Valentine’s Day Party {Food & Decor}

Learn how to throw a quick and easy Valentine’s Day party with a romantic pink dessert table. It’s a sweet way to surprise your partner with all of his/her favorite sweet treats.

*Thank you Edible Arrangements for sponsoring today’s post so that I could share this party and recipes with all of you. As always, all opinions are mine.*

It’s officially February and this fun party is a wonderful way to celebrate love and romance. Hubby and I celebrated early this year since I will be traveling on the 14th.

Valentine’s Day Party decor

For decoration and backdrop, I kept things simple with a pink and white color theme. I used a wood design paper backdrop with a pink ruffle banner. I attached both of these to the wall behind the table. Then, I set up a rose petal trail all the way from the main entrance to the dessert table. This is a really fun way for your partner to see the surprise table! Fill up any empty space with huge helium-filled heart balloons, pink and red flowers, rose petals, confetti.

Valentines Party Dessert table

One important thing that every dessert table needs is a “focal point.” Normally, that’s a fancy decorated layer cake. However, the edible bouquet from Edible Arrangements was so stunning and such a show stopper that it made the perfect center piece for my romantic dessert table. It’s a hand crafted bouquet, made with juicy fresh fruits.

These themed tables should include a variety of desserts- cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, bars e.t.c. Also, include multiple different flavors to keep the food exciting. Most of the food should be bite-sized and in individual cups and there should be small pre-cut slices for larger desserts like brownies or cheesecakes. Feel free to use seasonal cupcake liners and wrappers.

Add little labels beside each dessert (I didn’t do it this time because it was just for me and my husband). For guests, it is very helpful and I highly recommend them.

Make sure that every item is on its own individual cake stand or serving dish and stick to your color theme. All of my dishes were either pink, white or red.

Use a tablecloth that is not too distracting with too many patterns. I didn’t have to use one because I liked the white colored table.

This dessert table was epic and had all of my hubby’s favorites:

• Chocolate fondue with pink wafers and pretzels
• Chocolate covered granola bars with pink chocolate drizzle
• Cute chocolate bears
• Sweet and salty popcorn mix
• Rose cupcakes
• Chocolate covered sugar cookies
• Box of fancy candies
• Rose punch
• Fruit bouquet

Valentine’s Day Party Food Ideas- Desserts and Drinks

I like to put a heavy emphasis on sweet rather than savory at my parties. For dessert tables, especially, sweet food items look the best visually compared to savory items. Include a variety of sweet treats such as cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candies, brownies and bars. For drinks, keep alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Try to stick to pink and red colors to keep the romantic theme consistent. Check out this post on Pink Desserts (Valentine’s Day Desserts) for more inspiration.

Cakes

Make them from scratch or use a doctored cake mix recipe or order a custom cake from your favorite bakery. Flavors that are popular this time of the year are strawberry, raspberry, champagne, white chocolate. They can be simple frosted cakes or fancy decorated cakes.

Pink Velvet Cake (From Scratch)

Soft, moist, easy pink velvet cake recipe from scratch, homemade with simple ingredients. Paired with strawberry frosting and fresh strawberries. Perfect for Valentine's Day.

Check out this recipe

Mini Love Letter Cake

Use this cake decorating tutorial to make easy mini love letter cake. Great for Anniversaries or Valentine's day and can be used as Wedding party favors.

Check out this recipe

Best Red Velvet Cake Recipe

The best, easy, moist homemade red velvet cake recipe from scratch requires simple ingredients. Soft and moist. Pairs well with cream cheese frosting or chocolate icing.

Check out this recipe

Fondant Flower Cake

Learn how to make easy fondant flower cake with a polka dot design, using basic tools and cutters. It's great for girls birthday parties or even Spring or Summer wedding parties.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Bark Cake

Learn how to make this quick and easy chocolate bark cake. An easy cake decorating technique for Valentine’s day, Weddings, Anniversaries, birthday parties.

Check out this recipe

Easy Love Cake

Use this cake decorating tutorial to make an easy Love cake for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Anniversaries with fondant, sprinkles, edible markers.

Check out this recipe

Easy Black Forest Cake (With Cake Mix)

Quick and easy black forest cake recipe with cake mix, homemade with simple ingredients. Soft, moist chocolate cake with cherry filling and whipped cream.

Check out this recipe

Strawberry Shortcake Cake (With Cake Mix)

The best, classic, easy strawberry shortcake cake recipe with cake mix, homemade with simple ingredients. This layer cake is composed of soft and moist vanilla cake, sweet and juicy fresh strawberry filling and fluffy whipped cream.

Check out this recipe

Easy Strawberry Shortcake Recipe with Bisquick

Classic, quick and easy strawberry shortcake recipe with Bisquick mix, homemade with simple ingredients. Flaky biscuits, filled with sweetened strawberries and whipped cream. 

