20 Fun Family Valentine’s Day Recipe Ideas (+ 10 Top Movie Picks)

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Here are some fun Valentine’s Day recipe ideas for you to make with your kids. I have also included some popular movies to watch while you snack on the treats.

This post covers ideas for easy, love-filled recipes, whether you have little ones or teens. Food is my love language, and I love turning a meal into an activity with my kids. Keep reading to learn how you can do the same.

Valentine’s Day Recipe Ideas: What To Make With Little Kids

These are some easy, super cute, savory, sweet snacks and meals to make with your little ones.

1. Heart-shaped sandwiches: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into cute shapes. Let the kids pick their favorite fillings, such as cheese, ham, or peanut butter and jelly. They can assemble their sandwiches and decorate them with edible markers.
2. Fruit kabobs: Lay out a variety of colorful fruits, like strawberries, grapes, and melon balls. Help the kids thread the fruits onto skewers to create pretty fruit kabobs. Serve with a side of yogurt (I mix in a bit of maple syrup) or chocolate sauce for dipping. A little safety note: Make sure you cut the sharp ends of the skewers off, especially if you have tiny children. 
3. Valentine’s Day pizza: Prepare mini pizza crusts or use English muffins (so easy) as a base. Let the kids spread pizza sauce and sprinkle cheese on top. Offer heart-shaped toppings like pepperoni or veggies. Bake until the cheese is golden brown and delicious.
4. Chocolate-dipped pretzels: Melt chocolate chips in the microwave and stir until smooth. Give the kids pretzel rods to dip into the melted chocolate. Before the chocolate sets, allow them to sprinkle on fun toppings like crushed nuts, sprinkles, or candies.
5. Strawberry chocolate fondue: Heat chocolate chips and a bit of cream in a microwave-safe bowl until melted and smooth. Have a few washed and dried strawberries ready for dipping. Let the kids dip the strawberries into the chocolate fondue and enjoy!
6. Valentine’s Day pancakes: Whip up a batch of pancake batter and add red food coloring to make pink pancakes. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters for these! Let the kids decorate their pancakes with whipped cream, berries, and chocolate chips.
7. Rice Krispie treats: Make a batch of classic Rice Krispie treats using pink marshmallows and cereal. Press the mixture into a pan. Let the kids decorate the treats with icing and sprinkles.
8. Lovebug fruit cups: Fill small cups with assorted fruits like grapes, berries, and pineapple chunks. Provide the kids with googly eyes and pipe cleaners to create love bug faces on the cups. They can use pipe cleaners to make antennas.
9. Valentine’s Day trail mix: Set out a variety of ingredients such as pretzels, dried fruit, chocolate chips, and cereal. Let the kids combine their favorite ingredients in red or pink cups to create their personalized Valentine’s Day trail mix.
10. Animal-shaped cookies: Bake a batch of sugar cookies and provide animal-shaped cookie cutters. I have a variety of animal-shaped cookie cutters so my kids can choose their favorite animal. Let the kids cut out the cookies and decorate them with icing and sprinkles. 

Scroll down to see my 5 go-to Valentine’s Day movies to watch with little kids. I know the feeling when you’re wracking your brain to think of classic movies to watch – I hope this list helps!

