30 Valentine's Day Cakes and Cheesecakes We Love (2024)

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Updated: Apr. 12, 2024

Treat your sweetie (or your gals) to one of our favorite Valentine's Day cheesecake or cake recipes.

1/29

Chocolate Cheesecake

Everyone’s a chocolate lover when it comes to this Valentine’s Day chocolate cheesecake. It melts in your mouth, and it’s very smooth and fudgy. For a fun taste twist, spoon cherry or strawberry topping over each slice right before serving. Treat yourself to one of these homemade Valentine’s Day candies, too! —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana

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2/29

Chocolate-Strawberry Celebration Cake

Although I have some great “from-scratch” recipes, this chocolate strawberry celebration cake uses a boxed mix with plenty of doctoring. (It’s the perfect last-minute Valentine’s Day treat!) —Nora Fitzgerald, Sevierville, Tennessee

3/29

Red Velvet Cheesecake

Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your Valentine’s Day dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina

4/29

Strawberry Buttermilk Skillet Shortcake

This scratch-made strawberry buttermilk cake is a family favorite. My grandma even carries out our family tradition by making this old-fashioned recipe each year. —Claudia Lamascolo, Melbourne, Florida

5/29

Chocolate Hazelnut Torte

Most cake recipes feed a crowd. So we came up with this elegant little cake that serves six. That’s enough for two for Valentine’s Day…with just the right amount of leftovers! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

6/29

Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry Cake

My husband loved his mamaw’s strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky

Editor’s tip: For extra Valentine’s Day festivity, use one of these heart-shaped baking pans for this recipe.

7/29

Mocha Truffle Cheesecake

I went through a phase when I couldn’t get enough cheesecake or coffee, so I created this rich dessert. Its brownie-like crust and creamy mocha layer really hit the spot. It’s ideal for Valentine’s Day because it can be made in advance. —Shannon Dormady, Great Falls, Montana

8/29

Angel Food Cake Roll

There’s always room for dessert—especially when it’s this eye-catching angel food cake roll. We like strawberry yogurt in the filling, but different flavors work well, too. —Joan Colbert, Sigourney, Iowa

Check out these Valentine’s Day breads and pastries.

9/29

Frosted Chocolate Cake

This recipe is my mother’s oldest and most popular chocolate cake recipe. I always thought it should have a fancier name, but this is what she called it. Mom would say a fancy name would not make it taste better. —Beth Bristow West Plains, Missouri

10/29

New York Cheesecake with Shortbread Crust

Light, creamy and smooth, this traditional New York cheesecake will melt in your mouth. I rely on a tender change-of-pace shortbread crust instead of graham cracker crust. This recipe takes time, but it’s not difficult, and the result is well worth the effort. —Karen Nielson, St. George, Utah

11/29

Molten Mocha Cake

When I first made my decadent slow-cooker chocolate cake, my husband’s and daughter’s expressions said it all. She says it’s one of her favorites. Later, I brought one of these to our next-door neighbors. —Aimee Fortney, Fairview, Tennessee

Try these delightful Valentine’s Day cookies, too.

12/29

Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake

I always get compliments when I whip up this rich little Valentine’s Day cheesecake. With layers of caramel, chocolate and vanilla, it’s an instant classic. —Erin Byrd, Springfield, Missouri

13/29

Contest-Winning Raspberry Chocolate Torte

Wow your special someone with this striking cake that looks fancy but is easy to decorate. The fresh raspberries and chocolate mounds on top make it a real standout. —Amy Helbig, Mesa, Arizona

14/29

Cheesecake Layered Red Velvet Cake

I love both red velvet cake and cheesecake. So why not combine them into one stunning red velvet cheesecake recipe? It’s best when served chilled, right out of the fridge. —Melissa Gaines, Knoxville, Tennessee

15/29

Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake

You’ll fall in love with this sweet treat. Each silky slice is topped with juicy raspberries. Yes, you can have cheesecake without breaking the calorie budget. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

For a mini treat, indulge in these Valentine’s Day cupcakes.

16/29

Sacher Torte Squares

Sacher torte is a Viennese cake that requires several steps. My squares are an easy alternative, but they still feature the classic apricot and chocolate flavors. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

17/29

Strawberry Cheesecake

The creamy texture and lovely look of this strawberry cheesecake always get compliments. —L.C. Herschap, Luling, Texas

18/29

Mocha Hazelnut Torte

I make this cake on special occasions (like Valentine’s Day) because it looks and tastes so amazing. The combination of mild hazelnut and coffee flavors is impossible to resist. —Christina Pope, Speedway, Indiana

19/29

Doughnut Hole Cake

This is the easiest, most impressive Valentine’s Day cake I’ve ever made! You can use chocolate, lemon or strawberry cake mix in the place of red velvet. —Robert Pickart, Chicago, Illinois

20/29

Brownie Torte

My mother-in-law first shared this recipe, and now it’s often requested for birthdays and other special occasions. —Candace McClure, Brookville, Indiana

21/29

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

If you want to offer family and friends a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. Beautiful high layers of rich sponge cake are drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. —Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri

22/29

Ricotta Cheesecake

When I was a nurse, my coworkers and I regularly swapped recipes during lunch breaks. This creamy cheesecake was one of the best I received. —Georgiann Franklin, Canfield, Ohio

23/29

Chocolate-Filled Angel Food Cake

This decadent angel food cake has a secret tunnel of Amaretto-and-chocolate-flavored whipped cream and a luscious chocolate glaze. It’s sure to impress your sweetie. —Leah Rekau, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

24/29

Strawberry Mascarpone Cake

Don’t let the number of steps in this recipe fool you —it’s easy to assemble. The cake bakes up high and fluffy, and the berries add a fresh fruity flavor. Cream cheese is a good substitute if you don’t have mascarpone cheese handy. —Carol Witczak, Tinley Park, Illinois

25/29

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Rosemary Ganache

This rich cake is the essence of moist, dense and chocolaty. A silky chocolate ganache infused with rosemary really takes it over the top. —Kelly Gardner, Alton, Illinois

(Try these other ganache desserts, too!)

26/29

Traditional Cheesecake

Our Test Kitchen shares this recipe for a basic cheesecake that tastes great alone or with any number of garnishes. Try serving it with Raspberry Sauce and Sour Cream Topping.

27/29

Strawberry Walnut Torte

This is a special treat I love to make and everyone looks forward to a nice slice with lots of fresh berries. —Bonnie Malloy, Norwood, Pennsylvania

28/29

Easy Nutella Cheesecake

A creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread tops a crust made of crushed Oreo cookies to make this irresistible baked cheesecake.—Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

29/29

Red Velvet Pound Cake

This delicious red velvet pound cake is the perfect combination of flavors. Make sure the cake has cooled before icing it, and for extra crunch sprinkle some roasted pecans on top. —Robin Smith, Old Fort, North Carolina

Originally Published: January 19, 2021