Valentines Day Desserts

Since I normally post healthy recipes or at least somewhat healthy, I was surprised how many decadent desserts I have posted in the last couple of years. Some I wrote, some I tested for Cook's Illustrated and some were created to make my wife happy. I am one of those people who looks at a dessert and puts on weight while my wife can eat 3 desserts and never gain an ounce. Here are my favorite desserts that are guaranteed to make your significant other fall madly in love with you. If they don't fall in love you must not have followed the recipe.

Nutella Ravioli
Nutella filled raviolis topped with a raspberry sauce and powdered sugar.

Click here for recipe.

Nutella Topped Caramels

Caramels topped with Nutella and a nut or chopped nuts if you prefer.

Click here for recipe.

Nutella Tart

A decadent tart filled with Nutella and topped with chopped nuts.

Click here for recipe.

Chocolate-Raspberry Torte

A chocolate torte with a raspberry filling and decorated with raspberries and almonds.

Click here for recipe.

A Dynamite Napoleon

Puff pastry, whipped cream, chocolate and berries.

Click here for recipe.

A Dynamite Napoleon

Obviously, I love to cook or you wouldn't be reading this now. However, there is one part of cooking that I don't like...baking. I would just as soon eat fruit then to have a piece of cake. Unfortunately my wife is the opposite, she lives for desserts especially chocolate. This means that for my wife's birthday and Mother's Day I usually become the designated dessert maker. This year I made an old classic. I use real whipped cream, you can use the fake stuff if that is your thing.

Mixed Fruit Napoleon
1 sheet puff pastry
1/2 pint of whip cream, reserve 1 tsp of whip cream
mixed berries, I used fresh strawberries and some raspberries.
2 oz chocolate

Cut the puff pastry into 6 pieces. Puff pastry is conveniently folded into thirds so just cut on the folds and then cut it in half. You will only use 3 of the 6 pieces for 2 people. Save the extras for other treats. Bake the puff pastry according to package directions.

While the pastry is baking whip the cream.

To assemble. Cut 3 of the puff pastry pieces in 1/2 horizontally. Put a flat piece on the bottom, then layer whip cream, berries another piece of pastry, whip cream then berries. Top with third piece of pastry. On the top of the pastry put a scoop of whip cream. Melt chocolate with the reserved teaspoon of whip cream. Drizzle over the Napoleon.