Can I tell you a secret? After years of trying to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day out, I’ve also fallen in love with staying in. Don’t get me wrong – a night on the town has its charms, but there’s something incredibly romantic about creating a special evening in your own space. Especially when you’re a mom of six – sometimes the most luxurious thing isn’t a fancy restaurant, but simply having uninterrupted time together (well, mostly uninterrupted… let’s be realistic!).
So, along with the great wine you have saved for the occasion, finger foods are such a perfect way to stay romantic… I mean, you can even feed each other! I think the beauty of staying home means that you can elevate something that’s laid back and simple and truly enjoy a delicious dish and time spent together… without spending a ton of time on clean up either. Because let’s be honest, nothing kills the mood quite like a sink full of dishes!
And once dinner’s ready? That’s when the real fun begins. Whether you’re spreading out a picnic blanket in the living room, queuing up your favorite movies, or slow dancing in the kitchen – staying in opens up so many possibilities for making the evening special. The best part? You can customize everything to fit your style, your schedule, and yes, even work around those inevitable kid interruptions!
Pizza is a favorite of ours on every level, but when you can make it at home, and EASILY in an air fryer… and of course when it’s a white pizza – basically it’s a jackpot! Add some heart-shaped brownies for dessert, and you’ve got yourself the perfect foundation for a romantic evening at home. Let me share some of our favorite recipes and date night ideas that have made our at-home Valentine’s celebrations something we look forward to all year long.
Table of Contents
Air Fryer White Pizza
INGREDIENTS
- Olive oil
- 1 (6-8 ounce) pizza dough ball
- 4 ounces burrata cheese
- ½ cup grated or balls of mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated or fresh Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 390ºF.
- Cut out a piece of aluminum foil the same size as the bottom of the air fryer basket. Spray the foil circle with olive oil. Shape the dough into a circle and place it on top of the foil. Dock the dough by piercing it several times with a fork. Spray or brush the dough lightly with olive oil and transfer it into the air fryer basket with the foil on the bottom.
- Air-fry the plain pizza dough for 4 minutes. Turn the dough over, remove the aluminum foil and brush again with olive oil, air-fry for an additional 3 minutes.
- Lay the burrata cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the dough and drizzle with olive oil. Lower the temperature of the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 8 minutes, until cheese has melted and is lightly browned. Season to taste with salt and fresh ground black pepper.
To top off a romantic evening, what is better than chocolate? Well, maybe chocolate in the shape of hearts along with strawberries!! SO good. And guess what? These can be cooked up in the air fryer as well.
Air Fryer Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup flour, plus 2 Tablespoons
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- cooking spray
Directions
- Beat together egg, sugar, salt, and vanilla until light.
- Add melted butter and mix well.
- Stir in flour and cocoa.
- Spray 6” x 6” baking pan lightly with cooking spray.
- Spread batter in pan and cook at 330°F for 11 to 13 minutes. Cool before cutting.
We used a mini heart candy mold to make a few hearts as well as a heart cookie cutter to transform a sheet of brownies into multi-sized heart shapes and it was SO easy!!!!
More Valentine’s At Home Ideas
And if you’re looking for more cozy at-home date night ideas (because let’s be honest, sometimes getting a sitter for 6 kids feels like organizing a small military operation!), here are some of my favorite ways to make the evening special:
Create a Living Room Picnic
Roll out a blanket right in your living room, light some candles, and enjoy your pizza and brownies picnic-style! There’s something magical about changing up your usual dinner spot – even if it’s just a few feet away from the dining table. Pro tip: wait until after the kids are in bed, so you don’t have little ones begging to join your blanket fort!
Movie Marathon with a Twist
Pick three movies you watched while dating and create a cozy viewing nest with all the pillows and blankets you can find. My husband and I often pause between films to share memories from our early days – back when we could actually stay awake past 9 PM! Your white pizza and heart-shaped brownies make perfect movie snacks.
Dance Party for Two
Push back the furniture (quietly, if the kids are sleeping!), put on the playlist from your wedding or dating days, and have an impromptu dance party. Fair warning: your teenagers might die of embarrassment if they catch you, but that’s half the fun! Plus, working up an appetite means more room for those delicious brownies.
Game Night Challenge
Pull out those board games gathering dust on the shelf, or grab a deck of cards. My husband and I love to make it interesting – winner gets to pick the next date night activity or gets breakfast in bed.
DIY Spa Evening
After dinner, why not turn your bathroom into a mini spa? Face masks, foot rubs, and maybe even those bath bombs the kids got you for Christmas that you haven’t had time to use. It’s amazing how luxurious your own bathroom can feel with just a few candles and some soft music.
The beauty of at-home date nights isn’t just in saving money or avoiding the babysitter scramble – it’s about finding romance in the everyday moments. Between soccer practice runs and homework help, these quiet evenings together remind us why we fell in love in the first place. And sometimes, the most romantic moments happen right in your own home, with the sound of little feet occasionally pattering around as someone “needs just one more drink of water.”
Remember, romance doesn’t have to be fancy – it just needs to be intentional. Whether you’re sharing pizza bites across a coffee table picnic or slow dancing in your kitchen, it’s about making time for each other in the beautiful chaos of family life.
So grab your ingredients, fire up that air fryer, and get ready for a Valentine’s Day that’s perfectly, wonderfully yours. And hey, if the kids interrupt your romantic evening five times? Well, that’s just part of our love story too!
What’s your favorite way to celebrate at home? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your ideas!
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