easy & yummy recipes for your valentine

I couldn’t help sharing these fun and easy Valentine’s Day recipes with you all. I hope you like chocolate, because two of them are luscious and chocolatey good but pretty simple to make…

And how about a little pepperoni pizza, valentine style?! This recipe is perfect for the whole family.

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 box (15.25 oz.) chocolate cake mix

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

• 24 fresh strawberries, washed and dried

• ½ cup frozen strawberries, thawed

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to package instructions. Pour batter into a paper-lined muffin tin. Bake according to package instructions. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on half power for 60 seconds, then continue at half power at 30 second increments, until the chocolate is completely melted. Prepare a plate with wax paper. Dip the strawberries one at a time into the chocolate, then lay on the prepared plate. Set in the refrigerator to harden.

In a blender, puree the thawed strawberries. Yields about ¼ cup of pureed strawberries.

To prepare the frosting, mix together the butter and powdered sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl. Beat in the pureed strawberries and mix until desired consistency.

Spread frosting over the cooled cupcakes and top each cupcake with a chocolate covered strawberry.

Makes 24 Cupcakes.

Homemade Heart-Shaped Pepperoni Pizza

Ingredients

• 11 ounces refrigerated thin cut pizza crust dough

• ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. pizza sauce, divided

• ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. Kroger Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

• ½ cup sliced pepperoni

• Fresh basil, to serve

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

Roll the pizza crust out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut about 10 hearts out of pizza dough. Gently transfer the hearts onto the prepared baking sheet.

Spread 1 tablespoon of sauce onto each heart, then top with 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Use a small heart shaped cookie cutter to cut hearts into the pepperoni. Place the pepperoni hearts on the cheese.

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges start to brown.

Serve with fresh basil.

Serves: 10

Slow Cooker Lava Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box (15.25 oz.) chocolate cake mix

• 3 ¼ cups milk, divided

• ½ cup pure coconut oil, slightly melted

• 3 large eggs

• 1 package (3.56 oz.) instant chocolate pudding

• 1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

•  optional, vanilla ice cream

•  optional, fresh berries  

Directions

Spray the liner of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1¼ cups of milk, coconut oil and the eggs. Beat on low speed for 1-2 minutes, then on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the batter is glossy.

Pour into the lined slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine the pudding mix, 2 cups of milk and beat until the pudding thickens.

Pour the pudding over the cake batter; do not stir.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top; do not stir.

Cover and cook on high for 2½ hours, until the top of the cake is set.

Serve with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries.

Serves: 10

enjoy!

ciao! fabiana

Recipes courtesy of Kroger 

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