Check out this recipe

Kit Kat Cake (With Strawberries)

Quick and easy Kit Kat cake recipe with fresh strawberries, homemade with simple ingredients. This easy cake decorating idea is perfect for birthdays.

Check out this recipe

Easy Icebox Cake

Easy, old fashioned no bake icebox cake recipe (refrigerator cake), homemade with simple ingredients with layers of graham crackers, vanilla or cheesecake pudding/ Cool Whip filling and fresh strawberries.

Check out this recipe

Easy Pavlova Recipe

Learn how to make easy homemade pavlova recipe from scratch with simple ingredients. It's always light and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Marshmallow Cake (Heart Cake)

Quick and easy chocolate marshmallow cake recipe. This soft and moist heart cake with strawberry frosting and pink marshmallows is perfect for Valentine's day.

Check out this recipe

Buttercream Ruffle Cake

Use this quick and easy cake decorating tutorial to learn how to make buttercream ruffle cake with just Tip 104. Perfect for Valentine's day parties!

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Raspberry Cake (With Cake Mix)

Easy chocolate raspberry cake recipe that starts off with cake mix, homemade with simple ingredients. Filled with fresh raspberry pie filling and loaded with ganache frosting.

Check out this recipe

Easy Mother’s Day Cake Tower

Easy Mother's Day Cake Tower recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Slices of pound cake are stacked & decorated with pink buttercream & fondant flowers.

Check out this recipe

Easy Maraschino Cherry Cake (With Cake Mix)

Easy cherry cake recipe with cake mix, homemade with simple ingredients. Soft, moist and paired with whipped cream icing and topped with maraschino cherries.

Check out this recipe

Cupcakes

Decorate homemade or store-bought cupcakes with colored buttercream icing. Pipe a large rose or you can pipe a swirl of frosting and top it off with a fresh rose bud or rose petals.

Valentine’s Day Cupcakes (Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes)

Easy chocolate strawberry cupcakes recipe with cocoa whipped cream and chocolate covered strawberries, homemade with simple ingredients. Best Valentine's Day cupcakes ever!

Check out this recipe

Red Rose Cupcakes (How to Pipe)

Learn how to pipe rose cupcakes with red buttercream icing. These iced flower cupcakes are quick and easy to decorate in 10 minutes with Tip 1M and no fondant is necessary.

Check out this recipe

Pink Champagne Cupcakes With Champagne Buttercream Frosting

Quick, easy pink champagne cupcakes recipe with champagne buttercream frosting. Soft, moist, fluffy! Great for New Year’s party or Valentine’s Day.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes

Soft and moist chocolate cherry cupcakes recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Filled with maraschino cherry truffles and topped with fudgy chocolate frosting.

Check out this recipe

Easy Flower Cupcake Bouquet

Learn how to make easy flower cupcake bouquet with frosting. This pull apart floral cupcake cake is great for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day parties.

Check out this recipe

Easy Strawberry Cupcakes From Scratch

Quick, easy fresh strawberry cupcakes recipe, homemade from scratch with simple ingredients. Pink, soft, moist, topped with strawberry buttercream frosting.

Check out this recipe

Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes

The best, classic, light and fluffy, soft and moist red velvet cupcakes recipe, topped with tangy cream cheese frosting, homemade with simple ingredients. 

Check out this recipe

Mini No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Easy mini no bake strawberry cheesecake cupcakes recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Composed of graham cracker crust, cheesecake filling, fresh strawberry topping.

Check out this recipe

Cookies

Include a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors. If you are really short on time, you can decorate store-bought cookies with seasonal sprinkles, melted chocolate and colored icings. For these cookies, I bought round sugar cookies, topped them off with melted chocolate and tossed some heart sprinkles.

Champagne Cookies

This easy champagne cookies recipe requires a few simple ingredients and no chilling. These champagne sugar cookies are decorated with champagne frosting.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Quick and easy chocolate cake mix cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Soft and chewy, dipped in melted chocolate and covered in sprinkles. Many add-in options included.

Check out this recipe

Easy Cut Out Heart Cookies

Easy heart cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Starts off with red velvet cake mix. These cut out sugar cookies hold their shape with no spreading.

Check out this recipe

Easy Valentine’s Day Cookies (Love Letter Cookies)

Quick and easy Valentine's Day cookies (love letter cookies), homemade with simple ingredients. All you need is sugar cookies or graham crackers, marshmallow fondant and edible markers.

Check out this recipe

Cotton Candy Cookies

Quick and easy cotton candy cookies recipe with cake mix. These crispy, chewy chocolate cookies are topped with buttercream icing and pink cotton candy. Great for serving at kids birthday parties!

Check out this recipe

Easy Meringue Cookies (Egg White Cookies)

Easy meringue cookies recipe (egg white cookies), homemade with simple ingredients. A classic Christmas cookie that's delicate, light, airy and packed with vanilla flavor. 

