Red velvet is a popular cake, made with buttermilk, a hint of cocoa powder and a splash of red food coloring. The cake is usually topped with a rich cream cheese icing, which contributes to its popularity, but the bright red color of the cake is really what draws people in. This coloring also makes is a perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day treat, because it allows you to turn a simple dish into a a Valentine. You’ll need a little food coloring (regular or all natural) on hand, then you can treat your Valentine with one of these sweet, red velvet goodies:

• Red Velvet Pancakes are a great way to start off your Valentine’s Day breakfast. Pipe the pancake batter into heart shapes to make these pancakes look even more special.
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies are a completely non-traditional choice for a red velvet treat. These brownies are very fudgy, with a rich chocolate flavor, and still have a deep red hue to them. Instead of frosting, they feature a cheesecake swirl running through the brownies.
• Red Velvet Marble Cupcakes are moist and tender, and you get a great buttermilk flavor from the white cake and just enough cocoa flavor from the red velvet to make it stand out. Finish these off with a few heat-shaped sprinkles before you serve them!
• For a more dramatic cupcake, you can’t go wrong with Cream Filled Red Velvet Cupcakes. The creamy white filling inside of these cakes really stands out against the red cake. These updated snack cakes also make a great V-Day treat for kids and their friends.
• Whoopie pies are just as popular as cupcakes these days and Red Velvet Cake Whoopie Pies are a perfect way to acknowledge this trend. Soft, cake-like red velvet cookies sandwich a cream cheese filling for a portable snack that you can easily eat on the go.

Pack up your goodies in a heart-shaped box and don’t be surprised if you find yourself presented with some bright red roses as a thank you for your red velvet Valentine!