Every four years, a certain mystique accompanies the 29th of February. Leap day inspires some to do things they might not otherwise do—especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
Coined “Bachelor’s Day” in Ireland, Leap Day maintains an antiquated custom with good intentions: Women are “permitted” to ask their partners to marry them. Better yet, it is considered bad form for the would-be spouses to refuse the proposal without first proffering a parting gift (in past times, a pair of gloves or a silk gown).
Hey, we have a soft spot for any holiday celebrating love, so if Leap Day involves popping Champagne bottles, a trip to Ireland or getting heart-shaped treats, we’re fans. (Why does Valentine’s Day have to be only once a year, anyways? Bring us a heart-shaped pizza and we’ll love you for life.)
With that in mind, here are a few swoon-worthy treats, including a bunch of our Valentine’s Day deliciousness on sale—though your chosen one doesn’t need to know that!
If your beloved is the sort to swoon for panna cotta, puddings, lemon meringue pies, and the like, you’ve likely got a custard-lover on your hands. Serve them this. It’s an old-fashioned custard pie made decidedly modern thanks to a gloriously adorable heart-shaped pie pan (on-sale!) A fresh fruit garnish makes it just the cutest.
Only the stoniest hearts could resist this cake. Just look at it! It’s red velvet cake, because of course it is, tucked into the most incredible Bundt pan we think we’ve ever seen. A flurry of tiny heart candies on top are better than icing.
Bestill our raspberry-topped hearts: These berries sit atop a lemon curd boasting almost a full cup of lemon juice and zest. Talk about a way to beat the winter chills. This tart is a dream.
Amped to bake your own favorite recipe? We have all the heart-shaped bakeware you could desire. Don’t have time? We get it. You have a ring to buy, or not, and a proposal to refine. Here are some pre-made beauties we love just as much:
Perhaps these go into the bag with the ring, my dear? Eh? Eh? Sometimes it’s best to keep it simple. These vanilla-sugar cookies are coated with royal icing and sweet sentiments.
Hey, no one needs to know you snapped up these 12 glorious vanilla sugar cookies on sale. We won’t tell if you don’t!
Now get on out there and be in love.