Check out this recipe

Easy Flower Cookies

Use this cookie decorating tutorial to make quick and easy flower cookies with marshmallow fondant, sugar cookies. Great for weddings, birthdays or use as party favors.

Check out this recipe

Easy Tulip Cookies

Use this step by step cookie decorating tutorial to make easy tulip cookies. Only basic cutters, round sugar cookies and marshmallow fondant needed!

Check out this recipe

Red Velvet Cookies (With Cake Mix)

Quick and easy red velvet cookies recipe with cake mix, homemade with 5 simple ingredients. Soft and chewy and loaded with white chocolate chips.

Check out this recipe

Pink Desserts-Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Quick and easy chocolate coconut cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Loaded with cocoa powder and pink shredded coconut. Soft and chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside. A beautiful pink dessert!

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies {Crinkles}

Easy classic red velvet crinkle cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients from scratch. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with a beautiful crackled powdered sugar topping.

Check out this recipe

Easy Linzer Cookies

Classic Linzer cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Vanilla and almond flavored shortbread cookie sandwiches are filled with raspberry jam.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Cherry Cookies (Black Forest Cookies)

Quick and easy chocolate cherry cookies recipe with cake mix. These black forest cookies are filled with vanilla buttercream icing, cherry pie filling and chocolate shreds.

Check out this recipe

Easy Chewy Coconut Macaroons

Quick and easy coconut macaroons recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Soft, moist and chewy. Covered in chocolate! 

Check out this recipe

Easy Rose Cookies (Piped)

Easy rose cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These piped cookies are crispy, rich and buttery and perfect for Summer.

Check out this recipe

Sweet dips

These are great for dipping fruits. You can also make a platter and add a variety of “dippers” like berries, pretzels, mini cookies, small pieces of cakes and brownies.

Easy Chocolate Fondue Recipe

Best, quick, easy chocolate fondue recipe, homemade with 3 simple ingredients. Rich, creamy and great for dipping fresh fruits. Can be used in chocolate fountain too.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Fruit Dip

Quick, easy chocolate fruit dip recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Rich, creamy and packed with melted chocolate chips, cream cheese, whipped cream.

Check out this recipe

Easy Fruit Dip Recipe

Quick and easy cream cheese fruit dip recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Smooth, rich, creamy. Perfect for dipping fresh fruits at parties.

Check out this recipe

Fruits

Chocolate dipped fruits are the best and an absolute classic. Make sure you are using ripe fruits that are in season. Include strawberries, peaches, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries. This edible Valentine bouquet from Edible Arrangements was so stunning that I used that instead of a platter of fruits. There are grape skewers, heart shaped pineapples, chocolate dipped strawberries (Hubby and I loved these!) and even a chocolate heart. It’s so beautiful, delicious and great for sharing too. Even on its own, this bouquet makes the perfect gift.

Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Learn how to make the best, quick and easy chocolate covered strawberries recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. They are prepared in 20 minutes and make a delicious dessert or snack for parties and a wonderful edible homemade gift.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Covered Raspberries

These quick and easy chocolate covered raspberries are a delicious and healthy snack or dessert. Stuffed with semisweet chocolate chips too!

Check out this recipe

Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats (Fruit Snacks)

This roundup of Valentine's Day treats has every fruit snack your heart desires- Beautiful cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candies that are homemade with simple ingredients!

Easy Strawberries and Cream

Quick and easy strawberries and cream recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in 20 minutes. This no bake dessert has layers of whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Fruit Kabobs (Fruit Skewers)

Quick, easy, make ahead fruit kabobs recipe for kids, homemade with simple ingredients. Each fruit skewer is packed with fresh juicy berries like strawberries and chocolate brownies.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Quick and easy gourmet style chocolate covered cherries, homemade with simple ingredients. Cover in coconut, nuts, sprinkles. Great as snack or gift!

Check out this recipe

Candy

You can buy seasonal candies from grocery stores or order them online from specialty candy stores. This chocolate box from Edible Arrangements made a fantastic addition to my dessert table. The packaging was very sleek and stylish and the chocolates had the most incredible fillings like passionfruit, pineapple, orange, raspberry, caramel and hazelnuts. Hubby liked the hazelnut one while I fell in love with the passionfruit one. Honestly, I would expect nothing less from famed chocolatier, Jacques Torres, who was the mastermind behind this chocolate box. Homemade candies are another option. Classics include chocolate truffles, chocolate bark, fudge.

Easy Chocolate Champagne Truffles

Easy chocolate champagne truffles recipe, homemade with 4 simple ingredients. Rich, smooth, creamy and can be dipped in melted chocolate or rolled in cocoa powder, powdered sugar or matcha powder.

