Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

Candy and sweets are found in abundance in stores during the week of Valentine’s Day. As an alternative to buying something sweet, try making something homemade for someone significant, a meaningful group of people or yourself.

HOMEMADE VALENTINE’S CHOCOLATES

Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes

½ pound high-quality dark chocolate, chopped

⅛ teaspoon ground dried chipotle pepper

1 pinch salt

½ cup heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, or as needed

Place chocolate into a bowl; add chipotle pepper and salt.

Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until it comes to a boil. Pour cream over chocolate and let stand for three minutes.

Stir gently until chocolate mixture is completely smooth. Pour chocolate mixture out onto a sheet of plastic wrap on a work surface. Pick up one edge of the plastic and roll the chocolate into a rough log shape. Continue to roll, wrapping chocolate in the plastic. Refrigerate until chilled and firm, 30 minutes to one hour.

Place cocoa into a small bowl. Unwrap chocolate and cut in half crosswise; cut each half into halves lengthwise. Roughly cut candy into ½-inch square ‘stones.’ Place the chocolate pieces into the cocoa and toss gently to coat.

Recipe from allrecipes.com.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall