Still recovering from the damage that the December holidays wreaked on your finances? A great Valentine’s gift doesn’t have to break the bank. The way to a guy’s heart is through his stomach, as the old saying goes, and this recipe will do just that. All it takes is a baking dish with small molds in the shape of your choice—like hearts—or a mini-muffin pan if you really don’t want to buy anything extra. You’ll wow your Valentine (or your girlfriends!) with this yummy, thoughtful gift.



Ingredients

  • 2 packages of dark chocolate chips (High quality chocolate, like Scharfenburger, will result in better taste.)
  • 1 cup finely chopped nuts, 1 cup coconut flakes OR 1 cup small dried fruits, like cherries or cranberries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Melt the chocolate. The best method of doing this is over the stove. Put the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, then rest it on top of a saucepan filled about a half-inch high with water. The bowl should rest on the rim of the saucepan, without touching the bottom. Turn the burner on to medium heat to SLOWLY melt the chocolate, stirring constantly until smooth. Turn down heat if chocolate starts to burn and stick to the sides of the bowl.
  2. Remove from heat immediately. Stir in the additional ingredient of your choice. Pour into the molds.
  3. Refrigerate until hard, about one hour. Turn molds upside down and shake, gently tapping to release candies.

Put them in cute pink bags as a little gift to friends or serve ‘em up with some champagne and candles for a romantic twist.

photo © istock/Jim Jurica

READ MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
Candied-ginger gingersnaps
Bittersweet chocolate almond biscotti
Make your own fortune cookies
Fudgy Brownie Recipe