YOU don’t need to slave away over a three-course meal for your loved one on February 14. Simply make something heart-shaped as a Valentine’s Day treat.

Ingredients:

100g chopped dates

50g white chocolate, broken into pieces

40g toasted chopped mixed nuts

75g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

75g unsalted butter

75ml semi-skimmed milk

60g caster sugar

2 medium eggs, whisked

1tsp vanilla extract

½tsp baking powder

A pinch of cream of tartar

50g ground almonds

Method:

Heat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas Mark 6. Lightly grease six ramekins or ovenproof espresso cups with a little butter). Divide the chopped dates equally between the ramekins and sprinkle the white chocolate and the chopped nuts over the top.

Place the dark chocolate, butter, milk and caster sugar in a heavy-based saucepan and gently heat until the chocolate has melted. Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir until smooth.

Whisk the eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder and the cream of tartar into the dark chocolate mixture until evenly combined. Gently fold in the ground almonds and divide the mixture evenly between the ramekins. Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the surface is cooked but soft and fudge-like in the centre. Serve warm with ice cream or clotted cream.