We know, we know… Valentine’s Day is overly commercialized, blah blah blah. Say what you will, but we think there’s something inherently sweet about doing something sweet (pun intended) for the person you love. So, whether you’re baking for your significant other or baking for yourself this week, check out these recipes from the WL archives. They’re guaranteed to leave you feeling satisfied.

Photo: Janis Nicolay

Espresso Coffee Cake

Coffee lovers, unite! This recipe from vegan chef and artisan bread maker Ed Tatton is made with coffee liqueur, brewed espresso and ground espresso beans. It’s the perfect way to end a romantic Valentine’s Day meal—especially if you feel like staying up late.

Trashy Cookies

What do you bake for the person who likes everything? A cookie with, well… everything. That’s where cookbook author Julie Van Rosendaal’s Trashy Cookies come in. They’re loaded with allllllll the salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy and melty stuff, including chopped chocolate bars and crushed pretzels. And yes, you’re encouraged to put your own spin on them.

S’mores with Homemade Grand Marnier Graham Crackers

Chocolate fondues are a staple on many restaurant Valentine’s Day menus, but s’mores are equally deserving. They’re just as interactive and just as delicious—perhaps even more so when you make them with these homemade graham crackers from restaurateur Rachel Zottenberg.

Photo: Leila Kwok

Vanilla Peach Pie

Not a fan of chocolate? Try this Vanilla Peach Pie recipe from Janna Bishop and Shira McDermott at Vancouver’s Flourist Bakery. It’s made with a minimal amount of sugar and is sweet enough on its own—but a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream doesn’t hurt anyone. Go ahead… treat yourself!

Balsamic Strawberry Sponge Cake

There’s something about the pile of strawberries on this sponge cake that just screams Valentine’s Day. They’re so red and so glossy as a result of being macerated in balsamic vinegar. This cake is bound to impress anyone you serve it to—even if that’s just your mom (Vancouver’s Oh Sweet Day! bakery originally shared this recipe with us as a suggestion for Mother’s Day brunch).

Photo: Rebecca Benoit

Fudgy Brownies

Jesse Jonathon Hawes of Vancouver’s Mon Pitou café, spent years enjoying Ina Garten’s brownie recipe…until he met his partner. “I started making brownies for Triet when we first started dating,” he says. “I liked that they were more on the cakey and nutty side, but Triet preferred a more chewy and fudgy brownie so, of course, I had to make some adjustments.” If that’s not true love, we don’t know what is.

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn is a design-obsessed writer, editor and content manager based in Vancouver. When she's not busy swooning over gorgeous homes, you can find her reading, hiking and befriending as many dogs as possible.