Valentine Treats with M&Ms

Each year I look forward to new holiday themed bags of M&Ms. No other bag has a better mix of colors than the Valentine's M&M's mix. The red, pinks and white colors are lovely and festive for Valentines fun. They can be used for adding bits of chocolate to all sorts of holiday treats and also fun decorations.

Before I share my personal list of the very best uses of Valentine's M&M's in treats, I wanted to share some simple designs that can be used on cakes or some of those huge cookies you see in bakery windows (you can make your own! - see the pan listed below).

I can (and do!) spend hours with holiday themed bags of M&Ms designing and arranging them to see which holiday symbols work will with these colorful bits of chocolate. Above I have spelled out the word "LOVE" by stacking the letters. Just so you know, in these photos I've practiced on a cake dummy (fake cake) for design purposes. Adding M&M's to wet icing can be tricky, so plan carefully. If you have a cake that already has a nice Valentines design, you can add just the border or even some M&M's to the sides of the cake in small shapes like four pieces in a diamond shape for example.

Unlike other holidays, Valentine's Day has few symbols. Even so, the heart is a wonderful, easily reconizable symbol that's fairly easy to make. And what says love at Valentine's Day more than a heart?

I've been out looking all over the web for ideas using my favorite Valentine's Mix of M&M's. I've found lots and lots of bakers (who thankfully blog too!) using them in all sorts of wonderful treats and I'm listing them all here in one place. There are cupcakes, cookies, cakes, brownies, and pretzel treats all decorated with red, pink and white M and M's. Here's a nice list of ideas for families and Valentine's parties.