The 15 best recipes to bake in February
Nothing says love like baked goods.
Date
February 2, 2026
It may be the shortest month of the year, but there are plenty of reasons to bake in February. Whether you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day dessert that will make your loved one swoon, planning to make something for the Super Bowl, or just want a recipe for a cozy night in, we have something for every occasion this month.
1) Small-Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
Craving cupcakes, but don’t have eggs, butter, or the desire for a full dozen? With some pantry staples and an hour (give or take), you can have four glorious, frosted cupcakes ready for a small-batch celebration — perfect for date night in on Valentine’s Day.
Get the recipe: Small-Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
To make this recipe, you'll need: 2 Tablespoon Scoop
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Bake Sale Fudge Cupcakes, Small-Batch Brownies
2) Rhode Island Pizza Strip
This beloved regional style of pizza eschews the cheese. It’s topped, instead, with a garlicky tomato sauce that concentrates and sweetens as the pizza bakes, offering a jammy contrast to this crisp-crusted pie. Never tried this style before? Join baker Martin Philip on a field trip and learn how to make it at home in this video.
Get the recipe: Rhode Island Pizza Strip
To make this recipe, you'll need: Grandma-Style Pizza Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Flaky Puff Crust Pizza, Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza
3) Mini Cheesecakes
The hardest part about this recipe is letting these creamy, customizable mini cheesecakes chill after removing them from the oven — at least three hours. Unlike other cheesecake recipes, you can skip the water bath and bake them in the muffin pan you have on hand. The rest, as they say, is a piece of (mini) cake.
Get the recipe: Mini Cheesecakes
To make this recipe, you'll need: King Arthur Standard Muffin Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy Cheesecake, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars
4) Semolina Pasta
If you’ve got a food processor and pasta machine, put them to work and see how easy it is to go from five ingredients to a bowl of fresh pasta. But for those who don’t have a pasta machine and prefer using a bit of elbow grease instead, you can get the same results using our equipment-free pasta shaping techniques.
Get the recipe: Semolina Pasta
To make this recipe, you'll need: Semolina Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Fresh Herb Pasta, Eggless Pasta Dough
5) Fudgy Chocolate Date Cake
Dates elevate this decadent chocolate cake by adding a caramelly sweetness and fudgy texture. Serve wedges of this cake with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and salted date butterscotch sauce for a truly unforgettable “date” night dessert.
Get the recipe: Fudgy Chocolate Date Cake
To make this recipe, you'll need: 8" Round Cake Pan, Fluted Tart Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Flourless Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Mousse Cake with Raspberries
6) Dutch Crunch Rolls
Dutch crunch bread gets its name from its origin in the Netherlands, while its nickname, “Tiger Bread,” refers to the mottled, crispy exterior that acts as a stark contrast to its soft inner crumb. Learn how to make this popular Bay Area staple by following this step-by-step video, then whip up a batch for game day sandwiches.
Get the recipe: Dutch Crunch Rolls
To make this recipe, you'll need: Bread Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Italian Sub Rolls, No-Knead Chewy Sandwich Rolls
7) Ultimate Flaky Biscuits
Test the limits of how high a biscuit can rise by making these lofty beauties. A combination of grated butter, sour cream, and ice-cold water, plus a special stacking technique, ensures the flakiest sky-high biscuits.
Get the recipe: Ultimate Flaky Biscuits
To make this recipe, you'll need: Self-Rising Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy Self-Rising Biscuits, Light and Fluffy Biscuits
8) Quick Pots de Crème
These pots de crème are the definition of easy decadence. Because these are made on the stovetop and poured into individual containers to cool, you can serve in ramekins, jars, or glassware just waiting to make it onto the table. With only four steps before chilling, you’ll master this mousse in no time.
Get the recipe: Quick Pots de Crème
To make this recipe, you'll need: Espresso Powder
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate and Vanilla Pudding Cups
9) Lemon Tiramisu
If your February weather leaves you wishing for more sunshine, this citrusy take on tiramisu might just do the trick. While classic tiramisu features the deep flavors of coffee and chocolate in espresso-soaked ladyfingers and layers of sifted cocoa powder, in this recipe you’ll use a limoncello soak and luscious lemon curd. Whether you snag your ladyfingers from the store or make your own, they form the perfect base for these zesty, creamy layers.
Get the recipe: Lemon Tiramisu
To make this recipe, you'll need: Pure Lemon Extract
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Tiramisu, Berry Tiramisu
10) Vermont Whole Wheat Oatmeal Honey Bread
Whether you use maple sugar or brown sugar in your loaf, this bread balances a hint of sweetness with a soft, nutty crumb. This recipe makes two loaves and freezes well, so you can hand one off to a neighbor or pop it (sliced) into the freezer. It’s a great way to get back into your bread-making practice this month.
Get the recipe: Vermont Whole Wheat Oatmeal Honey Bread
To make this recipe, you'll need: Golden Wheat Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Classic 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Back-of-the-Bag Oatmeal Bread
11) "Kitchen Sink" Cookie Bars
Got a cabinet full of half-empty bags of potato chips, dwindling containers of sprinkles, and the last of the holiday candy? Throw out the rules and pile on the pretzels! These cookie bars take sweetened condensed milk and your favorite mix-ins to a level of sweet and salty heaven.
Get the recipe: "Kitchen Sink" Cookie Bars
To make this recipe, you'll need: 8” Square Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Magic Cookie Bars, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
12) Chocolate Sourdough Babka
Beyond naturally leavening this babka, the sourdough starter in the recipe brings out the flavor notes of the rich chocolate swirled throughout this loaf. Get ready — this recipe calls for 1 cup of ripe starter. Need to scale yours up? Check out this blog: How to build the exact amount of ripe sourdough starter for a recipe.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Sourdough Babka
To make this recipe, you'll need: Quick Bread Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Babka, Chocolate Babka Buns
13) Cinnamon Roll Skillet Pancake
This recipe offers the taste of cinnamon rolls without the prep time, and the joy of pancakes without the endless flipping. Mix the batter, let it rest while you prep the filling, then pour the batter into the skillet before piping in a show-stopping cinnamon swirl. From there, it’s a 20(ish) minute bake to enjoy two breakfast classics in one.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Skillet Pancake
To make this recipe, you'll need: Vietnamese Cinnamon
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Perfectly Pillowy Cinnamon Rolls, Simply Perfect Pancakes
14) Sun Buns (Solskinnsboller)
These classic Norwegian buns combine a swirled cardamom- and cinnamon-scented dough with a sunny yellow vanilla custard, offering a little bright spot in a dreary month. To shape the buns, you’ll cut the filled dough into eight strips, each one giving you a chance to practice your twist and coil technique. You’ll then give your spirals an hour or two to rise, followed by a custard topping and egg wash before the bake fills your kitchen with a hygge-worthy aroma.
Get the recipe: Sun Buns (Solskinnsboller)
To make this recipe, you'll need: Cloud Forest Ground Cardamom
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Danish Cream Rolls, Crème Brûlée Buns
15) Gulab Jamun
Gulab jamun is a beloved South Asian dessert made of fried milk-based dough balls soaked in a syrup infused with rose, cinnamon, saffron, and cardamom. They’re known for being finicky to make, but after plenty of testing, recipe contributor Hetal Vasavada landed on what she thinks is the easiest version. (We recommend a scale for best success!)
Get the recipe: Gulab Jamun
To make this recipe, you'll need: Nielsen Massey Rose Water
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Jalebi, Semolina Pudding (Sooji Ka Halwa)
For more celebratory bakes this month, see our list of recipes to bake for Black History Month.
Cover photo by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
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