This is The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe For Valentine's Day, Or Any Day

Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

Strawberry lovers are going to be all over this dessert. The strawberry rhubarb upside-down cake lets the fruit shine and is drizzled with a caramelized topping. (via Completely Delicious)

Chocolate Bourbon Chai Latte Cupcakes with Butter Pecan Frosting

How can you take your cupcakes to the next level? Bourbon. Chai spice. And brown sugar pecans. These chocolate bourbon chai latte cupcakes with butter pecan frosting are a fun alternative to pecan pie and add a little spice kick to your dessert. (via Half Baked Harvest).

Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

The recipe name alone, brown butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, is enough to get us on board. Sprinkle some sea salt on top to achieve that salty and sweet combination! (via Half Baked Harvest).

Dulce De Leche Cheesecake

When in doubt, add caramel to your favorite baked goods. A dulce de leche cheesecake offers a sweeter take on the classic cheesecake, due to the canned dulce de leche (aka caramelized milk). Graham crackers or crumbs will work for this one! (via Women Scribbles)

Lemon Raspberry Cookies

For the citrus dessert lovers out there, you’ll have to add these lemon raspberry cookies to your baking list. The ingredients call for all the stops in lemon flavoring: lemon zest, lemon extract, and an additional sweet lemon glaze. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes With Chocolate Ganache

Being gluten-free doesn’t mean you need to give up decadent chocolate desserts. The gluten-free chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache consist of dark chocolate, chocolate chips, and unsweetened cocoa powder (no flour!) making it naturally gluten-free and delicious. (via The Bossy Kitchen)

Cranberry Mini Vegan Cheesecakes

When you think of desserts, you think cheesecake. These cranberry mini vegan cheesecakes fit precisely in a 12-slot muffin tin and carry a date-walnut crust. (via Salt & Lavender)

Brown Butter Banana Bread

Stray from the original banana bread to this brown butter banana bread that can be made in an hour. Brown butter adds a nutty flavoring that presents a deeper taste than regular melted butter! (via The Endless Meal)

Key Lime Donuts

This key lime donut recipe lends a twist to the traditional glazed donut. You’ll need the juice and the zest of key limes to really make that flavor shine. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a donut cutter, you can use pantry items like a canned goods jar to get that circle shape! (via Cozy Cravings)

Salted Caramel Brownies

Upgrade basic brownies with some much-needed salted caramel. This salted caramel brownie recipe boasts a rich dark chocolate with pools of salted caramel throughout. It’s as indulgent as you can get in two hours! (via Butternut Bakery)

Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes

You can’t go wrong with a traditional, homemade vanilla cupcake. These perfect vanilla cupcakes went through some serious rounds of testing and are inspired by the nostalgic box cake mix you see on grocery store shelves. The vanilla bean buttercream is mouth-watering! (via Butternut Bakery)

Lemon Bars

During the spring and summer months, you’ll find yourself gravitating towards these lemon bars. You can bake them in under an hour, with the shortbread base only containing three ingredients: butter, flour, and sugar. (via Vikalinka)

Snickerdoodle Mini Muffins

No, muffins aren’t just for breakfast. They’re for snacks, desserts — and this snickerdoodle mini muffin recipe is for your cinnamon and sugar cravings. They are a bite-sized reminder of the classic snickerdoodle cookie! (via Averie Cooks)

Honey Soaked Almond Cake

The secret to this honey soaked almond cake is super-fine almond flour, lending a top-notch texture for the perfect baked good. The simple honey topping is what takes this cake to the next level. (via The Original Dish)

Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream with Hazelnut

What says decadent dessert more than ice cream? This blueberry lavender ice cream with hazelnut recipe elevates from the usual chocolate or vanilla flavorings, and is completely refreshing. Topping it with a hazelnut crumble is optional! (via The Original Dish)

Mini Peach Rhubarb Cobblers

If you’re looking for guests (or yourself!) to grab and go, these personalized mini peach rhubarb cobbers are the ideal treat — especially in the summer. Make sure to pick out the juiciest of peaches for the best results. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Cranberry Swirl Almond Pound Cake

Pound cake is one of those ‘sure thing’ desserts that you know everyone will love. This cranberry swirl almond pound cake is easier to whip up than it looks, with one of the key ingredients being almond extract! (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Chocoflan Impossible Cake

