Chocolate, Crafts & a Cozy Night In
Valentine’s Day is a nice reminder to pause and celebrate the people we love — and a Galentine’s party gives us the perfect excuse to do the same with our girlfriends. In our opinion, a celebration like this doesn’t need to be over-the-top or complicated. Keep things easy, intentional, and fun – focus on simple ideas that feel special without creating extra work.
This year, we’re centering our Galentine’s celebration around a few things everyone loves: chocolate, champagne, an easy project, and a cozy night in. It’s the kind of gathering that feels relaxed, welcoming, and doable — exactly what we want in the middle of a busy season.
Chocolate First (Always)
When planning a Galentine’s get-together, chocolate is an easy place to start. We keep it simple with a mix of chocolate truffles, chocolate-dipped fruit, and a bowl of classic chocolate kisses for grazing. Add a chilled bottle of champagne or prosecco, and you’re already most of the way there.
For an impressive but simple to prepare dessert, we rely on one of our favorite make-ahead options: molten chocolate cakes. They feel special, but they’re surprisingly easy to prepare ahead of time. Make the batter a day or two in advance and simple bake them before serving, and finish with whipped cream and raspberries. It’s a thoughtful dessert that doesn’t require a lot of last-minute effort — which is always the goal.
Easy Crafty Details That Pull It Together
We like to add a small, low-pressure crafty element to Galentine’s Day — something people can enjoy while chatting and snacking. This year, we have provided the supplies ( watercolors, watercolor paper ) to make cards, and cardstock for heart garland together. We plan our event before February 14 which enables everyone to use their cards and garland to share with others.
For décor (and gifting), we’re using hot pink Kalanchoe plants wrapped in simple burlap squares, tied with colorful ribbon, and finished with a felt heart. They’re cheerful, fun to prep ahead of time, and work double-duty as table décor until it’s time to send guests home with one.
We use the same wrapping approach for small gifts. With a few ribbons (pom-pom, striped, and gingham), felt hearts, shredded paper, and clear cellophane bags, you can package thoughtful treats without buying anything complicated. Inside, we’re including a few favorites: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment, Grace & Stella Under Eye Masks, Biodance collagen face masks, and of course, a handful of chocolate kisses. Useful, fun, and easy to assemble in advance.
A Low-Stress Menu Everyone Loves
Galentine’s Day doesn’t require a full dinner party. We keep the menu flexible and snack-friendly. A simple cheese board with blue cheese drizzled with honey, a wedge of brie, baguette slices, and strawberries is always a crowd-pleaser. Add a crisp salad if you’d like, but keep it optional — this is about enjoying the evening, not managing a schedule.
Later in the night, we like to have a hot cocoa bar ready for guests to indulge. Warm milk, cocoa mix, whipped cream, marshmallows, and chocolate shavings are all you need. It’s cozy, nostalgic, and perfect for winding down while watching a favorite rom-com.
Why We Love Celebrations Like This
For us, Valentine’s Day is really just an excuse to slow down and connect. It’s about being thoughtful without making things harder than they need to be. Simple food, easy decorations, and small gifts that feel personal go a long way.
Whether you’re celebrating friends, family, or the women who show up for you every day, keeping things simple makes the time together feel even better — and that’s always the goal.
Molten Chocolate Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips or bars, cut into bite-size chunks (we use Ghirardelli 60%Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips)
- 5 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 4 teaspoons flour
- butter or cooking spray for liners
- Garnish:
- fresh raspberries or strawberries
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Melt butter and chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water; remove from heat. Beat eggs, sugar, and salt with a hand mixer in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Beat egg mixture into chocolate until smooth. Beat in flour until just combined.
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position; preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Butter ramekin dishes or if you don't have ramekins, line standard-size muffin cups (1/2 cup capacity) with 8 extra-large muffin papers (papers should extend above cups to facilitate removal). Spray muffin papers with cooking spray. Divide batter among ramekins/cups. Place ramekins on a silicon lined cookie sheet to bake.
- Bake until batter puffs, but the center is not fully set, 8 to 10 minutes depending on the size of . Take the cakes out when still loose or "jiggly" in the center. (If using muffin tins, carefully lift cakes by the paper from the tin and set on a work surface. Pull papers away from cakes and transfer cakes to dessert plates.
- Top each cake with powdered sugar or a dollop of fresh whipped cream and raspberries or strawberries. Serve immediately.
- Note: Batter can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to use. Return to room temperature an hour or so before baking.



