The Perfect Recipes for a Galentine's Day Celebration

January 26, 2017
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Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky
As the most lovey-dovey holiday of the year, Valentine's Day has garnered quite the reputation for being all about folks with significant others. Well, for some of us, those significant others are simply our best friends. Gather your girls (or guys!) together and celebrate Valentine's Day in style with some recipes that are dainty and special (hello, chocolate covered strawberries) and others that truly signify the art of friendship and sharing (pizza and fried chicken, anyone?) With these all-star recipes, your Galentine's Day celebration will definitely be one to remember.
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Vegan Coconut Cream Tart with White Peaches and Blueberries

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Styling: Rishon Hanners
Vegan Coconut Cream Tart with White Peaches and Blueberries Recipe

This nutrient-rich twist on coconut cream pie is lusciously smooth and decadent… it’s also vegan, paleo, gluten-fee, and raw. In other words, you’re looking at a tart with a stacked resume. Perfect for a special occasion, especially if you’re looking to clean up your diet a bit, this show-stopping vegan dessert offers rich, toasty flavor and sweet tooth satisfaction—without adding refined sugar. And since there’s no need to crank up the oven to make it, this treat especially ideal for summer. Keep in mind, whipping coconut cream can sometimes be tricky. If you forget to refrigerate your cans overnight or if too much of the liquid gets mixed in, it will most likely separate. But not to worry—mixing in a bit of tapioca flour (arrowroot would also work) can bring the mixture back together in a snap. To save yourself time, go ahead and place your mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the fridge to chill as soon as you are ready to start prepping your tart. 

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Strawberries and Rosé Cake

Photo: Jessica Colyer
Strawberries and Rosé Cake Recipe

This impressive blush-tone cake is inspired by two of our favorite summer treats: rosé wine and fresh strawberries. Perfect for a bridal shower, birthday party, or any number of other special gatherings, this cake is as spirited as it is elegant. If you are a big frosting fan, you may want to consider doubling the buttercream component of the recipe, as this was developed as a more delicately iced cake. Leave enough frosting after filling the layers to swipe a light crumb coat around the exterior of the cake, if you like that look--or you can simply keep the frosting in between the layers for a fully "naked" cake aethetic.

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Cookie-Brownie Treats for Valentine's Day

Photo: JK Denim
Cookie-Brownie Treats for Valentine's Day

A fudgy chocolate brownie sandwiched between chocolate chip cookies is the perfect treat to celebrate singleness this Valentine's Day. The best part is, you don't have to share!

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Easy Chocolate-Bourbon Fondue

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford, Claire Spollen
Easy Chocolate-Bourbon Fondue Recipe

Make this a kid-friendly dessert by omitting the bourbon and increasing the vanilla to 1 1/2 teaspoons. You can also serve 10 thin pretzel sticks for dipping, but note that this will add about 21 calories and 96mg sodium.

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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Recipe

With only 3 simple ingredients, this truly is the ultimate grilled cheese. Perfect for a tight budget or someone who's short on time, this uncomplicated comfort food sandwich is the perfect any-time meal. Use mayonnaise instead of butter for added flavor and to keep the bread from burning.

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Oreo Truffles

Photo: Beth Branch
Oreo Truffles Recipe

Oreo Truffles are an easy way to impress guests at your next get-together. Guests will never have to know they only require four ingredients!

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Family-Style Taco Night

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Family-Style Taco Night Recipe

For family taco night, set out the filling, taco shells, and toppings, and let everyone craft their own unique creations. Rather than a store bought taco mix pack, we created a simple homemade blend of basic pantry spices. It takes no more than five minutes to measure it all out and blend it up, and provides excellent flavor to a comforting, uncomplicated meal.

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Cherry Berry Cocktail

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount
Cherry Berry Cocktail Recipe

This vodka cocktail is berry bliss. Garnish with a handful of your favorite berries skewered on a cocktail pick or straw. 

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French Onion Soup Bites

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin
French Onion Soup Bites Recipe

Easy to assemble and perfectly portable, these French Onion Soup bites are the perfect addition to any holiday party spread. They’re like your favorite Trader Joe’s freezer aisle find, but tastier. 

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Chocolate Tiramisu Poke Cake

Photo: Daniel Agee
Chocolate Tiramisu Poke Cake Recipe

The poke cake technique is incredibly easy, but that doesn't mean that poke cakes have a simple flavor. Enjoy the irresistible textures of pudding, cake, and crushed espresso beans in each bite of with this chocoatey take on Tiramisu.

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Chocolate Pasta with Boozy Raspberry-White Chocolate Sauce 

Photo: Sara Tane; Styling: Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm 
Chocolate Pasta with Boozy Raspberry-White Chocolate Sauce  Recipe

Homemade chocolate pasta isn't as hard as you think, however you can substitute 12 ounces of storebought chocolate pasta (available online and in specialty stores). If you're not a fan of white chocolate liqueur and/or booze, just leave it out. When buying white chocolate, look for one that has a higher amount of cocoa butter (not mostly milk, oil, and sugar), as most of the lesser quality white chocolate on the market contains very little, if any, cocoa butter. This will likely make extra sauce, which you can use over ice cream—or for more chocolate pasta. 

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The Red Velvet Cake

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
The Red Velvet Cake Recipe

The origin of red velvet cakes came about from the result of baking soda interacting with natural cocoa and other acids in the batter. Through the years, the red velvet craze has only continued, fueled in part by the red velvet cakes that have graced the Southern Living Christmas cover three times. 

