Sweets for the sweet

February 03, 1999

These easy recipes are so decadent and delicious that your valentines may think your treats are from a premium chocolate shop.

Try one of these fun valentine ideas, and treat family, friends, classmates or co-workers to a special gift from the heart and hands. These treats are easy enough that children can help.

Whether a heart-shaped brownie or cheesecake bar, decadent truffles, chocolate fondue or cappuccino frost, the object of your affection is sure to be charmed and impressed with these unique, homemade gifts that echo an early 1900 valentine's sentiment, "My thoughts are all of thee."

Tips to make desserts special

* To create a fun gift box to showcase your homemade treats, simply take any small box or container, wrap with decorative paper or have kids decorate with crayons or stickers.

* To cut bars in a heart shape, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter, or simply cut around a wax paper heart shape with a knife.

* Top beverages like Cappuccino Frost with whipped topping.

For additional recipes, visit the Best-Loved Desserts web site at www.eaglebrand.com

Triple Chocolate Valentine Brownies

Prep Time: 15 minutes Makes 12 3-inch hearts

1 1/4 cups unsifted flour, divided usage
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cold margarine or butter
114-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 8-ounce milk chocolate bar, broken into chunks
3/4 cup chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13-by-9-inch baking pan with heavy foil; set aside.

In medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press on bottom of baking pan. Bake 15 minutes.

In large bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, cocoa, egg, remaining 1/4 cup flour, vanilla and baking powder. Mix in chocolate chunks and nuts. Spread over prepared crust. Bake 20 minutes or until set.

Cool. Use foil to lift out of pan. For hearts, cut with heart-shaped cookie cutter, or with knife, cut around waxed paper heart shape. Or cut into bars. Store tightly covered. Decorate bars with white icing or gels if desired.

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