones
2 Large Wiggle Eyes
Make the Triceratops Crest:
Cut a large circle from the poster board, however large you want your crest to be, depending on the size of your shoebox.
Cut flaps on the bottom edge of the crest to prep it for gluing onto the box.
Cut large triangles all around the outside edge of the crest, resembling the crest of a Triceratops.
Decide on placement of the crest, and use your box cutters to cut the lid of the shoebox in half, right in front of where the crest will sit. (We decided to cut our lid in half, so the crest remains stationary and is less likely to get torn up; and also because we used a shoebox with a flip-over lid.)
Next, use your hot glue gun to glue the back part of the shoebox lid down; that way, it can't be lifted, thus maintaining safety of the crest.
Then just glue the crest in place, using the flaps you created, to do so.
Paint the Homemade Dino Valentine Box:
Paint your box whatever color you choose. We used red paint to match the poster board we used for the crest. It may take several coats of paint to cover any writing on the shoebox.
Decorate the Dinosaur:
The lid of your egg carton should have an edge with round shapes on either end. Cut one whole side with the 2 round shapes out of the egg carton, leaving the flat edge around the bottom.
Paint this to match your box.
Once the paint has dried, add hot glue around the bottom edge, and put it in place on the box lid.
Then glue the wiggle eyes in place with a couple dots of glue.
You'll need three horns. The two cardboard cones will work for the upper horns. Cut a rounded piece out of one side of each cone, so the horns will point outward from the box rather than straight up, when placed on the dinosaur's face.
Add glue around the edge and glue in place, one horn on either side of the eyes.
For the third horn, you'll need either a smaller cardboard cone or the pointed piece that sticks up out of an egg carton, which is what we chose to use… It's all about using what you have. Cut the rounded cone shape out of the egg carton.
Add glue around the bottom edges of the cone, and place it on the edge of the box lid, centered between the eyes.
Lastly, the mouth… Use one of the edges you cut from the cardboard cones for the bottom part of the mouth, glueing the piece in place beneath the lid on the box itself.
Shape one of the egg carton bowls into a beak of sorts with scissors.
Glue the “beak” into place on the edge of the lid itself, beneath the single horn.
Where do the Valentines go?

If you’re using the box as a Valentine box for classroom Valentines, you may want to cut a slit in the top of the lid, so there’s a place for the Valentines to go. We’re using it as more of a treasure or keepsake box, so we didn’t add the slit. You can also just have kids open up the front flap to deposit their Valentine cards.

Do I have to use a shoebox?

You can use any kind of box to create a really unique Valentines box, including a shoebox, cardboard mailbox, tissue box, or cereal box.

Valentine’s Day
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February 2, 2016
Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
Love Reese’s? You’ll love chocolate peanut butter hearts. These heart shaped peanut butter candies covered in melted chocolate make the best Valentine’s Day treats!

Chocolate peanut butter treats are my family’s go-to choice when it comes to candy. Dan loves Reese’s Mini Cups; the boys and I love it all, especially Ritz cracker cookies, peanut butter balls with Rice Krispies, and buckeyes.

Special holidays like Valentine’s Day always mean heart shaped peanut butter cups. While I’ve tried to master copycat versions of Reese’s peanut butter cups, I think this is probably the closest I’ve ever gotten.

These chocolate covered peanut butter hearts make a yummy Valentine for anyone (provided they don’t have a peanut allergy), be it family, friends, or even your neighbors.

Speaking of Valentines, here’s another fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day… Make a triceratops Valentine box to hold all your special Valentines!

Ingredient Notes:

Let’s look at a few of the ingredients…
- Salted Butter – I always recommend real butter over margarine. Anything less than real butter will change the texture of the finished candies.
- Powdered Sugar
- Creamy Peanut Butter – You can use chunky if you like a little more crunch to your peanut butter cups.
- Graham Crackers – These will need to be crushed. I like to put the crackers in a Ziploc bag and roll over them with a rolling pin to crush them. You can also use a food processor.
- Chocolate – While you can use candy melts, I recommend using real chocolate. Ghirardelli Melting Wafers are among my favorite melting chocolates; it’s becoming one of my favorite brands of chocolate for baking and sweets because the chocolate’s just so creamy and rich, full of flavor. Chocolate chips also work well.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

The hearts are easy to make, though the dipping process can be a little messy. If you’d rather no dipping, you’ll enjoy this buckeye bars recipe.

Make the Heart Shapes
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the butter, powdered sugar, and peanut butter.
2. Add the crushed graham crackers to the peanut butter mixture, mixing well.
3. To create the heart shapes, roll out the peanut butter filling on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin; roll to about 3/4 inch thickness.
4. Cut heart shapes with a small heart shaped cookie cutter.
How to Melt the Chocolate for Dipping

Depending on the chocolate you decide to use, you can melt it a few different ways:
- Melt it using a double boiler on the stove – This is basically a pan inside of another pan with boiling water in the bottom pan. It allows for more even melting without burning, and it also keeps the chocolate warm for dipping.
- Use a fondue pot and make it a family affair.
- Melt it in the microwave – This is usually the route I go. Just follow package directions.
Also, depending on the type of chocolate used, some people like to add shortening or paraffin wax to their chocolate as it melts. This allows for a thinner coating and stretches your chocolate a little further.

How to Dip Peanut Butter Hearts
1. Dip the hearts in chocolate, using your fingers, tongs, or a candy dipping tool. Once you do a few, you start to get a knack for it, and it becomes easier.
2. Drip off excess chocolate after dipping, and place the candies on a wax paper covered cookie sheet.
3. Place the chocolate dipped candies in the fridge to chill, so the chocolate coating can harden.
More Valentine’s Desserts
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

Love Reese's? You'll love chocolate peanut butter hearts. Heart shaped peanut butter candies covered in chocolate make the best Valentines!
6 tablespoons salted butter (melted)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 whole graham crackers (crushed)
1 pound chocolate
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the butter, powdered sugar, and peanut butter.
Add the crushed graham crackers to the peanut butter mixture, mixing well.
To create the heart shapes, roll out the peanut butter filling on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin; roll to about 3/4 inch thickness.
Cut heart shapes with a small heart shaped cookie cutter.
Add the chocolate to a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl; and melt, starting at 30 seconds, then stirring every 15-20 seconds, 'til melted and smooth.
Dip the hearts in chocolate, using tongs or a candy dipping tool. Once you do a few, you start to get a knack for it, and it becomes easier.
Drip off excess chocolate after dipping, and place the candies on a wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Place the chocolate dipped candies in the fridge to chill, so the chocolate coating can harden. Serve when ready!
Desserts
American
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January 13, 2015
Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipe
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and these little treats are the perfect homemade gift and easy to make too.

Growing up, my dad loved his chocolate covered cherries, especially at Christmas time, one reason I’m adding this recipe to my list of The Best Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations. We’d get him a box every single year, and if we didn’t, he’d buy his own.

One year, I made him a batch of homemade; but this year, I decided to make some for Valentine’s Day instead.

These chocolate covered cherries are filled with a creamy white filling and, of course, Maraschino cherries.

I used Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers, which I found at our grocery store.

Looking for more festive sweet treats?
Below you’ll find a printable recipe. Enjoy!
Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries

