Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is spent with a significant other, but for many it’s also a celebration of love shared with friends, family and coworkers.

Baking for friends, colleagues and loved ones is a fun activity and doesn’t have to be difficult.

Don’t scramble your brain trying to interpret complicated tiramisu directions; here are some fast and easy recipes for treats even the most inexperienced bakers can create. This recipe is adapted from thirtyhandmadetreats.com.

Strawberry Cake

Sandwich Cookies

1 package strawberry cake mix

2 eggs

¾ cup shortening

8 ounce pack cream cheese

½ stick butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Set the oven to 350 F.

Mix the cake mix, eggs and shortening together with a mixer at medium speed. The dough will become stiff. Roll the dough into walnut-shaped balls.

To create the heart shape, place two balls next to each other on the tray and pinch the bottom to create the heart. You can use a heart-shaped cookie cutter, but it won’t have the same charming, homemade look.

Bake each tray for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are golden. When done, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

In the meantime, prepare the filling. With a mixer, cream the cheese and softened butter for 30 seconds on low speed. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. Then, begin adding the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until the mixture is creamy.

When the cookies have cooled, spread frosting on the bottom of one cookie and sandwich with the bottom of another. If you end up with an odd number of cookies, enjoy the spare and share the rest with friends.

Growing up, Rice Krispies treats were a sweet and crunchy snack that were just as fun to make as they were to eat. Their simple instructions make them easy to get creative with by adding your own ingredients.

So, for Valentine’s Day, I adapted the original recipe from ricekrispies.com and added a bit of color to it.

Rice Krispies

Valentine’s Day Treats

3 tablespoons butter

1 package (10 ounces) pink marshmallows or 1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow crème

6 cups crispy rice cereal

1 cup Valentine’s Day M&Ms

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat and then add the marshmallows. If you’re using crème, skip this step.

Once melted, remove from heat and add the cereal until thoroughly mixed. Add in the M&Ms. Spray a spatula and a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan with cooking spray and use the spatula to evenly press the mixture into the pan. Let cool and cut into heart shapes with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

If you can’t find pink marshmallows, buy regular marshmallows and add a few drops of red food dye.

Instead of annoying your close friends with a mass text saying “Happy Valentine’s Day,” say something special on a heart-shaped cake pop that is sure to give a smile to anyone lucky enough to receive one from you. They’re fun to make and fun to receive, so personalize your cake pops with cute messages and emoticons.

This recipe is adapted from wilton.com.

Conversation Hearts Cake Pops

1 package red velvet cake mix (or your favorite cake mix)

Ready-to-use white decorator icing

1 pack of assorted food colorings

Silicone mold with heart shapes

11 ¾-inch lollipop sticks

Decorating tip with a small round opening

Disposable decorating bag or freezer bag

Bake the cake mix according to package directions in the hearts mold and let cakes cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Divide the icing into five bowls and tint each one with one of the icing colors. Leave some icing for writing at the end.

Heat the icing in the microwave for a few seconds until it reaches the right pouring consistency. I like to heat it for about 10 to 15 seconds on full power–time will vary depending on your microwave settings.

Once cakes have cooled, insert the lollipop sticks into bottom of each cake. Place cakes on a cooling rack over a parchment-lined cookie sheet–this will make the icing process less messy.

Coat each cake with an icing color and wait for each one to set a bit before placing them on another parchment-lined cookie sheet. Place them in the fridge or freezer to set completely.

Next, take the icing you saved and color it a darker color. For example, I made mine hot pink. Place it in a decorating bag with a small circular tip for writing. You can also use a freezer bag by cutting a snippet off the corner of one and pushing the icing through it. Print Valentine’s Day theme messages on them.

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a significant other or not, you don’t have to spend that day alone. Share the love you have to offer by baking some of it into these creative snacks. Regardless of who you’re with, they’ll be sure to love you for making any of these three recipes for them.