This chocoflan impossible cake is a fun take on a Mexican delicacy: vanilla flan. It’s dense, rich, and the ideal treat for chocolate lovers. Snag your go-to bundt pan and cajeta (essentially homemade goat’s milk caramel) from the Mexican food section of your grocery store. (via A Spicy Perspective)

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Nothing says baking like a homemade cinnamon roll. Skip the hassle of overnight dough rising with these one-hour cinnamon rolls. Trust us, the pastry is not just for breakfast, you can make them for dessert too! (via Amanda Wilens)

Cookout Recipes You Have To Try

Mexican Chicken & Avocado Wraps

Wraps are a super tasty and super easy meal to make before any group dinner. We're filling ours with spiced chicken, red peppers, spinach, and avocado. Our mouths are already watering. (via Brit + Co)

Black Bean Burgers

Prep these black bean burger patties for any veggie guests coming to the BBQ. This cookout recipe can be personalized to your tastes with your preferred bean style and only take about 15 minutes to prep. (via Brit + Co)

Homemade Salsa

Save the jar salsa for another time and whip up this super fresh, spicy, and chunky homemade version. Be careful when blending the ingredients so not to turn it into a gazpacho. (via Brit + Co)

Elote One-Pot Pasta Recipe

Name a better group food than pasta salad. We'll wait. (via Brit + Co)

3-2-1 Ribs Method

The 3-2-1 method of cooking ribs refers to the number of hours spent at each stage. Three hours are spent smoking the meat, unwrapped and at a low temperature. Then there are two more hours of continued smoking, this time wrapped in foil. Lastly, there’s one final hour of smoking. This method ensures flavorful and tender ribs every time. (via Fox Valley Foodie)

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Cheese and potatoes are one of the best combos ever, amirite? These scalloped potatoes can be made way in advance and reheated right before serving. Just try not to eat them all before your guests arrive. (via Chew Out Loud)

Strawberry Oreo Chocolate Icebox Cake

Icebox cakes have been a potluck staple since… forever. This strawberry Oreo recipe is a crowd-pleaser that will be loved by adults and children alike. The cake needs to be made at least eight hours before your party so the cookies have time to soften, so allow for plenty of chilling time. (via Sweetest Menu)

Crockpot Corn On The Cob

Give yourself at least two hours before your dinner to make this dish. The key to making a corn on the cob that everyone will remember until next summer's cookouts is the garlic herb butter. Yummmm. (via Brit + Co)

Honey Strawberry Basil Margarita

Not only is a marg one of our favorite poolside sips, but strawberries, basil, and honey just all hit different in the summertime. This recipe only makes sense. (via Brit + Co)

Hailey Bieber's Air Fryer Chicken Wings

These drool-worthy wings have a secret ingredient in them for maximum crispiness: avocado oil. You can prep the buttermilk marinade and refrigerate the wings in brine for a few hours before they're ready to quickly cook in an air fryer. (via Brit + Co)

Mexican-Style Hot Dogs Cookout Recipe

With tomatoes, avocados, and corn, this cookout recipe is making us seriously consider chopping up a hot dog the next time we make burrito bowls. (via Brit + Co)

BLT Deviled Eggs

Sundried tomatoes, green onions and bacon are the delicious threesome that makes up the filling of these delightful deviled eggs. Be sure to make extra, because these will fly off of the platter as soon as you set them out. (via Ketogasm)

Cowboy Caviar

If you’re interested in testing out your knife skills, this dip is great for practice. It’s full of hearty beans, cilantro, chopped peppers and onion. You can even try adding a chopped avocado if you’re a major guac fan (and who isn’t?). (via Culinary Hill)

Homemade Hamburger Buns

If you really want to impress a crowd, show up to a party with homemade hamburger buns. They’re not at all as difficult as you would think, and they’re the best accompaniment to a gourmet burger. (via Domestic Dreamboat)

Your Summer Won't Be The Same Without These Cookout Recipes

Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad

Pasta salad is a must-have cookout recipe, but you may not have had it with orzo. It’s just the right size to mix with finely chopped veggies and goes great with the fresh flavors of lemon and cucumber. Allow this to sit in the fridge overnight so the pasta can absorb all that delicious flavor. (via Give Recipe)

Fruit Salad With Lemon Dressing

By the time everyone has scarfed down their burgers and potato salad, dessert might be an afterthought. This fruit salad is a wonderful post-dinner treat that eases your sweet craving without being too heavy. (via Paleo Leap)

