This is a sponsored post by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, but all opinions are mine alone. #RedVelvetLove #CollectiveBias
Can you believe Valentine’s Day is in three weeks? I feel like we were JUST celebrating Christmas!
Although Hudson and I have Valentine’s Day plans of our own, we wanted to throw a party for our friends to let them know how much we love and appreciate them as well.
Let me take a step back. When we moved to Maryland two years ago, we literally knew NO ONE. We knew this was where God wanted us to be, but it was discouraging not having anyone (besides each other, which is a wonderful thing too) to hang out with and share life with! I may or may not have shed a few tears over the fact that I just wanted friends like I had in high school and college.
Thankfully, after four months of searching for a church that we really felt was the right place for us, we became members of one about ten minutes away. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if we hadn’t have found it! Because through that, we got connected with a lot of young adults in the area and ultimately became part of a small group.
That small group has been the backbone of our friendships these last two years. And I really can’t imagine our life without them.
So we wanted to throw a “we love you!” party this year, and had a lot of fun doing so!
This is the first time that I hosted a party at someone else’s house. One couple we are friends with has a 1-year-old, so we thought it made sense to have it at their house where she would be occupied with all her toys :) And it worked out really well!
As I’ve mentioned about other parties, one of my favorite things to do is think of all the little details – because I have found that the little details add up to a big difference! I truly believe the details are what make a party memorable.
So I tried to pull in some neutral colored decor, as well as lots of pink and red of course :)
We had my absolute favorite dessert: chocolate covered strawberries!!
And I also made a delicious heart-shaped cake with M&M’s® and other ingredients from Walmart. Here is the recipe!
Chocolate-Covered Cake with M&M’s®
Ingredients
Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup boiling water
1 bag milk chocolate M&M’s®
1 bag M&M’s® Red Velvet
Icing
1 stick butter, melted
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
The M&M’s® Red Velvet are DELICIOUS but can be hard to find, so I took a photo of the Walmart aisle where you can find them.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Stir sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda listed under cake ingredients in bowl.
3. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.
4. Beat for 2 minutes, then stir in boiling water.
5. Stir in bag of milk chocolate M&M’s®.
6. Pour batter into pan, and bake for 30-45 minutes or until done. Once done, cool completely.
7. Meanwhile, make icing by beating all ingredients together.
8. Once cake is cool, cut into the shape of a heart.
9. Frost entire cake.
10. Place Red Velvet M&M’s® on cake as you wish – outline the cake or even spell something!
The cake was a HUGE hit! Here is some of our friends enjoying it at the party. One of the guys insisted I give his wife the recipe.
Apparently we’re really serious about our cake eating…
Do you have a Valentine’s Day party planned – either for your friends or your spouse? Regardless, I hope this Valentine’s is an extra special one for you!! And if you plan to purchase M&M’s®, click here to download a coupon!
