Desserts that say ‘I love you’

There are many kinds of love and whatever it may be, we have come to rely on one way to express it (aside from words, that is)—through food!

This Valentine’s, turn to this delicious lineup of sweet treats when saying “I love you” to your BFF who has kept you in good company throughout the pandemic, to the front-liners who continue to provide comfort to the sick, to your parents who have been resilient the past two trying years, to your better half for keeping you sane and to yourself for just keeping strong.

Cupid’s Strawberry Chantilly Cake by Butternut Bakery

Available only until Feb. 26, Butternut’s V-day contribution is a pretty, light cake crowned with fresh berries and edible flowers. Cloaked in cream with a red blush, three layers of vanilla sponge cake are filled with house-made berry compote.

Valentine’s Ice Cream Collection by Sebastian’s

Come Valentine’s Day, Ian Carandang always makes a statement with his ice cream line. The names are the same every year but the flavors change. Year 2022’s Matinong Boyfriend is a banana ice cream with Nutella fudge ripple and banana chips. Matinong Girlfriend is a vanilla malt with pretzels and peanut butter- chocolate fudge.

Closure is honey ginger tea ice cream, inspired by wellness and self-care; and Unresolved Issues, which has always been a joke flavor, Ian says, comes as ampalaya sorbet with candied ampalaya bits.

Strawberry Shortcake by Cara Mia

Making a most welcome return in time for love month is Cara Mia’s version of the classic Strawberry Shortcake. It is made up of three components—light chiffon cake, strawberry whipped cream and fresh Baguio strawberries—designed in a such a way that you get a picture-pretty pastry.

Tea-infused macarons by TWG Tea

Available for three short days is TWG’s tea-infused macarons in beautiful boxes. There’s the Napoleon Tea and Caramel Macaron, Earl Grey Fortune and Chocolate Macaron, Noel in New York Tea and Red Velvet Macaron, and Number 12 Tea and Tiramisu Macaron.

The Auro Series by Macao Imperial Tea

Even milk teas are represented this season. Collaborating for the first time are Macao Imperial Tea and award-winning chocolate brand Auro. Three beverages highlight the rich flavor of dark chocolate. There’s an iced variety, one that comes as a hot drink, and the last marries cream cheese and dark choco.

P.S. I Love You Cake by Flour Pot Manila

While many turn to strawberries to celebrate Valentine’s, Rhea Sycip relies on seasonal wild raspberries from San Pablo, Laguna, to come up with a naked cake that deliciously combines the flavors of pistachios found in the butter cake and light meringue and tarty sampinit, which has been turned into a preserve. Another great cake from Flour Pot.

Strawberry Swiss Roll by Wildflour Café + Bakery

Wildflour’s pastry team didn’t hold back this season as they introduced a long lineup of strawberry pastries that fit the occasion. From Cronuts and cremadettes to ensaymada, cream cake and pie, strawberry is front and center in flavor and color. Of the lot, though, the Swiss roll, soft vanilla cake lined with strawberry jam and cream, and studded with chopped strawberries, seems to be the hardest to resist.

Bijou Strawberry Bouquet by The Cloude Concept

Why choose between chocolate and flowers when you can give both and even add a third element—fruits—in the mix? The Cloude Concept makes that possible by hand-dipping strawberries in Belgian chocolate, adorning them with dried fruits, dragées and gold leaf, then arranging them to look like a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Red Velvet Croissant by Masa Madre Bakehouse

A young viennoiserie brand known for its beautiful laminated doughs, Kris Edison Tan’s Masa Madre introduces a special croissant for Valentine’s. The Red Velvet Croissant has their flaky and buttery pastry pumped with a smooth chocolate ganache infused with Bailey’s Irish Cream.

Valentine’s breakfast treat from Apero Café and Bakery

They have a set meal for dinner, which includes their delicious duck leg confit, but the breakfast box kills it in the elegance and romance department, with caviar and eggs, sausage and potato waffle, mimosa and a box of pastries, including a mini pain au chocolat and their latest, the mini tomato, basil and cheese sourdough croissant.

Valentine’s bundles from Kumori

Kumori has come up with sets composed of their bestsellers. The bundles vary in baked treats and quantity, and part of the mix are their signature cheese tarts, melon pan, milky cheese roll, cheesy garlic bomb, Fuwari cheese cup and one cheesy sausage roll. INQ

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