Heart-Shaped Dishes for Valentine's Day

Hearty treats

If the way to a person's heart is through their stomach, these lovingly prepared dishes are just the ticket. Trust us, just the sight of these romantically presented treats will make your loved one's heart flutter.

Bacon "Hearts"

Start Valentine's Day right with bacon—your other half's true love. Arrange bacon slices in a heart shape on a baking sheet (use a rack if you have one) and bake at 400°F (205°C) until crispy.

Heart Pancakes

These heart-shaped hot pancakes will make breakfast in bed extra special. A sauce bottle filled with batter will serve as your brush: pipe a heart shape onto a hot pan, let it set, and then fill it with batter to create charmingly imperfect pancakes.

Pizza with pepperoni hearts

All you need is scissors to cut out hearts from pepperoni slices. Decorate your ready-made dough with these pieces, or make a homemade pizza, also shaping the base into a heart shape.

Cinnamon Heart Puffs

Form puff pastry or pizza dough into heart shapes, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking. Serve with a dipping sauce of warm chocolate syrup or lavender honey.

Heart-shaped fried eggs with croutons

Give a twist to a classic breakfast by using a cookie cutter to cut out hearts (instead of circles) from buttered bread slices. Toast the toast, cracking an egg into the center after flipping. Serve with the heart-shaped cutouts—they can be dipped in an egg yolk.

Shrimp Romance

Those who prefer something salty can form a heart out of two shrimp, curved side out. (Jumbo shrimp add a touch of sophistication.)

Cheese Platter "Hot Date"

Use a heart-shaped cutter to cut out cute little symbols of love from cheddar, Havarti, or other semi-hard cheeses. They'll be a hit with both adults and kids.

Pork "Hearts"

Nothing says love like a home-cooked meal. Butterfly some boneless pork chops or chicken breast, and you've got a lean and healthy main course for lunch for your loved one.

Berry Love

Strawberries with rounded shoulders create pink and red hearts when cut in half lengthwise. Less rounded berries require a small cut near the spine. Use them as a fun topping for cupcakes, oatmeal, or waffles.

Hearts made from grain cookies

Mix in a handful of cranberries, freeze-dried strawberries, or pink sprinkles to garnish a simple granola treat. Coating a heart-shaped cookie cutter with nonstick cooking spray will make removing the cookies easier.