Valentine’s Day is swinging just around the corner and it’s time to prep your perfect romantic menu! Check out these fun recipes from around the internet. Full of all my favorite easy, elegant, and romantic dishes from breakfast to dinner to dessert. (And of course, the ever romantic cocktails thrown in!)
Wake Up and Smell the Roses (Breakfast):
There’s nothing like waking up to homemade Valentine’s Day breakfast in bed. If you want to really surprise your loved ones, try some of these deliciously easy breakfast recipes.
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake – Sugar with Spice
A perfectly moist orange coffee cake, layered with sweet almond crumble. If cranberries feel a little too wintery to you, try fresh chopped strawberries instead! You’ll still get that burst of tangy fresh fruit and bright red color.
Baked Eggs with Tomatoes and Parmesan – Slender Kitchen
Yes, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day and still stay carb-free. Try this super delicious (and super quick) recipe for breakfast. (That way you can cheat for dessert!)
Mushroom and Leek Quiche – Sugar with Spice
Full of spring flavors, this mushroom, leek, and bacon quiche is perfect for a romantic morning. The center is moist and creamy, and the crust is perfectly flaky…and it all takes under an hour to cook!
Dutch Baby Pancake – Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Sure, pancakes are great. What’s better? A giant, fluffy, custardy German pancake! Try this recipe for the perfect pancake of your dreams.
Romantic Dinners for Two:
Dreaming of the perfect romantic dinner? Here’s a collection of easy and impressive dishes you can cook up for your date on Valentines, whether it’s date number 1 or 540! Check out both main dishes and sides for a perfect elegant meal.
Main: Lemon Parsley Whole Roast Trout – Sugar with Spice
Elegant and easy, two of the best words you can use on a Valentine’s Dinner! These whole roasted trout are stuffed with lemon and parsley and take just 20 minutes cooking time. And the presentation is so gorgeous!
Side: Strawberry Salad – Chelsea’s Messy Apron
A deliciously easy salad you can throw together in minutes. And all the fruit just makes it look so pretty and festive and lovely! An excellent spring side dish.
Main: Herb-Crusted Lamb Rack – Sugar with Spice
Don’t be scared off by lamb. This herb-crusted rack of lamb is as easy as it is tender and delicious. It’s the perfect spring treat with pistachios, mint, gruyere, and cardamom. Try mixing up the herb crust for different flavors too.
Side: Watercress and Mandarin Orange Salad – Sugar with Spice
My go-to fancy salad recipe! Spicy watercress and tangy sweet mandarin orange make the best pairing! Add to it an addicting lemon poppy seed dressing and you’ve got heaven in a salad bowl.
Side: Cucumber Salad – Cooking Classy
A light and refreshing side you can add to any of these dishes, cucumbers make the perfect salad to any spring meal. My all-time favorite tangy side salad!
Main: Pan-Roasted Pomegranate Glazed Salmon – Half Baked Harvest
Salmon is an incredibly easy dish to make, you almost don’t have to think about it. But the glaze on this one will have you dreaming about it for days. I love the addition of red pomegranates, perfect for Valentines!
Sides: Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin – Rachel Cooks
Rich, cheesy brussels sprouts? Yes please! These guys are full of flavor and pair well with any roasted birds or meats!
Main: Roast Stuffed Quail – Sugar with Spice
A unique dinner that will definitely encourage your carnal side…these tiny roast birds are stuffed full of figs, goat cheese, and walnuts. They make the perfect individual serving meal and you’re sure to impress your loved one serving them their own entire bird!
Main: Whole Roast Chicken – Sugar with Spice
A perfectly done whole chicken never goes out of style. The key to this one? Dry-brining a few days beforehand! Check out this recipe for the most impressively flavorful, juicy, and tender chicken you’ve ever had.
Side/Main: Tomato, Mozzarella Pasta, Balsamic Vinaigrette – Budget Bytes
Easy, refreshing, and quick. What’s not to like about this classic recipe. Pasta is a standby for any date night and this vinaigrette on this one takes it to a whole new level!
Main: Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna – Sugar with Spice
Looking for something lighter and more exotic for Valentine’s Day? Try Asian-inspired sesame-crusted seared Ahi Tuna. You can serve this restaurant-style meal in just 10 minutes!
Sweet Treats (Valentine’s Dessert):
Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with chocolate, not that I’m complaining. Below are some of the sweetest treats, chocolate and chocolate-less, for anyone celebrating the holiday of love this year!
Mini Heart-Shaped Fruit Tarts – Sugar with Spice
Adorable, heart-shaped, and topped with glistening fruit! You definitely get a “wow” factor bringing these little guys out. They sparkle just like the front of a French Patisserie Shop!
Ice Cream Terrine with Roasted Strawberries – Rachel Cooks
One of the easiest desserts I’ve ever seen. And yet it looks so impressive! If you’re going for something cool and sweet this Valentine’s Day, this is the dessert for you.
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta – Sugar with Spice
Easy to make and requires no prep at all! Just whip up a batch in the morning in just 10 minutes. Then you can spend the rest of the day canoodling while it chills.
Red Velvet Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes – Half Baked Harvest
What is Valentine’s without chocolate?! Especially molten chocolate! These cakes are decadent and dreamy, perfect for a romantic evening.
Vanilla Bean Crepes with Peaches and Cream – Cooking Classy
Crepes are one of those special occasion desserts I absolutely love. Light, fluffy, and easily customizable. These spring-flavored peaches and cream crepes are romantic and sweet!
Want to pair a fancy wine or scotch with these lovely desserts? Try my Port Wine and Dessert Pairing Guide or How to Pair Single Malt Scotch with Dessert for some romantic suggestions.
A Toast for Love (Wine and Alcohol):
No Valentine’s Day celebration is complete without a romantic toast by candlelight. But choosing the perfect glass can be difficult. Check out these suggestions!
Best Affordable Alternatives to Champagne – Sugar with Spice
Want to pop a bottle of bubbly with your loved one, but don’t want to blow your whole budget on a bottle? (After all, you need to spend something on the present, right!?) Check out these top 6 Best Affordable Champagne Alternatives. These bottles are just as good (and cheaper) than the classic!
Rose and Ginger Paloma – Half Baked Harvest
A delicious twist on a classic Paloma full of spring flavors…and it’s perfectly pink for Valentine’s!
Chocolate, Blackberry, Bourbon Cocktails – Little Sugar Snaps
Chocolate and Valentines, right?! But the rich blackberry and bourbon flavors cut some of the sweetness, just enough to make it the perfect Valentine’s Cocktail.
Strawberry Affogato – All That’s Jas
This one is almost a dessert, but worth the extra cheat! Full of rich strawberry flavor and creamy ice cream…just sit back and enjoy.
If you’ve got a very specific dinner in mind but aren’t sure what to pair with it, check out my two comprehensive pairing guides! The Ultimate Red Wine and Meat Pairing Guide and the Complete Guide to Pairing White Wine and Fish.
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