SWEET TREATS TO EAT

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show your love for friends and family by serving up something sweet.  Think anything in red, white or pink.  If life does not allow time for home baked goods, simply dress up your store bought sweets by sprinkling on some colored sugar or adding a few candy hearts.  Have leftover candy canes from the holidays?  Turn them into a Valentine’s Day delicious delight!

 

 

HEART FULL OF LOVE

Use up those Holiday candy canes by making these quick and easy hearts to hand out to family and friends AND you don’t even need to turn on an oven!

YOU WILL NEED:

1 pound Almond Bark vanilla candy coating (in baking isle near chips)

Peppermint candy canes

Place 2-3 candy canes in a plastic bag and break into small and large bits.  Melt vanilla-flavored candy coating in a microwave-safe cup or bowl on 50% power for two to three minutes, stirring once or twice until smooth. On parchment or waxed paper arrange candy canes in pairs, each forming a heart shape. Spoon melted candy coating inside the center of the heart and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy. Let sit at room temperature until set.

 

PEPPERMINT PASSION

Mini candy canes are great for this!  All you need are some small sticks and you can decorate standard store bought goods to look like expensive custom creations!

Place mini candy canes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper allowing enough room at the bottom to insert sticks.  Bake at 300 degrees, for just 5 MINUTES.  Bake only until you see the candy cane starting to melt.  Place stick at the bottom of the candy canes and pinch the hot candy around the stick.  Make sure the tops are melted together and let cool.

 

For a fast and delicious red velvet cake try this simple solution.  This recipe turns out a cake so rich and delicious your loved ones will think you made this southern favorite from scratch.

 

YOU WILL NEED:

 

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

 

1 (3.5 ounce) package (NOT-instant) chocolate pudding mix

 

1 oz bottle red food coloring

 

1/2 cup buttermilk

 

FABULOUS FROSTING

YOU WILL NEED:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whip together cream cheese and butter at medium speed until well blended.  Add in the vanilla then gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar.  YUM!

 

Use this fast and easy trick to make the perfect heart cake! No need for special bakeware just use 1-round and 1-square pan to create a beautiful Valentine heart. Divide cake batter between one square pan and one round pan. Bake according to directions, and let cool. Position square cake point down, cut round cake in half and move to top. Ice together and you have a stylish cake of love!

THE APPLE OF MY EYE

The splendid red color of candy apples makes them the perfect treat for Valentines Day.  If your honey loves these fruity sweet treats, skip traditional candy and go for an apple full of love.

YOU WILL NEED:

8 medium sized apples
8 wooden sticks
3 cups white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring

Wash and dry the apples. Remove any stems or leaves and insert a wooden stick into the end of each apple. Heat and stir sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Boil until the syrup reaches 300 degrees or until a little syrup dropped into cold water separates into breakable threads.  Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon and food coloring.  Dip one apple completely in the syrup and swirl to coat. Hold the apple above the saucepan to drain off excess. Place apple (stick facing up) on a well greased pan.  Repeat with remaining apples. If syrup thickens or cools, simply reheat briefly before proceeding. Let cool completely before serving.

Variations: After coating each apple, quickly dip the end or press and swirl apples in shredded coconut, colored M&M’s, chopped nuts, granola or colored sprinkles!

 

Enjoy some licks of love with these easy to make home made treats.  These fun and yummy suckers are a great project for the kids to craft and share with their school Val-Pals. 

YOU WILL NEED:

1 cups sugar 1/3 cup corn syrup 6 tablespoon water candy thermometer food coloring

Cinnamon or cherry flavoring lollipop sticks heart shaped (or round) candy molds ribbon

Prepare the lollipop molds by lightly spraying with vegetable spray. Place lollipop sticks in to slots in candy molds.  In a medium pot, combine sugar and light corn syrup, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. When all of the sugar has dissolved, stop stirring but continue to cook until it reaches a temperature of 300* (best to rely on a candy thermometer for this).  Remove from heat, stir in food coloring and flavoring.  Pour the hot syrup into the molds. Allow to cool thoroughly before removing the lollipops from the molds. Tie ribbon around the sticks to decorate.