2. Madeleines
Madeleines are very small, spongy butter cakes that bake in the shape of shells, adding a little oh la la to anyone’s Valentine’s Day! These little sweets are fairly easy to make and can be decorated in ways that are easy enough for the typical home baker to manage, while achieving patisserie-window-worthy results. These do require a special pan in order to make them authentically and I would suggest not going with the silicone molds in order to achieve the perfectly brown, crispy edge.
For Valentine’s Day, however, I stumbled across this beautifully-themed, heart-shaped pan at Sur La Table. Madeleines can be made in many different flavors, but I tend to enjoy traditional tastes and usually make orange or lemon-flavored ones, using a small amount of the zest to provide a huge punch of flavor to the delicate cake. I use this foolproof recipe to make the madeleines, and they always come out absolutely perfect! Dip them into different colored melting chocolate (I used pink, red, and white) and top with some festive sprinkles to elevate this little treat to the next level!