Vegan Bacon + Cheese Loaded Potato Skins

With spicy cashew cream sauce and mushroom bacon, these potato skins might just become your favorite summer dish. We'll be making these for every cookout forever and always. (via Brit + Co)

Boozy Sangria Popsicles

We love sangria. We love popsicles. This is a match made in heaven. You'll definitely want to make these ahead of time so that they have enough time to freeze, but make sure you wait to take them out of the freezer so they don't melt ;). (via Brit + Co)

Make-Ahead Layered Picnic Salad

Your mom will be so proud when you bring out this dish she made when you were a kid. There’s a reason this type of layered salad has stood the test of time: It’s easy, delicious and can be assembled way before your barbecue. (via The Kitchen Is My Playground)

Grilled Maple Sriracha Chicken Skewers

These simple skewers have only four ingredients, but pack some intense flavor. The chicken is best marinated overnight and takes only 15 minutes to grill the next day. Score! (via Table for Two)

Minty Pea Salad

We’ve all had those moments when we forget about a barbecue until the day before. Those times call for this easy salad that can be made on the fly or ahead of time. (via Budget Bytes)

Potato Salad Bites

It’s just not a Memorial Day cookout without potato salad, but the same-old-same-old can get a bit boring. These little two-bite potatoes are a mix of potato salad and a twice-baked potato. They’re perfect as an appetizer or as a cute hand-held side dish. (via The Recipe Rebel)

Blow Your Own Mind With These Tasty Cookout Recipes!

Prosciutto Wrapped Melon With Sage and Black Pepper

Class up any outdoor party with these sweet and salty prosciutto-melon bites. The mix of flavors is addictive, but there’s no cooking involved. That means you can wrangle in just about anyone to help you assemble. (via The Homemade Haus)

Shrimp Boil Foil Packets

Put together all of these shrimp boil packets whenever you have a spare moment — that way, all you have to do is throw them on the grill come party time. Did we mention there’s also ZERO cleanup involved? (via Damn Delicious)

Vegan Barbecue Baked Beans

When hosting a cookout, it may be tempting to grab a can of baked beans from the store and call it a day. Refrain from that temptation and you will *not* be sorry you took the time to make your own. The flavor is unreal, and you can even mix everything up and throw it in your crockpot if you like. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Easy Cheesy Hot Corn Dip Cookout Recipe

This dip is chock full of enough cheese to please the kids, and enough veggies to please the parents. Everyone will be happy! Serve with chips or just dig in with a spoon. (via Brit + Co)

Healthy Pepperoni Pasta Salad

This pasta salad could be a whole meal in itself. It’s packed with veggies, protein and whole grains that will keep you energized for all the fun outdoor games (lookin’ at you, volleyball). (via Well Plated)

Vegan Mexican Sweet Potato Salad With Avocado Dressing

You’ve never had potato salad like this before. If you’re dying to switch it up, go for this Mexican version with corn, avocado and chipotle. Everyone will be begging you for the recipe. (via Food Faith Fitness)

Cajun Crawfish Queso

When you think of queso you might not think of seafood, but you'd be surprised how tasty this crawfish cheese dip actually tastes. Don't forget the cajun mix! (via Brit + Co)

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Greek Yogurt Popsicles

Cold treats on a hot day are absolute summer perfection. These pops last in the freezer for weeks, so don't be afraid to make a big batch… just in case. (via Tastes of Lizzy T's)

Healthy Coleslaw

A coleslaw recipe is a pre-req for any Memorial Day or cookout bashes! Carrots and celery come together with a healthy swap for the classic mayonnaise dressing made with yogurt. You'll love it and so will your guests. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Carrot Hot Dogs

Prep your carrots with maple syrup and coconut aminos to give them a surprisingly meaty flavor. Whip up some BBQ sauce and aioli, and throw your favorite hot dog toppings into tiny bowls for everyone to serve themselves. (via Brit + Co)

Breakfast Burger

There's a chance you've had an egg on a burger before, but have you had an egg *and* sausage *and* hash browns?! If your answer is no, it's never too late to try it out. (via Brit + Co)

Decadent Potato Chip Brownies

This cookout recipe is an amazing addition to any #TreatYourselfThursday. There are lots of sweet and salty combos we love, and these brownies take the cake! (via Brit + Co)

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!