9 Valentine’s Day Snacks to Make Your Celebration Sweeter

Valentine’s Day is a great time to share special treats with the people you care about. Making snacks for this holiday doesn’t have to be hard or take a lot of time.

Simple recipes can still taste amazing and look festive.

The right Valentine’s Day snacks mix sweet and savory options that work for kids and adults alike. From baked goods decorated with hearts to fruit platters and cheese boards, you have many choices.

These snacks work well for parties, classroom celebrations, or quiet evenings at home with your favorite people.

Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies

Heart-shaped sugar cookies are a classic Valentine’s Day treat that you can make at home with basic ingredients. These cookies work well for parties, classroom exchanges, or as gifts for loved ones.

The cookies have a soft, buttery texture with slightly crisp edges. You can decorate them with colorful icing and sprinkles to make them look festive.

List of Ingredients

For the cookies, you need:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the royal icing, you need:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions (Step by Step)

Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set this mixture aside.

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer.

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until everything is combined.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until a dough forms.

Divide the dough into two portions and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes.

Place the cookies on your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn light golden brown.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the royal icing by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Add more milk if you want a thinner consistency for spreading.

Add food coloring if you want colored icing. Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing using a spoon or piping bag.

Add sprinkles while the icing is still wet so they stick to the cookies.

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Chocolate-dipped strawberries are one of the easiest Valentine’s Day treats you can make at home. They look fancy but only require two main ingredients and about 20 minutes of your time.

The key to great chocolate-dipped strawberries is using quality ingredients. Pick fresh strawberries with bright red color and green stems still attached.

For the chocolate, choose a bar with around 60% cacao for a good balance of sweetness and rich chocolate flavor. Make sure your strawberries are completely dry before dipping.

Any water on the surface will make the chocolate seize up and turn grainy. Pat them gently with paper towels and let them sit at room temperature for a bit.

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh strawberries with stems
• 8 ounces chocolate (dark, milk, or semi-sweet)
• 2 ounces white chocolate for drizzling (optional)

Instructions

Wash your strawberries and dry them completely with paper towels. Set them on a clean kitchen towel to air dry while you prepare the chocolate.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. This will give you a place to set the dipped strawberries while they harden.

Chop your chocolate into small, even pieces. Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in 30-second bursts, stirring between each interval.

Stop when the chocolate is smooth and fully melted. Hold each strawberry by the stem and dip it into the melted chocolate.

You can cover the whole berry or leave some red showing at the top. Let any extra chocolate drip back into the bowl.

Place each dipped strawberry on your prepared baking sheet. Work quickly so the chocolate doesn’t start to set in the bowl.

If you want to add a white chocolate drizzle, melt the white chocolate the same way. Use a spoon or fork to drizzle thin lines across the dipped strawberries.

Put the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes. The chocolate will turn firm and develop a nice glossy finish.

Your chocolate-dipped strawberries are ready to serve or package as gifts.

Cheese and Charcuterie Platter

A cheese and charcuterie platter makes a perfect Valentine’s Day snack that looks fancy but takes little effort to prepare. You can arrange meats, cheeses, and other tasty items on a board for a romantic treat.

This snack works well for a date night at home or a small gathering with friends. The key to a good platter is choosing different flavors and textures.

You want salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy elements that complement each other.

Ingredients

• 4 oz brie cheese
• 4 oz aged white cheddar
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 4 oz prosciutto
• 4 oz salami (Genoa or your preference)
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 cup red grapes
• 1/2 cup mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts)
• 1/2 cup dried fruit (apricots or cranberries)
• 8-10 crackers or water crackers
• 2 oz dark chocolate pieces or truffles
• 1/4 cup honey or jam
• Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Start by selecting your serving board or platter. A wooden cutting board or marble slab works well for presenting your items.

Place your cheeses on the board first, spacing them out evenly. Cut the cheddar into slices or cubes.

Leave the brie whole or cut it into wedges. Break up the goat cheese into smaller portions.

Fold or roll your prosciutto and salami into ribbons or rosettes. You can make a salami rose by layering slices in a line, then rolling them up from one end.

Position the meats between the cheese portions. Add small bowls to your board for honey or jam.

These sweet elements pair nicely with the salty meats and tangy cheeses. Fill in the gaps with your fresh fruit.

Strawberries and grapes add color and freshness to the board. Wash and dry them before placing them on the platter.

Scatter the nuts and dried fruit around the board in the remaining empty spaces. These items add crunch and chewy texture.

