Valentine’s Day Sweets

Sweeten up your Valentine’s Day with some easy treats. We know everyone is feeling a little burnt out after all the holiday hosting so we put together a fun Valentine’s get party with mostly store bought items from Vons and Trader Joes. 

This party can be put together in an afternoon and looks like you spent weeks planning and pulling things off Pinterest. 

Trader Joes has a fun assortment of cookies and candies for each holiday and it is always fun to see what they have to offer each year. We chose some yummy selections from their cheese section to make a grazing board as well. 

Depending on the ages of your guests (this one was geared to 10 year old kiddos) you can choose some pre-packaged treats from your local grocery store like hostess cupcakes, ding dongs and hershey’s chocolates. We also chose Annie’s bunnies fruit snacks because the packaging fit our color scheme. 

Swing by Seaside Papery to see what fun holiday party items they have like cupcake kits from Meri Meri or other cute signs and cards. 

It is all about the presentation, pull out your fun cake stands and platters to display your treats and grazing board. Ours are all from our shop here in Coronado. 

We made our own red velvet cupcakes but you could also easily pick some up at your local bakery or grocery store. 

Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

Ingredients

Cupcakes

1 2/3 cups of all purpose flour

2 tsp cocoa powder

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter

3 eggs at room temperature

2 Tbsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk

Red food coloring

Frosting

3 sticks unsalted butter

5 cups confectioners sugar

16 oz cream cheese at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Instructions

Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners. 
3. In a large bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
4. Cut butter into chunks and add to the dry ingredients. Mix on low with the paddle attachment.
5. In another bowl whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and food coloring.
6. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined. 
7. Fill the cupcake liners.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Frosting

1. Cream the butter. 
2. Add in the cream cheese and cream with the butter. Add in the vanilla and a pinch of salt. 
3. Add the confectioners sugar a cup at a time until combined. 

Let the cupcakes cool completely and then frost.