Who doesn’t love a special treat on Valentine’s Day?  This special treat is delicious and all of the components can be made ahead.  This is perfect for when you have time over the weekend to make your treats, but since Valentine’s Day falls on a weeknight, you probably don’t have time to make something best consumed within a day of making it.  If you want, have the whole family assemble their own creations for a fun Valentine’s Day Project!

Ingredients:

For the Ice Cream – 

1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries, thawed and juices reserved

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 vanilla bean

1 cup granulated sugar, divided

pinch of salt

Step 1:  Place the strawberries, 1/4 cup of sugar and lemon juice in a food processor and pulse until slightly chunky (you can pulse until smooth if you prefer your strawberry ice cream to not have chunks of strawberries in it).  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Step 2:  In a medium sauce pan, add heavy cream and remaining 3/4 cup of sugar.  Taking care not to bring the cream to a boil, heat the heavy cream and sugar over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat.

Step 3:  Stir the milk and pinch of salt into the cream mixture.

Step 4:  Slice the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the cream mixture.  Discard the pod.

Step 5:  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours to chill the mixture.

Step 6:  Combine the Cream Mixture and Strawberry Mixture and add it to your ice cream maker according to manufacturers directions.

Step 7:  Once frozen, transfer ice cream to a freezer safe container and freeze overnight or until ready to use.

For the Chocolate Hearts:

10 oz Semisweet Chocolate Chips

2 – 3 Tbsp Heavy Cream

1 vanilla bean

1 1/2 tsp strawberry juice reserved from the thawed frozen strawberries

Step 1:  Add Chocolate Chips and 2 Tbsp heavy cream, to a medium glass bowl or double boiler pan.  Add about 1” of water to a medium sauce pan.  Bring water to a low simmer.  Place the glass bowl on top.

Step 2:  Stir chocolate chips and cream constantly constantly until just melted.  Remove from heat.

Step 3:  Slice the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the melted chocolate mixture.  Discard the pod.

Step 4:  Add 1 1/2 tsp strawberry juice from the thawed strawberries and stir until just combined.  NOTE:  If chocolate gets extra thick, reheat over the double boiler and add 1 extra Tbsp heavy cream.  Stir until just combined.

Step 5:  Place silicone heart shaped mold on a cookie sheet (to provide stability).  Fill each mold about 1/2” thick with the chocolate mixture.  NOTE:  The mold I used made 11 hearts.  Depending on your mold it may make more or less. Place in refrigerator until cooled and set (about 1 hour). 

Step 6:  Remove chocolates from mold.  Place chocolates in an airtight container until ready to use.  

For the Strawberry Sauce:

1 12 oz bag frozen strawberries

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

Step 1:  Place frozen strawberries and sugar into a sauce pan.  Place over medium heat.  Stir frequently until completely defrosted.  

Step 2:  Once mixture starts to boil, lower heat and gently simmer, stirring constantly, until slightly thick – about 8 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Step 3:  Stir in lemon juice.

Step 4:  Transfer mixture to an air tight container. Let mixture cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to use, up to 1 week.

To Assemble:

Place 2 scoops of strawberry ice cream into a bowl.  Drizzle with strawberry sauce.  Place 1 chocolate heart on top.  

Enjoy with your Valentines!

If you enjoyed this treat, let us know in the comments below!