Chocolate + Heart-Shaped Desserts for Valentine's Day
Plus, a Q&A with pastry chef Diane Moua for Extras subscribers!
Did you know that Saint Valentine’s Day dates back to Pope Gelasius in 500 AD, not the Hallmark Cards of 1910? The original holiday was a religious one, with nothing to do with romance, flowers or chocolate. The modern Valentine’s Day must have been recreated by a pastry chef. It’s an excuse to make sweet, pretty, heart-shaped treats. There really isn’t another time of the year when heart-shaped desserts are permissible. It’s a shame really, but Valentine’s Day owns the shape, so we must take advantage of the opportunity. Today you’ll find lots of chocolate and heart-shaped recipes + a post dedicated to baking with chocolate.
Plus, below, my Substack Extras subscribers will find a Deep Dive for season 1, episode 1 of Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network, which includes a Q&A with my lovely friend Diane Moua, a renowned pastry chef in the Twin Cities. She also shared her chocolate mousse recipe, so you don’t want to miss it!
I also share an additional exclusive recipe for the chocolate mousse towers pictured above!
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Chocolate Desserts
Decadent, rich, deep, sweet—there are so many ways to describe chocolate desserts. Chocolate can come in so many forms that even those who don’t consider themselves chocolate fanatics almost always find a chocolate treat to love.
Valentine’s Day Desserts
Thought you had plenty to pick from with all those chocolate recipes? Think again. I’ve rounded up all the heart shaped delights and Valentine desserts here, and yes, there’s more chocolate. There’s even a recipe for the mini chocolate heart-shaped cakes draped in ganache that my son designed when he was 9. From super easy to a bit more complex, there’s something for every Valentine here.
Baking with Chocolate
This is my primer on all things chocolate, so you can learn all the tips and tricks for baking with it. You’ll learn about different types of chocolate, techniques, my favorite brands and answers to your chocolate FAQs.