If we had to pick one kind of classic sweet to be the only one we could eat for the rest of our days, we’re pretty sure that we’d choose cupcakes without much hesitation. There are just so many different kinds, shapes, and flavours that we feel like we’d never get bored, even if they were the only option!
Even now when we can choose to make or eat anything we want, we’ll usually choose cupcakes, especially around a holiday or any time we want to make a treat that’s themed. Valentine’s Day is coming, so we’ve been keeping our eyes peeled lately for delicious kinds of festive, love themed cupcakes that we’ve never tried before!
Are you feeling just as enthusiastic about finding some new Valentine’s Day themed cupcakes to try as we are, if not more?
Check out these 15 mouthwatering ideas, recipes, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and guidance.
1. Heart shaped raspberry beet Valentine’s Day cupcakes
Have you always adored the look of red cupcakes for seasonal things like Christmas and Valentine’s Day but you’re not a huge fan of the way many red velvet recipes only have that colour because of food colouring? We know that some people are allergic to food dyes, so we were pretty excited when we came across this alternative cake dying suggestion on Cooking on The Weekends! They show you how to make heart shaped raspberry beet Valentine’s Day cupcakes, where the beets give the batter a hearty red flavour without actually being detectable in the taste over the flavour of sugar and raspberries.
2. Iced cutout cupcakes
If you’ve never made cutout cupcakes then we’re sorry to tell you that you’re missing out on something very fun indeed! The concept is simple, but we found that we were glad to have a bit of guidance the first time we ever tried them. Remedy your situation by giving these delicious heart shaped cutout cupcakes from Lady Behind the Curtain, filling the cutout centre piece with icing and sprinkles as you see fit!
3. Hugs and kisses cupcakes
If you’re going to put in the time and effort it takes to make yourself a homemade batch of themed cupcakes, would you rather go all out and make them the brightest, sweetest darn things your sweetheart has ever gotten to enjoy? Then we think you’ll get a real kick out of the way Simply Southern Mom made these lovely “hugs and kisses” cupcakes in a surprisingly easy way! They’re awesome for more than just the way they look; they also have a surprise bite of caramel in the centre.
4. Candy topped Rice Krispy treat cupcakes
Are you the kind of experimental treat lover who adores combination recipes that merge the best parts of two different kinds of dessert together into one, just like us? Well, if you also enjoy Rice Krispy treats just about as much as you love cupcakes then we think you might find this recipe and tutorial from Life, Love, and Sugar just as interesting as we did! They show you step by step how to make candy top Rice Krispy treat cupcakes in a way that’s very fun indeed.
5. Brownie heart cupcakes
Do you actually like the sponge of your cake to be so incredibly dense that it’s hardly cake anymore? Maybe you’re just a huge lover of fudgy chocolate recipes over essentially anything else. Either way, we’d be willing to bet that you’ll have a lot of success with a recipe like this one from Martha Stewart that shows you how to make brownie heart cupcakes that are, quite literally, cupcakes made in the classic way but using brownie mix instead of the traditional cake batter.
6. Strawberry M&Ms cupcakes
Did we almost have your attention when we started talking about berry flavoured cupcakes at the very beginning of our post but raspberries have actually just never been your favourite kind? In that case, we have a feeling something like these deliciously fruity strawberry M&Ms cupcakes featured in step by step detail on Scrappy Greek might be right up your alley!
7. Chocolate and strawberry cupcakes
Did we almost have your mind all made up when we started talking about strawberry flavoured cupcakes but the thought of those chocolate recipes we talked about are also still tugging at the back of your mind a little? Well, luckily for all of us, Cake and Allie has a fantastic way for your to combine the two in one place! Check out their page to learn more about how these simple but delicious Valentine’s Day appropriate strawberry and chocolate recipes are made nice and easily.
8. Red hot cupcakes
Has one of your very favourite parts of Valentine’s season actually always been the slightly hot cinnamon kick you get from eating a handful of cinnamon hearts? In that case, we have a feeling this next recipe and full tutorial from Sweet Pennies From Heaven is going to be right up your alley! They show you step by step how to make “red hot” Valentine’s Day cupcakes that harness that same kind of cinnamon kick from the classic candy.
9. Chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes
Do we actually still have you thinking about how much you love the idea of a cupcake recipe that involves both strawberries and chocolate but you’re just not feeling quite sold on the recipe we showed you before? Then maybe you’d prefer something that actually contains fresh fruit! Take a better look at this awesome recipe and tutorial from A Turtle’s Life for Me to see how they made these chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes that are simply divine.
10. Dark chocolate cupcakes with red velvet frosting and chocolate quotes
If you’re going to put in all the time and effort it takes to make Valentine’s Day cupcakes, would you actually rather create something that’s quite simple but rich in its flavour and mixture but has some kind of special flair to it when it comes to careful decor, since you’re feeling up for a challenge? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest practicing your chocolate and iced lettering technique by making these dark chocolate cupcakes with red velvet frosting that are topped with chocolate quotes! Get the full details for making them happen on A Spicy Perspective.
11. Pink velvet cupcakes
Have red velvet cupcakes actually always felt a little bit too rich and heavy for you with each bite so you’re hoping to find something equally delicious but just a touch lighter? Perhaps you’re just the kind of pink lover who adores Valentine’s Day for the way it splashes your favourite colour all over. Either way, we think you’ll get along quite well indeed with these smooth pink velvet cupcakes outlined in nice, clear detail on I Heart Naptime.
12. Strawberry banana cupcakes
Are you actually still feeling like your interest is most piqued by the recipes you’ve seen involving strawberries but you’re just not sure chocolate is the way you want to go in terms of mixing another flavour in? Well, if you’d rather keep things within the fruit realm, then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog made these scrumptious strawberry banana cupcakes instead!
13. Bleeding heart cupcakes
Are you the kind of candy lover who will absolutely, happily involve just about as many different sweet treat elements in one dessert as you can? Well, if you’re also the kind of candy lover who can’t get enough of marshmallow hearts around this time of year then we think you just might find what you’re looking for on Frosted Petticoat! They show you how to make “bleeding heart” cupcakes that have a sugared marshmallow heart nestled right into the centre of each one in the batch.
14. Chocolate ganache cupcakes with cherry buttercream frosting and maraschino cherries
Have you actually been scrolling through our list hoping to find a recipe that will help you make something just a little bit more gourmet? In that case, we would strongly encourage you to take a look at the way Live, Love, Texas outlines the steps for making these decadent chocolate ganache cupcakes with cherry buttercream frosting, topped with maraschino cherries!
15. Nuts for you cupcakes
Have you actually been looking for a cupcake recipe that’s still sweet enough to taste like a treat, but that’s a little less overwhelmingly rich and maybe even a little more calorie-wise? Well, just because you’re toning down the cupcake itself doesn’t mean you can’t still add a little Valentine’s Day charm! We’d suggest checking out this crumbled nut recipe from Cupcakes Projects, as well as how they made their punny, customized “nuts for you” decorative topper.
Do you have another favourite kind of Valentine’s Day cupcakes that you make every year and it’s always a huge hit, but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about how they’re made or link us to recipes and photos of your finished cupcakes in the comments section!
