With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start planning a perfect day for that special someone in your life. From getting all the ingredients you’ll need beforehand to setting up your kitchen for success with the right pieces of cookware, a little preparation can go a long way this Valentine’s day.
Le Creuset’s cookware is perfectly suited for tackling any recipes you might have in mind and is built to last well beyond February 14th. Whether you are looking for a multi-purpose pot like the Dutch Oven for a Valentine’s Day stew, or want to have your very own fondue night, we have you covered.
Here is our complete guide to a great Valentine’s day with your significant other, including six essential pieces of cookware and bakeware, as well as a number of delicious recipes for two.
Valentine’s Day Essentials
Here are six Valentine’s Day essentials that will not only help you prepare the perfect meal, but also make for timeless gifts. Whether your significant other is a seasoned chef or is just getting started in the kitchen, these are some of our favourite Valentine’s Day essentials.
Heart Skillet
The Heart Skillet offers all the same benefits of the versatile Iron Handle Skillet, albeit in a small, yet distinctive heart shape. From baking fluffy cornbread to getting the perfect sear on a steak, the Heart Skillet epitomizes versatility in the kitchen, helping you tackle a number of your favourite recipes and cooking techniques.
Its enamelled cast iron construction guarantees its durability for years to come, exposing ingredients to a consistent heat source for an even bake. The Heart Skillet can equally be used for stovetop cooking and for oven baking. Featuring a chip-resistant exterior enamel and a smooth sand-coloured interior, this piece of cookware is the ideal addition to any Valentine’s Day dinner for two.
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Fondue Set
Host your very own fondue night this Valentine’s Day with Le Creuset’s enamelled cast iron Fondue Set. This piece of cookware is the ultimate way to set the ambiance for a romantic evening and can help you experience a number of unique fondue recipes, including chocolate and cheese fondue.
Our Fondue Set comes equipped with four unique colour-coded fondue forks for dipping and features a durable stand that elevates above the burner. Its ergonomic, extended handle ensures you can easily transfer it from the stove to the dinner table with ease, especially when it is hot. Available in three of Le Creuset’s most iconic hues, including Flame, Blueberry, and Cerise, our Fondue Set is sure to inject some colour into your Valentine’s Day traditions.
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Shallow Heart Cocotte
No list of Valentine’s Day essentials would be complete without our latest addition, the 1 L Shallow Heart Cocotte. This piece of cookware derives its inspiration from Le Creuset’s iconic Dutch Oven design, but in a unique heart shape. As with all our enamelled cast iron cookware, the Shallow Heart Cocotte provides superior heat retention and even heat distribution.
Ideal for delivering tender final dishes and slow-cooking ingredients to perfection, the Shallow Heart Cocotte makes for an everlasting Valentine’s Day gift. A mix between a Dutch Oven and a Braiser, this piece of cookware serves a number of purposes around the kitchen. From braising to baking, the Shallow Heart Cocotte can serve up many dishes for two. Le Creuset also offers the Heart Cocotte that features higher walls and a larger capacity.
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Dutch Oven
Dubbed the original multi-purpose pot, the Dutch Oven is among the most versatile pieces of cookware available, simplifying everyday meal preparation. Featuring a self-basting cycle and a tight-fitting lid to lock in heat and moisture, this iconic piece of cookware is perfect for slow-cooking stews, simmering soups, sautéing ingredients, braising tough cuts of meat, and even baking bread.
Whether your significant other is looking to experiment with new recipes and cooking techniques, or is an experienced home chef, the Dutch Oven opens up the cooking possibilities in the kitchen. It serves a variety of additional purposes in the kitchen, making it the ideal multi-functional gift. Embodying the buy-it-once-for-life nature of Le Creuset, the Dutch Oven makes for a great addition to any cookware collection. Plus, the colourful enamel and timeless design make for a beautiful décor element for any kitchen.
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Mini Heart Pinch Bowls
Our recently-introduced limited edition Mini Heart Pinch Bowls are yet another way you can prepare the perfect Valentine’s Day spread with appropriately-themed storage and organizational tools. Our Set of Four Mini Heart Pinch Bowls can be used for mise en place, to store salt, pepper, and herbs and are also great for serving dips, sauces, and other condiments.
Built with durable stoneware, our Mini Heart Pinch Bowls are as durable as they are stylish, elevating your Valentine’s Day meal. Our Set of Mini Pinch Bowls are safe for use in the oven, freezer, microwave, broiler and dishwasher, making for a convenient addition to your kitchen collection. Our Mini Heart Pinch Bowls come packaged in an attractive gift box, perfect for gifting on Valentine’s Day.
