Is there a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with chocolate? Obviously not, which is why you should take the valentine days weekend as an opportunity to test out your own cooking skills. Below are two decadent chocolate recipes, one vegan and one not.

Chocolate lava cake is a romantic evening classic. It is also one of the easiest, quickest recipes to make. Rumored to be discovered in 1987 by Jean-Georges Vongerichten in New York City, molten chocolate lava cake is the perfect recipe to make either for a loved one, friends, or yourself.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

Start to finish: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate

2 ounces of semisweet chocolate

10 tablespoons of butter

½ cup of all purpose flour

1 ½ cups of powdered sugar

3 large egg yolks

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Powdered sugar and berries for garnish

Preheat oven to 425 F.

Either using a double boiler or a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butter together until smooth. (Hint: If using a microwave make sure to melt in one minute increments otherwise chocolate might burn.)

Add flour and sugar to melted chocolate and stir until no flour is visible.

Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth and homogenized.

Grease and flour four 6-ounce oven safe bowls, cups or large cupcake pan. Evenly scoop batter into prepared pan and bake for 14 minutes.

When done, run a knife around the edge of each cake and invert onto a dessert plate. Garnish with powdered sugar and berries, serve immediately.

(Recipe from Paula Deen)

However, not everyone is looking for a decadent Valentine’s Day treat this year. Chocolate avocado mousse is the desert for vegans, health nuts, avocado lovers or even chocolate lovers who want to try something a little lighter. A dessert with avocado seems like it’s only for the daring, but mix it with honey, chocolate and vanilla and you have the easiest, and possibly healthiest, Valentine’s Day treat you could make.

CHOCOLATE AVOCADO MOUSSE

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Servings: 2-3

1 large ripe avocado

¼ cup of almond or coconut milk

¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

4 tablespoons of honey or agave

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Chopped chocolate and berries for garnish

Scoop out and puree the avocado in the bowl of a food processor until smooth.

In a separate bowl or jar, mix together the milk and cocoa powder until homogenized.

Add chocolate mixture, honey, vanilla and coconut oil to the food processor and process until mixed.

Serve desired amount in bowls and top with chocolate shaving, raspberries and a pat on the back since you just made a beautiful valentine’s day dessert in under 20 minutes.

(Recipe from Chalkboard Magazine)