On Valentine’s Day, many enjoyed sweets in the company of loved ones. Though the day of love may be over, it’s never a bad idea to strengthen your relationship with your roommate(s) for year-round amity. There is no better way to do so than by savouring some baked creations together. Here are two decadent recipes that will be a delight for you and your roommates to make, even in the tiniest of kitchens.

Lemon Almond Pan-Tart

This delicate dish is one of the easiest you’ll ever whip up. The best part? It takes less than 30 minutes, so you can prepare this in between studying as a well-deserved treat. 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup ground almonds
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
• 4  eggs
• 2 lemons
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup sliced almonds
• Powdered sugar

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Zest and juice both lemons. Chop almonds, then grind in a blender. Then combine your ground almonds, sugar, salt, heavy cream, sliced almonds, eggs, and lemon zest and juice into a bowl. Mix together.

2. Take a 6-8 inch ovenproof skillet and melt the butter over low heat. Once the butter is fully melted, pour the batter into the pan and cook over low heat until the edges set.  

3. Place the pan into the oven for about 10-15 minutes. Once it’s finished cooking, turn the broiler on high for about a minute to give the top of the tart a nice golden brown colour. 

4. Take the tart out of the oven and, once cooled, garnish with some powdered sugar and sliced almonds on top.

Tip: For the ultimate richness, try serving the tart with a chocolate almond spread on top and let it sit overnight for maximum flavour.

The Best Blonde Brownies

As a kid, blonde brownies were my favourite summer vacation treat. The edges are crispy, while the centre is chewy and soft. The secret is simple: Dark chocolate and a small baking dish. The dark chocolate chips create a more complex, deeper flavour than milk chocolate chips. This batch lasted about two days in the apartment, and I’m guessing they will go just as fast in yours.

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 sticks of butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to a bowl and mix. Then beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in an electric mixing bowl. 

2. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk together. Slowly pour the eggs into the mixture in four parts, beating gently after each addition. Once fully mixed, slowly fold in the flour mixture. 

3. When a wet dough is formed, add the chocolate chips and mix by hand. Equally divide the mixture into two greased 8×8 pans. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown on the top. Then allow to cool for the crisp and gooey textures to fully form.

Tip: You can serve these blondies with some vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce to take the dish to the next level. Feel free also to play around with the recipe; if you don’t like dark chocolate, use milk chocolate chips. You can even try adding some walnuts for a crunchy texture in the middle.