Shop nowValentine’s Day Recipe Staples
Here are six recipes that should be featured on any Valentine’s Day menu, ranging from our decadent skillet cookie to a classic chocolate fondue.
Leek and Potato Soup
Our Leek and Potato Soup recipe is yet another way to make the most of your Heart Cocotte, providing a hearty meal for two in no time. This recipe is particularly ideal to serve on Valentine’s Day, especially with winter in full swing.
Simply begin by adding leeks, onions, cumin and caraway in your Heart Cocotte and stir until the vegetables are tender. This should take about 10 minutes on medium heat. Next, add the stock, potatoes, chives and bay leaf and let the Heart Cocotte simmer your soup to perfection. This recipe takes just under an hour from start to finish and could just be the ideal recipe to kickstart your Valentine’s Day festivities.
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Raw Oysters and Three Sauces
Our Raw Oysters and Three Sauces recipe is the perfect appetizer to kickstart your Valentine’s Day menu. Featuring three unique sauces, including a Cucumber-Horseradish Granita, a classic Mignonette Sauce and a Mango-Lime Sauce, flavour will not be lacking with this appetizer.
For this recipe, you’ll need 24 raw oysters along with a number of fresh ingredients such as Lebanese cucumbers, mint leaves, lemon juice and zest. Our Raw Oysters and Three Sauces is perfect for a lavish appetizer to enjoy with your loved one on Valentine's Day, but also makes for a great appetizer when expecting guests.
Watch our video and learn how to prepare this recipe from scratch. Serve directly out of our enamelled cast iron Braiser for an aesthetically pleasing Valentine’s Day centerpiece.
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Fig and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast with Fennel and Potatoes
Our Fig and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast is the ultimate Valentine’s Day showstopper served directly out of the Heart Cocotte. The Heart Cocotte was designed exactly for recipes like this one, creating the ideal environment for the chicken breast to absorb all the rich flavours of the surrounding ingredients.
The combination of the figs and goat cheese complements each other wonderfully, offering a sweet but tangy profile, while the potatoes ensure your dish is not lacking in heartiness. The Heart Cocotte’s tight-fitting lid locks in heat and moisture, delivering a truly tender chicken breast. This delicious recipe takes just over an hour to prepare from start to finish, providing the perfect recipe for two this Valentine’s Day.
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Chocolate Fondue
What is Valentine’s Day without a chocolate dessert to dip into? Our Cast Iron Fondue Set is an essential for prepping the most mouthwatering Chocolate Fondue for two. Each ingredient melts until silky smooth and rich, making for the perfect end to any Valentine’s Day meal.
Begin by heating the cream and vanilla until it starts to simmer before pouring over the chocolate. Once it has been stirred, mix the chocolate with a spatula until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity and the flexibility it offers, giving you the opportunity to serve your choice of ingredients for dipping. Our Chocolate Fondue recipe makes for a great dish for an intimate evening and is extremely easy to put together.
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Decadent Chocolate Banana Skillet Cookie
Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than this Chocolate Banana Skillet Cookie prepared in our 16 cm Heart Skillet. This unique piece of cookware provides the ideal shape to bake this skillet cookie in, exposing ingredients to a consistent heat source without burning them. The chocolate cardamom sauce along with caramelized banana and nuts elevates traditional cookie recipes, offering all bakers alike an opportunity to showcase their baking skills this Valentine’s Day.
This recipe can be prepared in under one hour and should be served directly out of the Heart Skillet. The recipe serves two servings of the skillet cookie, making for the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert to share with your loved one.
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Peach and Raspberry Crêpe Cake
Whether you want to impress your significant other with a delicious dessert, or are looking for a fun recipe to prepare ‘à deux’, our Peach and Raspberry Crêpe Cake is perfect for the occasion.
While this recipe requires an element of finesse, especially as it relates to skillfully spreading the batter, it is well worth it and can even become a go-to cake for any event. The peach and raspberry mascarpone injects some much-needed flavour, transforming our crêpe cake into an instant Valentine’s Day classic.
This recipe takes approximately three hours to prepare, but can serve up to eight people, providing delicious leftovers for the next day.
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Planning the perfect Valentine’s Day meal may require preparation, but is ultimately the best way to show your significant other you care. Whether it means taking some time to secure all the ingredients you’ll need to finding the perfect gift for that special someone, Le Creuset is here to help.
From the iconic Dutch Oven to our newest heart-shaped pieces, our Valentine’s Day essentials will not only help you prepare a delicious meal for a romantic evening, but also make for thoughtful gifts.
These were just some of our favourite recipes and essential pieces of cookware to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day for that special someone in your life. For more inspiration, visit our blog and begin experimenting with a range of cooking techniques and delicious recipes for two.