Place crackers in stacks or fans near the edges of your board. You can also use a separate small plate if your board gets too crowded.

Add your chocolate pieces as a sweet finishing touch. Dark chocolate works especially well because it balances the salty flavors.

Tuck in fresh rosemary sprigs if you want to add a pop of green color. You can use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut cheese slices into Valentine’s shapes for a festive look.

Fruit Skewers with Yogurt Dip

Fruit skewers with yogurt dip make a fun and colorful Valentine’s Day snack. You can arrange fresh fruit on wooden sticks and serve them with a creamy dip.

Kids can help put these together, which makes them a great activity for the holiday. The best part about this snack is how easy it is to customize.

You can use whatever fruits you have on hand or pick your favorites from the store. Strawberries, pineapple, grapes, and melon all work well on skewers.

For Valentine’s Day, you can cut some of the fruit into heart shapes using a cookie cutter. This works especially well with melons, pineapple, and strawberries.

The heart shapes add a festive touch without much extra work. The yogurt dip brings everything together with a sweet and tangy flavor.

It also adds protein to the snack, making it more filling. You can make the dip in about one minute with just a few ingredients.

These skewers work well for classroom parties, family gatherings, or an after-school snack. You can make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

They stay fresh for several hours when stored properly.

List of Ingredients

For the skewers:

• 2 cups strawberries
• 2 cups pineapple chunks
• 1 cup blueberries
• 2 cups melon (cantaloupe or honeydew)
• 1 cup grapes
• Wooden skewers
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter (optional)

For the yogurt dip:

• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions (Step by Step)

Wash all your fruit under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut the strawberries in half if they’re large.

Cut the pineapple and melon into bite-sized chunks about 1 inch across. If you want heart-shaped pieces, use your cookie cutter on the pineapple and melon chunks.

Press the cutter firmly through each piece and remove the excess fruit around the edges. You can save the scraps for smoothies or snacking.

Thread the fruit onto your wooden skewers in whatever pattern you like. Try to alternate colors to make the skewers look more appealing.

Leave about 2 inches at the bottom of each skewer as a handle. Make the yogurt dip by mixing the vanilla yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.

Stir everything together until the honey is fully blended in. Taste the dip and add more honey if you want it sweeter.

Arrange your finished skewers on a serving plate. Put the yogurt dip in a small bowl in the center or on the side.

Keep everything in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.

Heart-Shaped Mini Pizzas

Heart-shaped mini pizzas turn a regular meal into something special for Valentine’s Day. You can make them in about 15 minutes using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

List of Ingredients

You’ll need pizza dough or flatbread as your base. Store-bought dough works well and saves time.

You can also use naan, pita bread, or English muffins. For toppings, gather pizza sauce or marinara sauce.

You’ll want shredded mozzarella cheese and any other toppings you like. Pepperoni is a popular choice, but you can add mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, or cooked sausage.

Instructions (Step by Step)

Start by preheating your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out your pizza dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes from the dough.

If you don’t have a heart-shaped cutter, you can cut the shapes by hand with a knife. Place the heart-shaped dough pieces on your prepared baking sheet.

Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on each heart, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce.

Add your chosen toppings on top of the cheese. Don’t overload the mini pizzas or they may get soggy.

Bake the pizzas for 8 to 12 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbly, and the edges of the crust should turn golden brown.

Remove the pizzas from the oven and let them cool for a minute or two before serving. The cheese will be very hot right out of the oven.

You can make these pizzas fun for kids by letting them add their own toppings. Each person can customize their mini pizzas with the toppings they enjoy most.

Red Velvet Brownie Bites

Red velvet brownie bites bring together two favorite desserts into one small treat. They have the cocoa flavor of red velvet cake and the thick, chewy texture of brownies.

The bright red color makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day. You can make them in a mini muffin pan, which creates the perfect portion size.

They’re great for parties, gifts, or a special dessert at home. The cocoa powder gives these brownies a subtle chocolate taste.

The red food coloring creates the classic red velvet look. You can add cream cheese frosting on top or eat them plain.

List of Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 to 2 teaspoons red food coloring
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions (Step by Step)

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray or line it with paper liners.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.

Add the cocoa powder and sugar to the melted butter. Stir until well mixed.

Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla extract, vinegar, and red food coloring.

Mix until the batter is smooth and bright red. Stir in the flour and salt.

Mix just until you don’t see any dry flour. Don’t overmix the batter.

