When you think about Valentine's Day you will immediately think about chocolate. And some of the best kinds are the homemade ones. So why not make your own this Valentine's Day? Try your hand at cooking one of these five homemade chocolate recipes for that special someone in your life.

Valentine's Day White Chocolate Bark Bites

From No. 2 Pencil (number-2-pencil.com/valentines-day-white-chocolate-bark-bites)

Servings: 12 hearts

Prep Time: Five minutes

Cook Time: Can take up to an hour

Ingredients

• 1 12 ounce package of Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers OR 12 ounce of white chocolate wafers (can be bought from Bulk Barn)

• M&M's and sprinkles or any other choice of toppings you desire

Instructions

*Note: If you are not able to get your hands on the Ghirardelli wafers then there will be some deviation of how the chocolate will be melted.

1. Get a heart shaped silicone mold and place it on a baking sheet.

2. Add a dash of the M&M's, sprinkles or other toppings to each of the molds.

3. Melt the Ghirardelli wafer chocolate according to the instructions provided on the package. If you are working with the normal white chocolate wafers then melt by first placing it in a microwave safe bowl. Then set the microwave to 50 per cent strength and place in for 30 sec intervals. Each time take the bowl out and give the chocolate a stir to avoid burning it. Do this until most of the chocolate is melted, letting the rest melt from the residual heat.

Another option is to double broil the chocolate, which a simple way of doing so can be found here craftsy.com/cake-decorating/article/how-to-melt-white-chocolate.

4. Pour the melted chocolates into each cavity.

5. Pick up the sheet with the mold on top and tap it firmly against the counter to level out the chocolate.

6. Let cool until it hardens when using the Ghiradelli, but chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes if using the normal chocolate wafers to harden it.

Red Velvet Chocolate-Swirled Brownie Bars

From Averie Sunshine (averiecooks.com/red-velvet-chocolate-swirled-brownie-bars)

Servings: Nine pieces

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: About 28 minutes, plus cooling

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

• 1 large egg

• 1 cup light brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

• 2 vials of red food colouring or gel food colouring

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips

• Optional: a pinch of salt for taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit and line an 8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray it with cooking spray and set aside for now.

2. Melt the butter in the microwave for about a minute on high power.

3. Wait for the bowl to cool before adding the egg, brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.

4. Add in the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Then add the food colouring, whisking it in, until desired shade of red is obtained.

5. Add the flour and optional salt, stirring them until just combined. Do not overmix.

6. Turn the batter out into the prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.

7. In another bowl, melt the chocolate chips for about 1 minute on high power. Check and stir every 10 seconds until chocolate can be stirred smoothly.

8. Drizzle the chocolate over the pan and swirl it lightly with a toothpick or the tip of a knife to create a pattern.

9. Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted will come out mostly clean, with moist crumbs but no batter. For optimal results, let cool overnight.

Chocolate Truffles

From Taste of Home (tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-truffles)

Servings: About four dozen

Prep Time: 20 minutes, plus chilling

Ingredients

• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extra

• Optional coatings: chocolate sprinkles, cocoa powder, espresso powder, etc.

Instructions

1. In a microwave melt the chocolate chips and milk and stir until smooth.

2. Stir in the vanilla and then refrigerate the mixture, covered for 2 hours or until firm enough to roll.

3. Shape into 1 inch balls or small hearts, sprinkling on or rolling on the desired coatings.

Easy Valentine's Day Chocolate Bark

From Jen Quillen posted on The Rebel Chick (therebelchick.com/an-easy-valentines-day-chocolate-bark-recipe)

Servings: About 10

Prep Time: About five minutes, plus 20 minutes chilling

Ingredients

• 1 bag (16 ounces) of milk chocolate chips

• 1 bag of red or pink candy melts

• Optional: assorted sprinkles

Instructions

1. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.

2. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl for 30 second intervals, stirring constantly until melted smoothly.

3. Pour the melted chocolate into the lined cookie sheet and put into the fridge to chill.

4. Take the candy melts and repeat the melting process.

5. The chocolate should be cooled and a bit firm at this point, remove it from the fridge. Pour the candy melts on top of the chocolate and sprinkle it immediately if you want.

6. Place in the fridge to harden for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Cashew Clusters

From Taste of Home (tasteofhome.com/recipes/cashew-clusters)

Servings: About six dozen

Prep Time: 20 minutes and standing

Cook Time: Five minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound white candy coating, coarsely chopped

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• 4 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped OR 4 ounces sweet dark chocolate as a substitute

• 1/3 cup of milk chocolate chips

• 2 cups of salted/non-salted whole cashews

• 2 cups salted/non-salted cashew halves and pieces

Instructions

1. Place the white candy coating, semisweet chocolate chips, German sweet chocolate and milk chocolate chips into a large microwavable bowl.

2. Cover the top and microwave it at 50 per cent power for five to six minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.

3. Add the cashews into the mixture.

4. Drop tablespoon amounts into waxed paper lined pans.

5. Place in the fridge to help set. Once done pack them in an airtight container to keep or the container for your present for your family.