8 Valentine’s Day Appetizers and Savory Snacks

story by KEVIN NGUYEN • photos by GRUBBANA STUDIOS / AMAZON

Though anyone with a sweet tooth would argue otherwise, no candy is necessary to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Recipes for this holiday tend to lean hard on red and pink colors, chocolate, sprinkles, and an eye-popping amount of sugar, but for those of us who prefer salty and savory over sweet, these snacks and appetizers are here to save the day.

They’re perfect for a Valentine’s Day party where you don’t want guests to overload on red velvet cupcakes—or just as a fun, festive lunch or snack for kids, friends, and loved ones.

• Baked Pepperoni Roses (Read More↓)
• Cheese Quesadilla Hearts (Read More↓)
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Mini Bagels (Read More↓)
• Pink and Red Beet Pasta Salad (Read More↓)
• Sweetheart Toast Trio (Read More↓)
• French Fry Hearts (Read More↓)
• Heart-Shaped Tea Sandwiches (Read More↓)
• Mini Pizzas With Pepperoni Hearts (Read More↓)

Related: 7 Galentine’s Day Brunch Ideas That Go Beyond Pink Desserts

1. Baked Pepperoni Roses

Use a muffin tin to turn pepperoni and crescent dough into a dozen edible roses. It’s almost too pretty to eat—almost.

@stephgigliotti28

🌹🍕 Pepperoni Roses 🍕🌹 Because snacks can be romantic too. Unroll crescent dough and pinch the seams together into one rectangle. Cut into long strips. Sprinkle mozzarella down the center, then overlap pepperoni slices along one edge (let them hang over a bit for that rose look). Roll up tightly, place into a greased muffin tin, sprinkle with Italian seasoning, and bake at 375°F for 12–15 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve warm with marinara for dipping and watch them disappear faster than flowers ever do. 💐➡️🍕 Perfect for parties, game day, Valentine’s Day, or anytime you want to impress with minimal effort. #PepperoniRoses #CrescentRollHacks #EasyAppetizers #PartyFoodIdeas #PizzaSnacks

♬ original sound – Steph Gigliotti

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2. Cheese Quesadilla Hearts

A recipe that will pull at your heart strings—or more accurately, cheese strings—a quesadilla can easily be turned into a Valentine’s Day treat with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

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3. Strawberry Cream Cheese Mini Bagels

Breakfast in bed anyone? Go the extra mile and make these homemade heart shaped bagels. For a delightful pop of pink, add a schmear of strawberry cream cheese.

Related: 7 Galentine’s Day Brunch Ideas That Go Beyond Pink Desserts

@isabellskitchenary

Make these protein heart-shaped bagels for a perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast 🥯💐💝❤️ Ingredients: 500g yogurt 350g flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1.5 tsp salt 1 egg sesame or other seasoning of choice #bagels #proteinbagel #heartshapedbagel #baking #recipe #cooking #baketok #asmr #bakingtherapy

♬ Real Love Baby – Father John Misty

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4. Pink and Red Beet Pasta Salad

No food coloring necessary for this pasta salad, made pink with beets and radishes. Customize it to your liking with other pink and red mix-ins like grape tomatoes or red onions, or use heart-shaped pasta.

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5. Sweetheart Toast Trio

Bruschetta, avocado toast, and lox may be tasty on their own, but something about putting them on a piece of heart-shaped toasts makes them taste even better. Use a cookie cutter with a slice of regular sandwich bread, or bake your own in a heart-shaped bread pan.

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6. French Fry Hearts

If you’re only using your cookie cutters for their intended purpose, well, you’re missing out on these French fry hearts. Slice a raw potato into rounds, then press a mini heart-shaped cookie cutter into each slice to make this homemade Valentine’s Day treat.

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7. Heart-Shaped Tea Sandwiches

You can turn any sandwich—grilled cheese, PB&J, or even these little cucumber tea sandwiches—into a Valentine’s Day snack or appetizer. Just make sure you have a heart-shaped cookie cutter handy.

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8. Mini Pizzas With Pepperoni Hearts

A cookie decorating party is always fun, but if savory beats sweet for you, pizza decorating might be more your speed. Making heart-shaped pepperoni is easy—just grab a small cookie cutter or a pair of scissors and you’re good to go.