These homemade chocolate covered cherries are filled with a creamy white filling and, of course, Maraschino cherries.
10 ounces Maraschino cherries
10 ounces dark chocolate (melting wafers)
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon whole milk
The first step is to make the creamy white filling for the chocolate covered cherries. Start by melting butter, then add in vanilla and almond extract. Mix in powdered sugar and milk, starting with 1 tbsp. milk and adding more as needed to get filling to just a slightly thicker consistency. You want the filling to be somewhat thin but thick enough to not make a complete mess when you go to fill the candy mold.
Melt the chocolate according to package directions. I found it helpful, at this point, to then add my chocolate to a decorating bottle; I did the same with the creamy filling.
Start by adding a bit of chocolate to the bottom of your candy mold. Then add a whole cherry or piece of a cherry, depending on the size of your candy mold. Add a bit of the white creamy filling, probably about 1/2-1 tsp. Then finish off with the melted chocolate, surrounding the cherry and creamy filling.
Once all candy sections are filled, place candy mold in freezer for 5-10 minutes or until candy is set. Pop out of candy mold and serve. Enjoy!
Candy
American
chocolate covered cherries
February 3, 2014
Easy Valentine Cake Pops
Learn how to make easy Valentine cake pops with the Babycakes cake pop maker. These treats on a stick make cute DIY bite-sized desserts, they’re the perfect recipe for kids, and they’re so much fun to make!

When I started out to make these Valentine’s Day cherry chip cake pops, I wasn’t even sure how to go about making them ’til I did a little research. Now I’m thinking up all kinds of themes and ideas for cake pops, case in point, the Truffula Tree cake pops I made for Earth Day.

There are a couple ways to make cake pops, including this how to make cake pops tutorial over on A Beautiful Mess; their cake pops look absolutely delicious.

However, while at Michaels one night, I found the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker on sale, so I decided to snatch one up and start making cake pops. I started with these lovely Valentine’s Day cake pops.

Ingredient and Supply Notes

The first thing you want to do is gather all your supplies, including cake pop sticks and a cake pop holder.
- Cake Mix – You can use any flavor you like; I especially love cherry chip, but you can also make white, yellow, strawberry, chocolate, red velvet, etc. If you want pink or red Valentines cake pops, strawberry, cherry chip, or red velvet are the way to go.
- Large Eggs
- Vanilla Pudding Mix – Make sure it’s an instant pudding mix, not the cook type.
- Whole Milk
- Cooking Spray – to lightly spray the griddle in your cake pop maker.
- Candy Melts and Sprinkles – for decorating. I especially love these dye free nonpareils from Watkins.
- Cake Pop Sticks – You can find an abundance of super cute paper straws on Etsy; they work really well as cake pop sticks.
- Cake Pop Stand – You’ll need a cake pop holder to hold the cake pops while they set up after dipping. Wilton makes an affordable cake pop holder.
- Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
How to Make Valentine Cake Pops

There are 2 steps to making Babycakes cake pops… Baking and decorating.

How to Bake Cake Pops
1. Mix the cake mix with the eggs, pudding mix, and milk.
2. Then add a little bit at a time to a pastry bag; this will make for easier filling of the cooking reservoirs in the cake pop maker.
3. Heat up the cake pop maker, and wait for the green light to show that it’s ready.
4. Give a light coating of cooking spray to each reservoir in the cake pop maker; then fill each cooking reservoir with about 1 tablespoon of cake batter, trying not to overfill. If you overfill, instead of a round cake pop “planet,” you might end up with “Saturn.” I love using the cake pop maker because it shapes the cake pops for you, as long as you fill the reservoirs appropriately.
1. Lower the lid on the cake pop maker, latching it shut. Now it’s just a waiting game, about 4-6 minutes per batch of cake pops. Definitely use a pot holder to lift the lid because it can be quite hot to the touch. When done, you should have nice, round cake pops.
1. The cake pop maker comes with a fork, so you can easily remove the cake pops and place them in a spot to cool.
How to Decorate Valentine’s Day Cake Pops

