Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Desserts 20 Best Romantic Dessert Recipes Nothing says "I love you" like dark chocolate truffles. (Well, and also these other 19 ideas.) By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 27, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: CAITLIN BENSEL Whether you're planning for the ultimate date night or a special Valentine's Day dinner—and need a decadent dessert to finish off the evening—these romantic dessert recipes may be just exactly what you need. Chocolate desserts tend to be the go-to option for a romantic dinner (after all, chocolate has some impressive health benefits and is considered an aphrodisiac), but you don't have to stick with chocolate. There are plenty of sweet fruit dessert recipes for you to consider as well. Many of these romantic desserts can be made ahead of time or are easily put together—so you have more time to focus on planning a creative date night instead of baking for hours on end. 01 of 20 Orange Soufflé Beth Galton This light, airy dessert incorporates grated orange zest and orange liqueur for a double dose of citrus. get the recipe 02 of 20 French Toast Soufflé Grace Elkus While there's certainly nothing wrong with a rich chocolate soufflé, we'd argue that this French toast-inspired version is just as delicious and ideal for those who don't love chocolate. It's made with familiar ingredients such as maple syrup and vanilla extract and is surprisingly easy to whip up. And don't worry about your dessert falling. It's really hard for the soufflé to fall prematurely in the oven, and once you take it out, it's supposed to fall. get the recipe 03 of 20 Chocolate Bar Fondue Anna Williams Use your imagination when choosing ingredients for dipping in the chocolate fondue—try pound cake, flavored marshmallows, graham crackers, or even pretzels. (Strawberries, banana slices, and oranges are all great if you're looking for a healthier treat.) get the recipe 04 of 20 Honey Whole Wheat-Strawberry Clafoutis Kelsey Hansen This typical French dessert is made with whole-wheat flour, sweetened with honey, and packed with fresh strawberries. While a nice crust forms on the outside, the inside of this picture-perfect confection remains deliciously custardy. Just make sure you serve this treat immediately, as the center will sink as it cools. get the recipe 05 of 20 Chocolate Pecan Fudge Balls Caitlin Bensel Who doesn't love a fudge ball? This version is inspired by the Brazilian treat brigadeiros and is made with a combination of sweetened condensed milk, warm cinnamon, and semi-sweet chocolate. Plus, each ball is rolled in toasted, crushed pecans, which adds plenty of texture to every bite. get the recipe 06 of 20 Sheet Pan Pavlova With Berries and Mangoes Greg DuPree A Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that's typically topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream. This version is garnished with a whopping pound of mixed berries as well as a rich combination of heavy cream and egg whites. get the recipe 07 of 20 Raspberry S'mores James Baigrie A childhood favorite gets an unexpectedly adult twist with the addition of fresh raspberries. get the recipe 08 of 20 Flourless Spiced Hot Chocolate Cake Caitlin Bensel If you like Mexican hot chocolate, you're bound to enjoy this cake, which is basically a fudgy torte version of the popular drink. Here, cinnamon and cayenne complement a dense chocolate batter and help to create a cake that's naturally gluten-free and great for date night. Pro tip: Use a springform pan when baking this beauty for the best results. get the recipe 09 of 20 Vanilla Sweet Potato Cheesecake Victor Protasio If you're looking for something decadent that's still on the healthier side, this cheesecake, which swaps sweet potatoes for some of the sugar, might be the perfect grand finale for your date night. Top it off with fresh fruit for a little extra dose of goodness. get the recipe 10 of 20 Espresso Truffles Hector Sanchez A little espresso gives these decadent chocolate truffles a richer flavor. Make them for a romantic dessert or as a sweet homemade gift for someone special. get the recipe 11 of 20 Chocolate "Salami" With Hazelnuts and Figs Caitlin Bensel This dessert may look like salami, but there's no cured meat here. Instead, this sweet treat is made with chocolate that's flecked with toasted hazelnuts, jammy dried figs, and spiced Biscoff cookies, and the whole thing gets a realistic dusting of confectioners' sugar. Translation: Each bite is packed with plenty of flavor. Enjoy this dessert with your partner, or wrap it up and gift it to a special someone. get the recipe 12 of 20 Strawberry Dust Meringues Caitlin Bensel For a light and airy treat that still has a touch of romance, give these colorful meringues a whirl. Each one has a crispy outside and slightly chewy middle, but the real star here is freeze-dried strawberries, which are used to create a bold, edible "dust" that decorates each dessert. get the recipe 13 of 20 Chocolate Ganache Tart Victor Protasio This easy homemade ganache tart is the comfort-food classic that leaves packaged cake mixes in the dust. get the recipe 14 of 20 Raspberry and Honey Marshmallows Caitlin Bensel Though not necessarily a typical dessert, these homemade marshmallows boast a natural red hue that screams romance and is difficult to resist. Each one is fluffy, fruity, and free of unhealthy corn syrup. Plus, the honey gives these treats a rich, caramelized quality that will remind you of a fire-toasted marshmallow. Serve them as part of a larger romantic dessert spread, or dip them in a cup of hot chocolate. get the recipe 15 of 20 Easy Chocolate Mousse With Croissant Crumbs Caitlin Bensel You'll be hard-pressed to find a dessert more romantic than homemade chocolate mousse. This version utilizes a breakfast staple—croissants—and uses them to create a buttery topping that pairs perfectly with the rich chocolate base. And if you're worried about making your own mousse, don't let this recipe intimidate you. Instead of relying on eggs for the structure, whipped cream does all the work, creating creamy clouds of luscious chocolate. get the recipe 16 of 20 Dark Chocolate Truffles Samantha Seneviratne Instead of wasting your money on a fancy box of truffles, try making them yourself. This recipe calls for high-quality chocolate (a must!) which is mixed with butter, heavy cream, and a dash of salt. Once you get the standard recipe down, which requires just 40 minutes of hands-on work, feel free to fill your truffles with Earl Grey tea, peanut butter and jelly, and more. get the recipe 17 of 20 Cherries Jubilee Joseph De Leo This dessert, which was crafted especially for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, is a perfect way to celebrate a romantic night in. Sweet cherries join forces with Kirsch and tart lemon juice to create a dish that's best served warm over a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. The best part about this dessert is that it takes just 20 minutes to make. get the recipe 18 of 20 Croissant and Chocolate Bread Pudding Con Poulos This rich, decadent dessert couldn't be easier—just combine all the ingredients and bake for 30 minutes. get the recipe 19 of 20 Marshmallow and Chocolate Shortbread Slices Caitlin Bensel These marshmallow and chocolate shortbread slices are basically like a homemade candy bar, which is a great treat to make for a loved one who has an unstoppable sweet tooth. Each slice boasts a crunchy cookie base that gets an upgrade thanks to almond meal and cocoa powder, marshmallow filling, and a chocolate coating. For an added crunch, top the slices with slivered almonds. get the recipe 20 of 20 Hazelnut Bushwacker Cake Greg DuPree This impressive-looking cake is so easy to pull together—stack layers of chocolate wafers with chocolate-hazelnut spread and whipped cream, then let it sit in the fridge to soften. Use a touch of Kahlua to give it a boozy kick for grownups or decaf coffee if you're serving it to kids. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit