Nothing says “I love you” more than these pastries, which our featured chefs and home bakers have thoughtfully crafted in time for the love month.

 

Black Forest Cake

When Camille Ocampo of The Pastry Cart craved for Black Forest Cake, she discovered that it was more convenient to just bake the cake herself than to look for one to order. It ended up working to her favor as she tailored it to her liking. Her version of the classic pastry uses fresh cherries, not the bright red bottled maraschino kind, and has a more potent but not overpowering kirsch flavor. The Pastry Cart, tel. 0916-7457729

 

Double Decker Chocolate Tart

There are cute Valentine’s sugar cookies for sale at Nono’s for the whole month of February. But if you want to impress your loved one, go for Baba Ibazeta-Benedicto’s Double Decker Chocolate Tart, which is available for a limited time only. It’s two layers of smooth chocolate mousse—one dark, one white—sitting on a bed of Oreo cookie crust. Nono’s, www.nonos.ph

 

Red Velvet Dream Cake

Pastry chef Marvin Bagube has made thousands of dream cakes to date, thanks to the cake-in-a-can trend. His brand, Le Sucre Lab, has even evolved from being home-based to having standalone stalls in malls. For Valentine’s, he has released a six-layer winner, composed of a rich velvet cake base, cream cheese frosting, vanilla goo, white chocolate disk, cream cheese mousse, red velvet crumbs and an edible chocolate medallion. Le Sucre Lab, tel. 0926-0510892

 

Berry White Cookie

Liz Uy of Mood Bake didn’t want to make a red velvet cookie for Valentine’s. It’s just too predictable. Instead, she turns to berries for that red hue that fits and celebrates the season. It’s a strawberry cookie that’s studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate. She didn’t stop there. Since it’s her birthday month as well, she released a celebratory cookie with rainbow sprinkles, marshmallows and white chocolate. Why choose when you can enjoy both? Mood Bake, www.moodbake.com

 

Raspberry and Chocolate Financiers

Queso de Bola Sans Rival, Apple Crumble Cheesecake, Oreo-stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies—these are some of the sinful items that Sunshine Puey has under her Gourmandise line. In time for February, she adds the Raspberry and Chocolate Financiers. “I love anything with brown butter, so this is one of my favorites,” she says. “Plus, it uses almond flour so it’s low in gluten and stays super moist even after a couple of days.” Gourmandise by Sunshine, tel. 0917-8832432

 

Cupid’s Chocolate Cake

For Valentine’s, Scout’s Honor offers flavored heart-shaped cookies: matcha sesame, s’mores and thin mints. There’s also Cupid’s Chocolate Cake at The Workshop where chef Sonny Mariano has layered moist chocolate cake with fresh strawberries and brazo de Mercedes filling. He finishes and frosts the pastry with vanilla Chantilly cream. The Workshop at the Grid, tel 0917-7005346

 

Rum Strawberry Cake

After a brief hiatus, Flour Pot by Rhea Castro Sycip is back to making her beloved rum cakes. What makes her version unique is the use of egg yolks and small-batch butter from Cavite and Bukidnon, resulting in a cake that’s rich, dense and golden in color. For Valentine’s, the heart-shaped Rum Strawberry Cake has a generous serving of fresh strawberries in the center. Flour Pot, tel. 0917-7892352

 

Red Velvet Ombre Cake

Cupcakes by Sonja is sending out bouquets this Valentine’s—not the flower kind but their signature cupcakes dressed as roses. The buttercream is piped like petals, comes in shades of red, cream and peach, and is rose vanilla in flavor. As an equally lovely cake alternative, there’s the Red Velvet Ombre, a four-inch rustic cake composed of the famous red velvet cake slathered with vanilla buttercream, and crowned with a pink rose frosting. Cakeshop by Sonja, tel. 0917-5353451 —CONTRIBUTED