To decorate your cake pops, use candy melts and sprinkles of your choice. I really like pink and white candy melts for Valentine’s Day.
1. Before decorating, it’s a good idea to place the cake pops in the freezer for just a few minutes; this helps to dip them easier without a crumbly mess.
2. Melt the candy melts according to the directions on the package. I usually start at 1 minute, then stir and switch to 30 second intervals, stirring between every interval.
3. Remove the cake pops from the freezer and start decorating. Take a cake pop stick, dip it in the melted candy, and insert it into the cake pop.
1. Then dip each cake pop into the melted candy, coating well, and allowing excess candy to drip before placing upright.
1. Decorate with any type of sprinkles you desire; I use different types of Valentine’s Day sprinkles and colored sugar.You can also alternate colors with the candy melts; I put a bit of the melted candy in pastry bags, so I can add decorative touches, like little swirls, here and there.
1. Then place each cake pop into a cake pop holder. Let the cake pops dry, and then serve.
We’re usually not huge cake eaters, but my guys really liked these; each cake pop is such a small serving and makes a nice sweet treat.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Confessional Tip: On my first try, my batter looked normal, but my cake pops were turning out to look like nipples (I’m not even kidding). So, off to experiment and try again; I eventually learned the batter needs to be almost as stiff as brownie batter. When it’s a stiff batter, it works like a charm!

Why do you freeze or refrigerate cake pops before dipping?
Cake pops can be soft and crumbly. So it helps to freeze them prior to dipping, so they dip more easily. It also helps the melted candy to set up faster, so you can decorate more efficiently and quickly.

How early can you make cake pops before an event or party?
You can make them a couple days in advance. Like cake, cake pops can lose their freshness, so I’d only make them 1-2 days in advance for best quality, flavor, and texture. They should last for 1-2 days at room temp and 5-7 days in the fridge.

How should you store cake pops?
Depending on ingredients used, you can store dipped cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. If you’re making them more in advance or with certain ingredients that require refrigeration, they need to go in the fridge; before you put them in the fridge, be sure to layer them on a paper towel or piece of parchment paper, in a single layer, in an airtight container. Then just remove them from the fridge a couple hours before the big event, so they can warm to room temp and soften.

More Delicious Valentine’s Day Recipes

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for ideas, desserts, and sweet treats like these…
These would be great served at a party or a celebration; they’re also fun just to get creative with, maybe share a few with your neighbors. Enjoy!

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Valentine Cake Pops

How to make easy Valentine cake pops with the Babycakes cake pop maker. Cute DIY bite-sized desserts, perfect recipe for kids, fun to make!
Cake Pop Sticks
Cake Pop Stand
Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
15.25 ounces cake mix (any flavor you like)
2 large eggs
3 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix
3/4 cup whole milk (in place of water on cake mix pkg)
12 ounces candy melts (any color)
1/2 cup sprinkles
How to Bake Cake Pops
Mix the cake mix with the eggs, pudding mix, and milk.
Then add a little bit of the batter at a time to a pastry bag; this will make for easier filling of the cooking reservoirs in the cake pop maker.
Heat up the cake pop maker, and wait for the green light to show that it's ready.
Give a light coating of cooking spray to each reservoir in the cake pop maker; then fill each cooking reservoir with about 1 tablespoon of cake batter, trying not to overfill. If you overfill, instead of a round cake pop “planet,” you might end up with “Saturn.” I love using the cake pop maker because it shapes the cake pops for you, as long as you fill the reservoirs appropriately.
Lower the lid on the cake pop maker, latching it shut. Now it's just a waiting game, about 4-6 minutes per batch of cake pops. Definitely use a pot holder to lift the lid because it can be quite hot to the touch. When done, you should have nice, round cake pops.
The cake pop maker comes with a fork, so you can easily remove the cake pops and place them in a spot to cool.
How to Decorate Valentine's Day Cake Pops
Before decorating, it's a good idea to place the cake pops in the freezer for just a few minutes; this helps to dip them easier without a crumbly mess.
Melt the candy melts according to the directions on the package. I usually start at 1 minute, then stir and switch to 30 second intervals, stirring between every interval.
Remove the cake pops from the freezer and start decorating. Take a cake pop stick, dip it in the melted candy, and insert it into the cake pop.
Then dip each cake pop into the melted candy, coating well, and allowing excess candy to drip before placing upright.
Decorate with any type of sprinkles you desire; I use different types of Valentine's Day sprinkles and colored sugar.You can also alternate colors with the candy melts; I put a bit of the melted candy in pastry bags, so I can add decorative touches, like little swirls, here and there.
Then place each cake pop into a cake pop holder. Let the cake pops dry, and then serve.
Confessional Tip: On my first try, my batter looked normal, but my cake pops were turning out to look like nipples (I’m not even kidding). So, off to experiment and try again; I eventually learned the batter needs to be almost as stiff as brownie batter. When it’s a stiff batter, it works like a charm!

