Recipes for romance

Chocolate is the perfect way to end a romantic dinner on a sweet note. Instead of buying dessert for Valentine’s Day, bake it yourself. Here are three decadent chocolate recipes that are better than a box of chocolates and are sure to warm hearts. They’re impressive enough for a special occasion but simple and delicious enough to make anytime you’re looking for a cure for a chocolate craving.

Chocolate Bundt Cake

1 (18-1/4 ounce) box chocolate-cake mix
1 (6-ounce) package instant chocolate-pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups mini milk-chocolate chips

Chocolate-Fudge Glaze

3/4 cup semisweet-chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips, and pour batter into a well-greased 12-cup Bundt pan. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes. Test with toothpick. Cool cake.
In a double boiler over hot water, combine chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla. Spread warm glaze over top of cake, letting it drizzle down the sides.
Optional: Microwave chocolate chips for 30-second intervals, and stir in between until melted. — Brenda, Missouri

Chocolate-Kiss Snowballs

1 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped nuts
chocolate-kisses candy
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 F. Cream together butter, sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts. Shape dough around chocolate kisses using about 1 tablespoon of dough. Place on lightly greased (or parchment-lined) cookie sheets, and bake for about 12 minutes. Remove and roll in powdered sugar. — Holly, New York

photo by nsdis

Chocolate-Covered-Cherry Cookies

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained, reserve juice

Topping:
1 (6-ounce) package semisweet-chocolate chips
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
reserved cherry juice

In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well, and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix until well combined and smooth. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place cookie balls on ungreased baking sheet. Indent the center of dough ball with thumb. Drain cherries well, and reserve juice. Place a cherry in the center indention of each cookie.

In small saucepan, combine chocolate chips and sweetened, condensed milk. Heat over low heat, and stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of reserved cherry juice. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the topping over each cherry. Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes. — Amy, Ohio

Are you baking for Valentine’s day?

See also:
What not to do for Valentine’s Day
Romance on a budget
Show her love not the money

photo by kimberlykv

Posted by Sara Noel on January 22 2009. Filed under Featured, Frugal Cooking.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook