Ina Garten’s Best Recipes for Valentine’s Day

Most people know that Ina Garten is the One True Ruler of all things cooking, but did you know that she’s also mastered the ways of love? Ina and her husband Jeffrey have cracked the code on a happy marriage, proving that love is far from dead. So if you’re stuck on what to cook your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, look no further than these romantic recipes, straight from Ina’s kitchen. With Ina in your corner, you can stop worrying so much about dinner, and simply enjoy quality time with the person you love.

This whipped cream-cheese heart, topped with a bright red raspberry sauce is Valentine’s Day in dessert form. Ina revealed that she makes this sweet (in more ways than one) dessert for her husband, Jeffrey, on romantic occasions, so you know it’ll make your valentine blush. Plus, she says you can prepare it a day ahead, and then stick in the fridge where it will stay fresh until you’re ready to serve dessert.

This juicy, tender chicken dish is a decadent comfort food, just fancy enough to impress your date. But guess what? You don’t have to be a Michelin-star French chef to pull this one off. The red wine marinade is surprisingly easy to put together — it just takes patience.

If you really want to impress your date you might want to consider making a batch of these adorable linzer cookies, which feature a cute heart cutout in the center and a raspberry jam filling. Better yet, hand them out to all your crushes, like an adult version of the valentines you gave out in elementary school.

Ina once included this dish in her Valentine’s Day menu and while it might sound like it belongs in the realm of the professional chef, this recipe is surprisingly simple. The red snapper only takes 15 minutes to bake and the mustard sauce is easy to throw together with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. With an easy recipe like this, you can focus on wooing your valentine instead of fretting over dinner.

Ina calls these cute little cream puffs the “ultimate Valentine’s Day dessert.” Though they’re a little tricky to pull off, the creamy filling topped with the rich chocolate drizzle will make it worth it. After all, Valentine’s Day is all about indulging.

We would be remiss not to include a recipe for roast chicken here, otherwise known as “engagement chicken.” So simple and satisfying is this dish that it has a reputation for bringing couples one step closer to holy matrimony. If it worked for Harry and Meghan, there’s a good chance it will work for you, too.

This dish is the perfect centerpiece for a relaxed date night at home. Simple, yet full of flavor on its own, you can elevate this pork to the next level with a roasted plum chutney topping.

Take the traditional Valentine’s Day route with this gorgeous chocolatey cake. With a crackly top and walnut-studded center, it’ll satisfy any chocolate craving without giving you a stomachache.

Here’s another variation on Ina’s famous roast chicken recipe. She loves to cook this one for Jeffrey at the end of a busy week. Don’t let this “easy” recipe fool you: Your date will think you’re a master chef after tasting the complex flavors behind these simple ingredients.

The name might evoke romantic thoughts, but the dish itself is perfect for a loved one: Not only is it a comforting cold weather dish, preparing this hearty soup is sign of the energy and effort you’re willing to expend to take care of the person you love.