BestReviews’ Baking Expert Shares What You’ll Need to Make This Valentine’s Day Dessert WJHL

Preparing a Valentine’s dinner at home is a cozy and romantic way to celebrate the holiday of love. In the spirit of February 14th, a sweet treat is a must after the main course. You can set out to make an indulgent dessert with the guidance of BestReviews baking expert Andrea Baudewijn. As a Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef, she offered pro-level tips for creating desserts that are as special as they are delicious.

In this article: Wilton 55-Piece Master Cake Decorating Tip Set, Bakers Edge Brownie Pan and a KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer.

Boudewijn’s Favorite Sweets for Valentine’s Day

Most days of the year, any dessert will do. Boudewijn said that Valentine’s Day is a holiday when you want to do something special.

“I love to create something rich and luxurious, something sexy. If I’m not making my honey’s favorite dessert, I lean toward chocolate,” she said, adding that she topped with homemade vanilla ice cream topped with coconut flakes. Warm five nut brownies made with oil love it for a little flavor.

Boudewijn has another dessert choice that’s unique and great for Valentine’s Day. “It’s the American version of the famous French dessert, opera cake. It involves baking an almond cake, soaking it with dark rum simple syrup, and layering it with ganache and French mocha buttercream in the middle. Stunning,” she said.

make it special

Do you want to take your Valentine’s Day desserts to the next level? Boudewijn suggests some simple yet elegant ways to make your sweet treats stand out:

  • Sprinkle on some edible gold flakes to add a touch of pizzazz.
  • Dust baked goods with white sanding sugar to make them shine.
  • Make a simple syrup to add a pop of flavor to your favorite dessert.
  • For best results use 5 parts simple syrup to 1 part alcohol

Boudewijn includes a recipe for a simple syrup that will make an excellent addition to your special desserts for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

“Simple syrup can be used over bowls of ice cream, to soak a cake, to glaze a pie or brownies, or even as a decoration on a plate under some amazing icing.” could.”

Simple Syrup (Rum, Grand Marnier, and Rye Variations)

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups sugar

Method:

Add sugar and water and just bring to a boil. Take it off the heat, cool it and store it in the freezer.

When you want to add flavor to your simple syrup, mix 5 ounces of simple syrup with 1 ounce of alcohol. Don’t add more alcohol than that or it will create a bitter, overpowering taste of alcohol and cause you to lose the delicate sweetness of your dessert. If you need more simple syrup than this, double or triple your amount.

Bodewizen’s Favorite Products for Valentine’s Day Desserts

Wilton 55-Piece Master Cake Decorating Tip Set

Boudewijn recommends a comprehensive cake decorating kit for making beautiful cakes for your Valentine’s Day dessert. We love this one by Wilton for its 55 well-made pieces that can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

sold by amazon

Best Bakers Edge Brownie Pan

ADVERTISEMENT

Bakers Edge Brownie Pan

If you want to serve up chocolaty goodness this Valentine’s Day, all you need is a brownie pan. It is the unique maze pattern of this pan that ensures that your brownies will have nice crispy edges. They will also come off easily from a nonstick surface.

sold by amazon

Best KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer

kitchenaid classic series stand mixer

If you want a device that makes it possible to mix dessert ingredients to perfection, then you need one of the best stand mixers. “To make everything sweet and savory with just the right consistency, use KitchenAid,” advises Boudewijn.

sold by amazon

Best Godiva Chocolatier Signature Truffles.jpg

Godiva Chocolatier Signature Truffles

Boudewijn says there’s a simple way to make a cake extra special for your Valentine. “Chocolate is never a bad idea, and Godiva is the best. Place some of these chocolates on or around the sides of a special cake.

sold by amazon

Best Nomeka 12-Color Cake Food Coloring Set

Nomeca 12-Color Cake Food Coloring Set

If you want to make a cake with Valentine’s Day colors, this food coloring set includes 12 colors to unleash your culinary creativity. Boudewijn said the right colors can be used to create a beautiful red velvet cake for the holiday.

sold by amazon

Best Nostalgia Chocolate Fondue Fountain

Nostalgia Chocolate Fondue Fountain

Chocolate-covered strawberries are a classic Valentine’s Day treat. You can make this at home when you have a chocolate fountain that turns chocolate into an edible delicacy.

sold by amazon

Best Parish's Magic Line Round Cake Pan

Parish’s Magic Line Round Cake Pan

“If you’re making an individual cake for the two of you, Parrish’s is the best brand. Consider getting a 6-inch round for two people, or this 8-inch round model if you want leftover cake.” Consider.

sold by amazon

Best Amazon Commercial Nonstick Silicone Spatula Set

Amazon Commercial Nonstick Silicone Spatula Set

Don’t forget the silicone spatula for stirring, spreading, serving and more. This set includes four placemats in two sizes for a variety of needs.

sold by amazon

Best Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin

Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin

This rolling pin is made of marble that is non-stick and produces even results, which is exactly what you need when preparing dough for cookies or pies.

sold by amazon

Best Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

For an extra special treat, Boudwijn recommends investing in an ice cream maker, “If you’re feeling ambitious, try making your own special ice cream for your Valentine,” she said.

sold by amazon

worth checking out

  • If you’re serving ice cream, a well-made ice cream scoop like this stainless steel tool by Midnight Scoop is a must-have.
  • If you’re making pie, Boudewijn said, use a quality pie pan like this pair by Pyrex.
  • Don’t forget the toppings, like the delicious whipped cream you can make with this gourmet food whipper.
  • Boudewijn said homemade cotton candy makes a memorable Valentine’s Day treat. The Cotton Candy Express is our favorite budget-friendly machine.
  • “Silicone baking mats (like this set of two by Silpat) greatly reduce the odds of burning your baked goods, such as cookies,” she said.

Want to shop for the best products at the best prices? Check out the Daily Deals from BestReviews.

Sign up here to receive BestReviews’ weekly newsletter for helpful advice on new products and great deals.

jennifer manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their buying decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best selections for the most consumers.

Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar Company. All rights reserved.