Check out this recipe

Red Velvet Truffles (With Cake Mix)

Quick and easy no bake red velvet truffles recipe (red velvet cake truffles) with cream cheese are a bite sized dessert/ snack with rich and creamy texture.

Check out this recipe

Homemade Sugar Cubes (Hearts and Stars)

Learn how to make homemade sugar cubes with 3 simple ingredients! Any shape and color is possible! Use it to decorate cakes and cupcakes.

Check out this recipe

JELL-O Marshmallow Candy

Easy JELL-O marshmallow candy or JELL-O pinwheels, made in 1 hour with 4 basic ingredients. This is a simple no bake dessert or snack for kids parties.

Check out this recipe

White Chocolate Bark

Quick and easy white chocolate bark recipe, homemade with 2 simple ingredients with many topping ideas. Great as Christmas dessert or homemade gift.

Check out this recipe

Coffee Fudge (Espresso Fudge)

Easy coffee fudge recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. This mocha fudge is full of semisweet chocolate chips, espresso powder and toasted almonds.

Check out this recipe

Beverages

These can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The best color choices will be shades of pink and red. In terms of flavors, strawberry syrup, raspberry syrup, rose syrup are popular. Some options are: smoothies, hot cocoa, punch, cocktails.

Banana Raspberry Smoothie

The best, thick, quick and easy raspberry smoothie recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Healthy breakfast on the go, packed with oatmeal, Greek yogurt, milk, fruits.

Check out this recipe

Strawberry Smoothie

Quick and easy strawberry smoothie recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. It's refreshing, healthy, rich and creamy. Perfect for breakfast or snack!

Check out this recipe

Banana Blueberry Smoothie

Quick and easy banana blueberry smoothie recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Healthy, refreshing, rich, creamy, loaded with fruits, yogurt and milk.

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Hot Chocolate

The best, rich, creamy, easy crockpot hot chocolate recipe, homemade with simple ingredients from scratch. Packed with cocoa powder and chocolate chips. 

Check out this recipe

Easy Christmas Punch

Quick & easy sparkling non alcoholic Christmas punch recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Loaded with cranberry, orange, pineapple juices & ginger ale!

Check out this recipe

Brownies and bars

You can take something as simple as granola bars and transform them. Dip them in melted chocolate and then, drizzle melted pink chocolate. Toss some sprinkles or freeze dried strawberries, if you like.

Gooey Brownies (Chocolate Cherry Brownies)

Quick and easy one bowl gooey brownies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These fudgy chocolate cherry brownies are full of cocoa powder, topped with chocolate ganache frosting and cherry pie filling.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Coconut Bars (Macaroon Bars)

Easy no bake chocolate coconut bars recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These macaroon bars are soft and chewy. Multiple flavor variations included!

Check out this recipe

My favorite Valentine’s Day Party Food- Tiered Heart Cake

This is a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing that’s decorated in bluish-gray fondant and jumbo heart sprinkles. I love how this heart cake is not a typical heart “shaped” cake. It is a big cake and can feed up to 20 people. You can make a smaller version of this cake, if it will just be for a couple. You can try different cake flavors and frosting flavors and even play around with the colors of the overall cake design. Take this idea and make it your own! Also, if you don’t want to make a tiered cake, you can just make a single tier and it will be less work.

Ingredients

• 3 cakes, Round, Dimensions 8×3 (bottom tier) and two 6×3 (top tier)
• 6 cups Frosting
• 5 cups Fondant , Colored grayish blue
• 1/2 cup Melted chocolate
• 1 cup Jumbo heart sprinkles

Instructions

1. Bake your cakes and allow them to cool completely.
2. Place the 8 inch cake on a cake board (should be the same size as your cake) and ice it smoothly. You can cut in half lengthwise and add a filling, if you like. I didn’t do it.
3. Place one 6 inch cake on a cake board (should be the same size as your cake). Spread icing on top evenly. Place the second 6 inch cake on top of the icing and press gently to secure into place. Frost the entire cake smoothly in chocolate buttercream.
4. Roll out fondant and spread it over these iced cakes.
5. Cut off excess fondant around the base of each cake with a pizza cutter.
6. Use a fondant smoother to smooth out the fondant on top and the sides of the cake.
7. Next, place the larger 8 inch cake on a serving dish or a cake stand.
8. Push 5 bubble tea straws or wooden dowels around the center of the cake for support.
9. Spread some icing on top of the straws.
10. Place the tall 6 inch cake on top of this icing. Press gently to secure into place. The icing should work like “glue.”
11. Brush melted chocolate behind each jumbo sprinkle and stick them around the cake.
12. For the final step, stick a braided white fondant border around the base of both your tiers. Instead of this, you can just pipe a border with white buttercream icing. Enjoy!

Storage

Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Please note that fondant decorations may become sticky from the moisture in the refrigerator.