Everyone knows that the best way to the heart is through the stomach, so as Valentine’s Day draws ever closer, so does the chance to bond with loved ones over a good meal. As a holiday dedicated to love and meaningful relationships, the only thing sweeter than spending time with friends, family, or significant others is the chocolates and other sweets gifted around.
Attesting to the value of time spent outside of romantic relationships, Emma Wang (11) shares that, “Galentines has been one of my favorite traditions throughout the years, as I believe celebrating your friends is just as important as celebrating a significant other. Platonic love is often overlooked, so I think Galentines is a perfect way to appreciate friendships; baking and watching romcoms are fun additions to make the day feel extra special.” So, here are some baked treats you can try with your loved ones, Mustangs!
A fun twist on the classic, pizookies are perfect for a large portion, or if anyone has allergies, they are also ideal for separate portions. Especially since many cookies can be made from the same base, this could become an activity in itself: customizing flavors and making flavor combinations to try together. Furthermore, as February is still one of the colder months, fresh out of the oven, these would be a warming, simple-to-make treat that fits everyone. Since they don’t require shaping the batter into separate dozens of cookies, it also saves time, leaving more opportunities for other activities.
2. Mini Cake and Cake Decorating
Similar to the pizookies but with a slightly greater difficulty, making mini cakes can be another simple and customizable activity for Valentine’s Day! Much like cookies, one base recipe with slight adjustments can be used to make several flavors of cake, so everyone’s taste palettes can be catered to. The equipment for this recipe is also quite accessible, as even without a small circular cake pan, you can supplement with a large sheet pan and circular mold, like a bowl or large cup. With multi-colored frosting, sprinkles, and some patience, decorating these mini cakes can make a fun activity and treat at the same time.
Holding onto the colder seasons, with some extra time, warm, spiced cinnamon rolls can be the perfect treat to enjoy while curled up with a romantic comedy in the background. Another slight level up, as a yeasted bread, cinnamon rolls will require a greater time commitment, but it should be well worth it. For the holiday, you can shape the rolls into hearts or frost them with a pink cream cheese frosting. Cinnamon rolls also give you creative liberty to make any rolls you want. You can double down on the spice and make chai cinnamon rolls, or prepare for spring by spreading jam in the layers.
A dessert that began trending not too long ago, burnt Basque cheesecake is another way to put a twist on a classic recipe. Since regular cheesecake often runs the risk of coming out of the oven cracked, overly dry, or mixed with the graham cracker crust. This cheesecake does not require a crust or the water bath many recipes call for, making it an easier recipe that requires fewer steps. Much like the other recommendations on this list, this cheesecake can also range in flavors. Many people on social media share their recipes for flavors like matcha, blueberry, Thai tea, and tiramisu. Since the recipe is mostly just ensuring the batter is smooth, the baking process is simple – but it is somewhat long, so make sure to keep an eye on the top and cool before eating.
5. Salt Bread
The final progression of time-commitment and difficulty, salt bread is a recent trend from East Asia that took social media by storm. A mix of a croissant and Asian-style milk bread, salt bread is a savory bread topped with flaky salt, filled with melted butter, and complemented by a crispy bottom from the butter that leaks out and fries the bottom of the bread. It is a decadent treat that has gained staying power in the trends cycle as people add variations to the recipe, such as creme brulee, Dubai chocolate, Hong Kong-style pineapple bun salt bread. Bakeries like Out of Ordi in Los Angeles have even opened as salt bread specialty bakeries, serving up unique flavors like corn creme, super matcha, pistachio bomb, and many more on their permanent and holiday menu. Of course, as a yeasted bread, it takes a lot of time for rise, and in this case, it does require quite the time sacrifice for shaping, measuring, and any additional customizations – but it is well worth it.
Overall, it is a given to spend this coming Valentine’s Day and long weekend with friends, family, and loved ones, but these recommendations are a chance to further bond and have fun while having a delicious treat. As the owner of a small baking business, Gavin’s Goodies, Gavin Esqueda (11) says it best as he believes “baking helps build real bonds with people, as both people actively share a love for creating things to make other people, so it can reveal shared values, which can create strong relationships.” So, there will always be a solution to have baked goods on Valentine’s Day. Be careful around the oven, and take this Valentine’s Day to rest and bake with your loved ones, Mustangs!