How should you store cake pops?

Depending on ingredients used, you can store dipped cake pops in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. If you’re making them more in advance or with certain ingredients that require refrigeration, they need to go in the fridge; before you put them in the fridge, be sure to layer them on a paper towel or piece of parchment paper, in a single layer, in an airtight container. Then just remove them from the fridge a couple hours before the big event, so they can warm to room temp and soften.

How early can you make cake pops before an event or party?

You can make them a couple days in advance. Like cake, cake pops can lose their freshness, so I’d only make them 1-2 days in advance for best quality, flavor, and texture. They should last for 1-2 days at room temp and 5-7 days in the fridge.

Desserts
American
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(Disclosure: I was not compensated or provided product, in any way, for this recipe.)
February 7, 2013
Heart Shaped Buttermilk Pancakes {Recipe}
My kids love pancakes and French toast, though we don’t really have them often for breakfast. Once in awhile, though, usually on a weekend, we’ll have a special breakfast treat.

Valentine’s Day definitely calls for special heart shaped pancakes, along with lots of fresh fruit on the side. Heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes are another great option for your Valentine.

Below is a printable recipe, without photos, for your convenience.

This recipe is out of our family cookbook, given to us as a wedding gift. Sift and stir together dry ingredients in bowl; then make a well in the center of the mixture. Stir together egg, buttermilk, and oil; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.

Add blueberries or other type of fruit to batter.

Lightly spray griddle with cooking spray, and heat to a moderate temperature; lightly spray heart shaped cookie cutters on inside rim, as well.

Place cookie cutters onto griddle, and pour batter into cookie cutters for each pancake.

Cook pancakes until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked. Remove cookie cutters, turn pancakes, and cook on other side.

Cook well, until pancakes are browned and cooked through. Tip: You may want to double the recipe and add a few pancakes to the freezer for quick use on weekday mornings.

Serve with butter, warm syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and fresh fruit on the side. Enjoy!

More pancake recipes you may enjoy:
Heart Shaped Buttermilk Pancakes

Valentine's Day definitely calls for special heart shaped buttermilk pancakes, along with lots of fresh fruit on the side.
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3 tbsp vegetable oil
Sift and stir together dry ingredients in bowl. Then make a well in center of the mixture.
Stir together egg, buttermilk, and oil; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
Add blueberries or other type of fruit to batter, if desired.
Lightly spray griddle with cooking spray, and heat to a moderate temperature; lightly spray heart shaped cookie cutters on inside rim, as well.
Place cookie cutters onto griddle, and pour batter into cookie cutters for each pancake; I filled cookie cutters about a third to halfway, depending on the size of each cookie cutter.
Cook pancakes until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.
Remove cookie cutters, turn pancakes, and cook on other side. Cook well, until pancakes are browned and cooked through.
Serve with butter, warm syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and fresh fruit on the side. Enjoy!
Tip: You may want to double the recipe and add a few pancakes to the freezer for quick use on weekday mornings.

Pancakes, Waffles, & French Toast
American
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January 31, 2013
Valentine Cookie Pops from Sugar Cookie Dough
Bake heart shaped sugar cookies on a stick to make Valentine cookie pops. This is the perfect recipe to make and decorate with kids on Valentine’s Day! It’s fun and easy too!

With February just around the corner, I’ve been seeing Valentine treats galore on Pinterest. These Valentines cookie pops were more of an experiment for me, but I was determined to make them.

The end result with these sugar cookie pops was most definitely worth it. It was a lot of fun decorating them too. Who knew a cookie on a stick could be so much fun?

How to Make Valentine Cookie Pops

For these frosted sugar cookie pops, I made my mom’s cutout sugar cookie recipe; I’ve been making this recipe for as long as I can remember.

Make the Dough

First mix up the dough following these steps…
1. Sift or whisk together the flour with the baking soda, salt, and sugar.
2. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients.
3. Work the butter in until the mixture is as fine as corn meal.
4. Give the eggs a slight beating with a whisk.
5. Then in a separate mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla extract with the slightly beaten eggs.
6. Add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients.
7. Mix ’til you have a smooth cookie dough.
Chill the Dough

At this point, you’ll need to cover the dough closely with wax paper or plastic wrap, and chill it in the refrigerator overnight or at least 3-4 hours.

Cut out Heart Shapes and More
1. Now it’s time to roll out the dough.
1. Then cut out the heart shaped cookies. I have a simple heart cookie cutter that I used, along with a mitten and a double heart cookie cutter.
How to Put Cookies on a Stick
1. After cutting out the cookies, place them, one at a time, onto an un-greased baking sheet. Then place the cookie pop sticks on each cookie, gently pressing down into the dough just a bit.
1. Bake the heart cookie pops at 425° for about 8-10 minutes. They’ll puff up somewhat. Lay cookies out on a paper towel, and let cool.
Frost and Decorate Heart Shaped Cookie Pops

When the cookies have cooled well, the fun begins. You can make a simple sugar cookie icing out of powdered sugar, butter, cream, vanilla, and almond extract.

We like to use different colors. I normally shy away from coloring as much as possible, because I don’t like to feed it to my kids; but it’s an occasional special treat.

You can use whatever your heart desires to decorate, things like sprinkles, colored sugar, candy hearts, etc. Once you’ve decorated your cookies to the hilt, they’re ready to eat or gift.

Though my mitten and heart cookie pops are definitely far from perfect, they’re really fun to make, especially once I halfway figured out what I was doing. They’re definitely a fun project to work on with kids (especially the decorating part). Enjoy!

More Valentine’s Day Recipes, Including Cookies

Valentine’s Day recipes are fun to make, and these are a few of our favorites…
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Valentine Cookie Pops

Bake heart shaped sugar cookies on a stick to make Valentine cookie pops. Perfect recipe to make and decorate with kids on Valentine's Day!
Cookie Dough:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
1/2 cup buttermilk (or sour milk)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting:
4 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup heavy whipping cream
6 cups powdered sugar
Cookie Decorating:
1/2 cup sprinkles (optional)
5 drops food coloring (optional)
Cookies:
Sift or whisk together the flour with the baking soda, salt, and sugar.
Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry ingredients.
Work the butter in until the mixture is as fine as corn meal.
Give the eggs a slight beating with a whisk.
Then in a separate mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla extract with the slightly beaten eggs.
Add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients.
Mix 'til you have a smooth cookie dough.
At this point, you'll need to cover the dough closely with wax paper or plastic wrap, and chill it in the refrigerator overnight or at least 3-4 hours.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface.
Then cut out the heart shaped cookies. I have a simple heart cookie cutter that I used, along with a mitten and a double heart cookie cutter.
After cutting out the cookies, place them, one at a time, onto an un-greased baking sheet. Then place the cookie pop sticks on each cookie, gently pressing down into the dough just a bit.
Bake the heart cookie pops at 425° for about 8-10 minutes. They'll puff up somewhat. Lay the cookies out on a paper towel, and let cool.
Frosting and Decorating:
Mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, whipping cream, and powdered sugar, 'til you have a smooth frosting that's spreadable.
Decorate each Valentines cookie pop with frosting and sprinkles, as desired. Enjoy!
Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
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January 24, 2013