Valentine’s Day Recipe Ideas: What To Make With Teens

1. Chocolate-covered strawberries: These are always SUCH a hit. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave. Then, dip fresh strawberries into the melted chocolate. Cool them before eating – this way the chocolate will get hard.
2. Red velvet cupcakes: Use a box mix to make red velvet cupcakes. Let the teens get creative with homemade cream cheese frosting and heart-shaped sprinkles for decoration. You’re never too “grown up” to decorate a cupcake, right?
3. Heart-shaped pizzas: Make pizza dough or use pre-made dough to shape into heart shapes. Let the teens add their favorite toppings like pepperoni, cheese, and veggies. Bake until the crust is golden brown.
4. Valentine’s Day parfaits: Layer yogurt, granola, and fresh berries in clear glasses to create colorful parfaits. Let the teens drizzle honey or chocolate sauce between the layers for sweetness.
5. Chocolate fondue: Melt chocolate chips with cream in a fondue pot or microwave-safe bowl. Serve with an assortment of dippable items, like marshmallows, pretzels, strawberries, and bananas.
6. Heart-shaped quesadillas: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut tortillas into heart shapes. Fill them with cheese and other favorite fillings like chicken or veggies. Cook them in a skillet until golden and crispy.
7. Valentine’s Day smoothies: Blend frozen berries, bananas, yogurt, and a splash of milk to create delicious smoothies. Serve them in glasses garnished with heart-shaped fruit slices. Add ice cream to the mix if you’d prefer to call them “milkshakes”!
8. Love potion mocktails: Mix cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and a splash of sparkling water to create a fizzy love potion mocktail. Garnish with fresh fruit skewers or umbrella picks for a festive touch. Adding a small ball of candy floss and a little edible glitter before serving is extra special.
9. Savory waffles: Make savory waffles for dinner. Use your standard waffle batter, but do not add sugar. Add cheese, herbs, and a little spice, and top your waffles with salsa! Your teens will love waffles for dinner.
10. DIY sushi:  Eek, teens LOVE making sushi. To keep your sushi station budget-friendly, use all vegetarian ingredients. Serve them with pink chopsticks and loads of pink pickled ginger to keep in the theme!

Valentine’s Day Movies To Watch With Kids and Teens

Here are five movies suitable for little kids and 5 movies appropriate for teens to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. The affiliate links below are used to help support this blog. We only recommend movies my kids and I have actually seen and enjoyed.

For little kids:

1. Lady and the Tramp (1955): This classic Disney film is all about the romantic tale of Lady, a pampered Cocker Spaniel, and Tramp, a charming stray dog, who share spaghetti and meatballs in one of cinema’s most iconic scenes.
2. Beauty and the Beast (1991): This animated fairy tale follows Belle, a young lady who falls in love with the Beast. It’s a beautiful story about love and acceptance.
3. The Princess and the Frog (2009): This Disney animated film follows Tiana, a hardworking waitress in New Orleans who wants to open her own restaurant  and Prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog by a witch. It’s a sweet story with a lot of heart. 
4. Shrek (2001): This animated comedy follows the unlikely love story between Shrek, an ogre who just wants to be left alone, and Princess Fiona, who isn’t exactly your typical princess. It’s funny, heart-warming, and perfect for kids.
5. Enchanted (2007): In this live-action/animated hybrid film, a fairy tale princess named Giselle is transported to modern-day New York City, where she learns about true love and finds her own happily ever after.

For Teens:

1. The Fault in Our Stars (2014): Based on the bestselling novel by John Green, this romantic drama follows Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two teenagers who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt story that will tug at your heartstrings.
2. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999): A modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” this teen comedy follows the romantic entanglements of a group of high school students. It’s witty, charming, and full of memorable moments.
3. The Princess Diaries (2001): This teen comedy follows Mia Thermopolis, a shy teenager who discovers that she’s the heir to the throne of Genovia, a small, fictional European country.
4. While You Were Sleeping (1995): After rescuing a handsome stranger, Lucy finds herself mistaken for his fiancée when he slips into a coma. She becomes intertwined with his warm-hearted family, including his charming brother, Jack, and navigates a whirlwind of misunderstandings and unexpected romance.
5. Sweet Home Alabama (2002): Fashion designer Melanie seems to have everything in New York City, including the perfect boyfriend. However, her past catches up with her when she returns to her small hometown in Alabama to finalize a divorce from her childhood sweetheart, Jake.

From indulging in treats to cozying up with a heartfelt movie, Valentine’s Day offers countless ways to spread love and kindness, reminding us that love is truly the most beautiful gift.

You May Also Like

• For even more Valentine’s Day fun, try a few of these easy craft ideas for kids of all ages.
• If you need a sweet and unique idea for an Easter dessert, try this cupcake cake in the shape of a cross.

Do You Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Kids?

Please comment below IF you celebrate this sweet holiday and the fun things you do with your kids.