A romantic home-cooking date can be more fun and tantalising than dining out.

Nothing says ‘I love you’, like getting your hands dirty and cooking up a devilish and delicious dessert for your better half.

A romantic home-cooking date can be more fun and tantalising than dining out in restaurants that serve every dish in a heart shape.

Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, or any other special occassion, be creative with how you express affection for your loved ones. It’s even perfect for someone you secretly admire and want to impress!

So if you fancy putting on your chef’s hat, DESIblitz is here to help with some simple and sexy dessert recipes.

Dreamy Dark Chocolate Mousse

You can never go wrong with a mouth-watering chocolate pudding. This divine dessert is not only classic, but it is so easy to make and takes hardly any time at all!

If your other half is a chocolate fiend, then this mousse will be perfect for them.

Ingredients:

200ml/7 fl oz dark chocolate

2 tbsp butter

1 cup whipping cream

3 large egg whites

1 pinch of salt

3 tbsp sugar

Chocolate curls

Method:

Melt the chocolate and butter in a metal bowl over a pot of barely simmering water. Stir until melted. Remove from hob to cool at room temperature. Whip the cream (add brandy if you fancy making it even more indulgent) and leave to chill. Whip the egg whites with salt, slowly adding sugar. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate, then fold in the egg whites. Pour into the dessert dishes and chill for about 3 hours to set. Top with chocolate gratings and a cheeky cherry, and you have a simple but scrumptious mousse.

Luscious Lemon Cheesecake

This lip-smacking sweet treat is a gorgeous contrast of smooth cream cheese and a crumbly digestive base.

With a delicious zesty flavour for added zing, this after-dinner delight makes for an excellent Valentine’s pud.

It serves 6 people so be sure to make room for seconds!

Ingredients:

200g digestive biscuits

60g butter

1 lemon

300g medium fat cream cheese

75g caster sugar

150ml double cream

Methods:

Crush biscuits into crumbs with a rolling pin. Melt the butter in a pan on a low temperature. Remove the pan from the hob and add the biscuit crumbs to the melted butter. Stir until completely mixed. Tip the mixture into a cake tin and chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes. Grate the lemon’s zest, then halve it and squeeze the juice out. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a bowl until mixed, then whisk in the double cream. Pour in the lemon juice and zest, and whisk until creamy. Remove biscuit base from the fridge once completely chilled. Pour the cream cheese on top, spreading evenly. Return the cake to the fridge for a few hours, then serve with a smile!

Charming Chocolate Fondants

Treat your significant other to a rich, indulgent chocolate fondant with a mesmerising melting middle.

These individual pots of hot chocolate bliss will surely impress and delight in equal measure.

Ingredients:

25g butter

1 tsp cocoa powder

25g dark chocolate

1 egg and 1 egg yolk

30g caster sugar

25g plain flour

Crème fraîche, vanilla ice cream or custard

Method:

Heat the oven to 160°C/325°F/gas mark 3. Butter two small baking dishes and pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden the butter slightly. Re-butter them and sprinkle generously with cocoa powder and return to the fridge. Melt the chocolate and butter in a small bowl set over a pan of hot water, removing from the heat to allow it to cool whilst stirring. Whisk the egg, egg yolk and sugar until thick. Add the chocolate mixture and flour. Divide evenly into the dishes and bake for 12 minutes, then use a knife to carve out the fondants onto warmed plates. Serve hot with a dollop of crème fraîche, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or lashings of custard.

Enticing Eton Mess

This creamy and fruity fusion makes for the perfect evening indulgence as it is light, dreamy and easy to whip up.

The blend of succulent strawberries layered over crushed meringue and whipped cream will allow your partner to slip into a sweet and sugary state of bliss.

Ingredients:

300ml whipping cream

1 tbsp sugar

100g meringue

450g strawberries

1 tbsp icing sugar

Method:

Place the whipping cream in a large bowl. Add the sugar and whisk softly until fluffy. Crumble large pieces of meringue and stir gently into the cream. Take half the strawberries, place them into another bowl and squash them slightly to release a light juice. Stir the strawberries gently into the cream. Cut the remaining fruit into quarters. Place the mixture into a serving dish and top with strawberry pieces, leaving the dessert to chill for 30 minutes in the fridge. Sprinkle with icing sugar to finish.

Cheeky Caramel Fudge Sundae

Whether you are sharing or indulging separately, this splendid sundae can be adjusted to suit individual tastes.

Customise with chocolate coated peanuts, sultanas or cherries.

Ingredients:

190ml caramel sauce

½ cup thick cream

3 scoops vanilla ice cream per dessert

2 bananas

Fudge cubes

Chocolate curls

Whipped cream

Method:

Place caramel and cream in a saucepan over medium to low heat. Whisk until smooth, reducing heat to low. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Layer ice-cream scoops with drizzles of caramel sauce, slices of banana and fudge cubes in a serving glass and top with whipped cream.

Whether you are single and fabulous, or happily partnered up, try whipping up one of these dreamy desserts to sink your teeth and heart into!