Fill each muffin cup about three-quarters full. Use a spoon or small cookie scoop to divide the batter evenly.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The brownie bites are done when the tops look set and a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

Let the brownie bites cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

You can add toppings like chocolate chips, candy hearts, or cream cheese frosting once they’re cool.

Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

Chocolate-covered pretzels give you the perfect mix of sweet and salty in one simple snack. They take less than an hour to make from start to finish.

You can use mini twist pretzels, pretzel rods, or regular pretzel twists. These treats work well for Valentine’s Day parties or as gifts for friends and family.

Kids can help make them since the steps are easy to follow. The pretzels look nice when you add pink, red, or white chocolate with sprinkles on top.

Ingredients

• Pretzels (any shape you prefer)
• Candy melts or chocolate chips (pink, red, white, or milk chocolate)
• Valentine’s Day sprinkles
• Wax paper or parchment paper

Instructions

Place wax paper or parchment paper on a baking sheet. This keeps the pretzels from sticking while the chocolate hardens.

Melt your chocolate or candy melts in the microwave. Heat them in 30-second intervals and stir between each heating.

Stop when the chocolate is smooth and fully melted. Dip each pretzel into the melted chocolate.

You can cover the whole pretzel or just half of it. Let extra chocolate drip off before placing the pretzel on your prepared baking sheet.

Add sprinkles right away while the chocolate is still wet. The sprinkles won’t stick once the chocolate hardens.

Put the baking sheet in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes. The chocolate will set and become firm.

Once the chocolate is hard, your pretzels are ready to eat or package as gifts.

Strawberry and Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

These simple sandwiches bring together sweet strawberries and tangy cream cheese for a classic combination that works well for Valentine’s Day. You can prepare them quickly and cut them into small pieces that are easy for guests to pick up and eat.

The soft bread pairs nicely with the smooth cream cheese spread and fresh fruit. You can use white or wheat bread depending on what you prefer.

These finger sandwiches look nice on a plate when you trim off the crusts and slice them into rectangles or use cookie cutters to make heart shapes. They work well for parties, snacks, or light lunches.

List of Ingredients

• 8 slices of white or wheat bread
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced thin
• Optional: additional powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions (Step by Step)

Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you start so it softens to room temperature. This makes it much easier to mix and spread.

Put the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Mix them together with a spoon or electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Lay out your bread slices on a clean cutting board or work surface. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on one side of each slice.

Place the sliced strawberries on top of the cream cheese on four of the bread slices. Arrange them in a single layer and try to cover most of the surface.

Put the remaining four bread slices on top of the strawberry layer to make four complete sandwiches. Press down gently so everything sticks together.

Use a sharp knife to cut off the crusts from all four sides of each sandwich. Cut each sandwich into three or four rectangular fingers.

You can also use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make special shapes for Valentine’s Day. Press the cutter firmly through the sandwich and remove the excess bread around the edges.

Place the finger sandwiches on a serving plate. If you want, dust them lightly with powdered sugar right before serving.

Keep these sandwiches in the refrigerator if you’re not serving them right away. They taste best when eaten within a few hours of making them so the bread stays fresh.

Pink Yogurt Parfaits

Pink yogurt parfaits make a simple and pretty Valentine’s Day snack. The layers of pink ingredients look festive in clear cups or glasses.

You can make them in about 30 minutes from start to finish. These parfaits work well for breakfast or as a light dessert.

The pink color comes from strawberries, raspberries, or a few drops of food coloring mixed into white yogurt.

List of Ingredients

• 2 cups vanilla or strawberry Greek yogurt
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 cup granola
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• Pink food coloring (optional)
• Mini chocolate chips (optional)
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Pink sprinkles (optional)

Instructions (Step by Step)

Start by preparing your yogurt. If you’re using vanilla yogurt and want a pink color, add 2-3 drops of food coloring and stir until you get your desired shade.

Wash and slice your strawberries into small pieces. Cut the raspberries in half if they’re large.

Get out 4 clear cups or glasses. This helps show off the pretty layers.

Spoon about 1/4 cup of pink yogurt into the bottom of each cup. Press it down gently with the back of your spoon to create an even layer.

Add a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the yogurt. Use about 2 tablespoons per cup.

Sprinkle a layer of granola over the strawberries.

Add another layer of pink yogurt on top of the granola.

Place raspberries on this yogurt layer. You can arrange them in a pattern if you want.

Drizzle a small amount of honey or maple syrup over the raspberries.

Top with a final sprinkle of granola. Add mini chocolate chips, whipped cream, or pink sprinkles if you’re using them.

Serve right away or cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to 2 hours before serving.