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Peanut Butter and Pretzel Brownies

Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Kate Parisian
Peanut Butter and Pretzel Brownies Recipe

Irresistibly nutty and salty, these peanut butter pretzel brownies are for the die-hard chocolate lover in everyone's lives. Incorporating Reese's candies, crushed pretzel bits, and a heaping spoonful of creamy peanut butter, these rich, decadent squares are perfect for you next potluck dessert party, special occasion, or late night craving. For an added bonus, go ahead and eat them warm out of the oven with a scoop of ice cream.

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Layered Buffalo Chicken Dip

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Styling: Blakeslee Giles, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Layered Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

This buffalo chicken dip is a completely homemade labor of love, and your guests will fall head over heels for this incredible appetizer. This dip offers the complete buffalo chicken experience all in one dish and combines layers of different ingredients and flavors along with a unique scratch-made carrot ranch dressing. There is a crunch, a richness, and a level of spice all mixed together in this wow-worthy dip that make it the perfect contributiion to any party or tailgate. This dish delivers intense flavor and an all-inclusive and truly delicious buffalo chicken experience. 

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Fudge Cakes with Jasmine Tea Whipped Cream

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Christine Wolheim
Fudge Cakes with Jasmine Tea Whipped Cream Recipe

This sensual dessert--adapted from Nicole Krasinski, chef-owner of State Bird Provisions in San Francisco--offers intriguing flavor combinations and textures that range from cloudlike to crunchy. Krasinski tops her cakes with a tasty fennel-hazelnut granola; for simplicity, we've used toasted hazelnuts. For her recipe, see sunset.com/granolarecipe.

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Tricolored Beet Tart

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Tricolored Beet Tart Recipe

If you or your guests are not beet fans, substitute sweet potatoes: Wrap 4 (4-ounce) sweet potatoes in parchment paper, and microwave at HIGH 3 minutes. Then cool, peel, and slice. You can also sub feta for goat cheese and pecans or walnuts for hazelnuts.

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Mocha Truffle Cake

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams
Mocha Truffle Cake Recipe
A quick spin in the food processor makes this cake's prep easy enough for a weeknight dessert for your family. Its bold chocolate flavor is so satisfying that it's unlikely you'll be able to think about seconds.

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Dark Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Photo: Romulo Yanes
Dark Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Recipe

Chocolate-covered strawberries are always a crowd pleaser and are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins.

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Pizza Supreme

Oxmoor House
Pizza Supreme Recipe

Brighten a homemade version of a take-out favorite with two different colors of bell peppers. Use your own color combo, or any bell peppers you have on hand.

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Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shots

Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shots Recipe

Get your next party started with a round of boozy Jell-O shots. As our most popular shot to date, you not only get the fun of a jelly shot, but also the spiked strawberry that holds the shot is edible making cleanup a breeze. Cheers to that!

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Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett
Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken Recipe

A marriage of Southern favorites: Our salty-sweet brine of brown sugar and freshly brewed tea infuses this picnic-perfect chicken with juicy flavor before frying. Bonus: The tannins in tea act as a natural tenderizer.

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Chocolate Panini

Photo: Kan Kanbayashi
Chocolate Panini Recipe
This quick and easy dessert recipe only calls for two ingredients - bread and chocolate!

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Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe
For an even chewier texture, substitute 1/2 cup hazelnut or almond flour for 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.

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Chocolate Chip Cream Puffs

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis
Chocolate Chip Cream Puffs Recipe

Deb likes to stir the chocolate chips into the warm dough by hand because the power of the mixer would forcefully combine the melting chips into the dough, making it brown chocolate dough instead of dough studded with chocolate chips.

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Pink Lemonade Cocktail

Beth Dreiling Hontzas
Pink Lemonade Cocktail Recipe

Nothing quenches your thirst like a glass of cold, tangy lemonade. With a splash of vodka and some light beer, this pink drink is strictly for the grown-ups.

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Can't-Be-Beet Tart with Goat Cheese

Hector Manuel Sanchez
Can't-Be-Beet Tart with Goat Cheese Recipe

This is the dessert you cook when you want to make a big impression. Everything about it--from the ginger kick in the crust to the sweet earthiness of the beets in the filling to the rich goat cheese in the topping--comes together in beautiful harmony. Be sure to use an 11-inch tart pan to accommodate the filling; a 10-inch pie plate will work in a pinch. Look for buttermilk powder on the baking aisle or with the powdered milk.

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Mississippi Mudslides

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Heather Chadduck
Mississippi Mudslides Recipe
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Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes

Photo: Quentin Bacon
Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes Recipe
Bake cupcakes in advance so they have time to cool before you frost them.

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Spiked Strawberry Milk

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Spiked Strawberry Milk Recipe
A favorite childhood beverage gets an adult twist thanks to strawberry liqueur in tasty Spiked Strawberry Milk.

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Champagne Truffles

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Champagne Truffles Recipe
These rich, fudgy, tender Champagne Truffles are a small treat that are mind-blowingly good. Savor every bite of these goodies.
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Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich with Horseradish Sauce 

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Cat Steele
Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich with Horseradish Sauce  Recipe

We are not thinkin' Arbys-- not after a roast beef sandich like this one. A classic creamy cheese sauce makes this sandwich super rich, while a horseradish sauce adds a kick. We love the onion bun, preferably bakery-made, but you could also use a pretzel bun instead. Make this sandwich the centerpiece of your Super Bowl Spread or serve along with beer and fries for a crowd-pleasing meal.