Valentine’s Day calls for dessert that leans into indulgence, nostalgia
and just a little bit of drama. From citrus-bright tarts and cloud-light
choux to unapologetically chocolatey puddings and ice-cream
sandwiches made for sharing, this round-up is all about sweetness
in its many forms. These 14 recipes, drawn from some of our
most-loved cookbooks and cooks, celebrate love through flavour,
memory and texture – whether you’re baking for a crowd, a partner,
or simply yourself. Romantic, comforting, playful and decadent,
this is dessert done the sweetest way possible.
by Kenneth Tebogo Middleton
from Paradise
“Bright, zesty and luxurious, this tart pairs a velvety citrus curd with a golden, buttery shortcrust base. You can serve it with whipped cream and roasted naartjie slices.”
by Naqiyah Mayat
from The Journey
“Of late, my mum always visits bearing a tray of her chocolate éclairs, which my twins like to point out don’t have enough ganache ‘like mummy does it’. I’d imagined eating one large éclair for the longest time, so this is a twist on a classic – a reimagined Swiss roll using a choux pastry dough instead of traditional sponge. To finish, a generous spoon of milk chocolate ganache, enough to get the approval of my twins. It’s a dessert that feels both nostalgic and new.”
by Mpho Tshukudu
from Your Health Starts in Your Gut
“Cacao has phytonutrients that improve cognition, executive function, mood, insulin resistance and blood pressure. It also contains theobromine, which offers a longer lasting, more relaxed energy without the spike and crash of caffeine. The phytonutrient-rich dried fruit, seeds and nuts add crunch, saltiness and sweetness.”
by Karen Dudley
from Upwards
“Why the inverted commas? This recipe does not actually use brown butter but harnesses the work of the oven to brown the shortbread a little, resulting in my signature shortbread – a thin finger of nutty, buttery biscuit.”
deur Herman Lensing
uit Herman se Tafel
“Ek is gek oor neute. Jy kan dit in enige nagereg vir my voorsit, dan het jy my hart. Dié Griekse nagereg is pure neute, maar nou met ’n sjokoladekinkel.”
by Lila Lerie
from The Big Tasty Bite
“Here we playfully switch up the classic Top Deck chocolate for a Bottom Deck chocolate mousse. It’s perfect for any chocolate lover and super easy to make – yay!”
by Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen
from JAN Voyage
Silky amaretto ice cream meets crisp almond cookies, rolled in dark chocolate and toasted nuts becomes a playful, grown-up dessert that balances bitterness and sweetness, perfect for lingering dinners and celebratory occasions.
by Jamie Oliver
from Eat Yourself Healthy
Brilliant bananas and almonds take centre stage in this deliciously moreish chuck-it-all-in cake.
by Nicci Robertson
All the comfort of classic tiramisu, reworked into a lighter, protein-rich dessert that still feels indulgent, creamy and coffee-kissed. Proof that better-for-you treats can absolutely taste luxurious, too.
by Sinoyolo Sifo
from Sifo – The Cooking Husband 2
“One day, my wife surprised me with some delectable cinnamon rolls and from that moment on, I developed a deep affection for them. Once, I found a recipe for cinnamon rolls online that initially daunted me. However, I pushed through and gave it a try. To my delight, the results were perfect and I quickly learned that making cinnamon rolls is not as challenging as it appears. While the recipe may seem intimidating due to the number of steps, it is, in fact, quite manageable. Additionally, I have included pictures to facilitate the process and make it easier to follow.”
by Ilse van der Merwe
“Bakers Biscuits first started producing Britain’s iconic Marie biscuit in South Africa in 1898 (the original biscuit was created in London in 1874 to commemorate the wedding of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and the Duke of Edinburgh). Since its introduction on local soil, the biscuit’s popularity soared and it was only a matter of time before it was used as an ingredient in other confections and desserts. These easy chocolate-biscuit squares are loved all across South Africa. Rarely will you find a bake sale without it. Made with the humble but popular Marie biscuit, this no-bake recipe also contains icing sugar, cocoa powder, butter and an egg. The magic of good Marie biscuit fudge lies in not crushing the biscuits too finely, so that the pieces of biscuit are clearly visible from the cut sides of the squares, and you can feel the tender crunch when you bite into one.”
by Sarah Graham
from Simple Suppers
Tender pears meet buttery pecans and spiced Biscoff crumble in this easy, crowd-pleasing dessert, baked golden in 30 minutes and best served warm with ice cream, cream or custard always.
by Karl Tessendorf
from The Good Stuff
“This old-school, self-saucing chocolate pudding was my favourite dessert growing up. My mother got the recipe from a lady from Zimbabwe who called it Kariba Pudding. I have no idea why, but I assume it’s got to do with the sauce flowing like the waters of the mighty dam. I’ll never truly know, but what I do know is that it’s still just as tasty now as it was back then.”
Peppermint Crisp Ice Cream Sandwiches
by Warren Mendes
“Peppermint crisp tart is a very nostalgic no-bake South African dessert that you would almost certainly come across at a braai. It’s more of a trifle than a tart really and simply consists of layers of crushed Tennis biscuits (or coconut biscuits), caramelised condensed milk, whipped cream and, of course, crushed peppermint crisp chocolate. You can use Caramel Treat, or make your own using condensed milk (see below).”
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Indulge in love-infused culinary delights this Valentine's Day with our handpicked collection of recipes guaranteed to tantalise taste buds and ignite romance.