Heart-Shaped Caprese & a Caramel Affogato with Maple Bacon Sea Salt: Recipes for Galentine's Day & Valentine’s Day (As Seen on CBS)
- Christianne Klein
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
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I had the best time on set with Jillian Lopez on CBS Las Vegas – Las Vegas Now Today, sharing a few easy and festive recipes perfect for Valentine’s Day, Galentine's Day - or Palentine’s Day, as JC so perfectly put it.
Whether you’re celebrating romance, friendship, or simply an excuse to gather around beautiful food, the key is this: keep it simple, make it special, and add a little heart wherever you can. ❤️
We focused on dishes that look elevated but are secretly effortless - my favorite kind of entertaining.
Caprese, With Love
This is the easiest way to turn a classic Caprese into something instantly celebration-worthy.
All you need? A small heart-shaped cookie cutter and fresh mozzarella.
Ingredients
Fresh mozzarella logs
Ripe tomatoes, sliced
Fresh basil leaves
High-quality extra virgin olive oil
How to Make It
Slice the mozzarella about ½-inch thick.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to punch out heart shapes. (Save the scraps for snacking!)
Layer tomato slices, basil, and heart-shaped mozzarella on a platter.
Drizzle generously with great olive oil and a delicious aged balsamic.
Finish with flaky Maldon sea salt.
It’s the perfect light salad course - adorable without trying too hard.
Cupid’s Caprese (The Cutest Bite on the Table)
This one steals the show.
We made heart-shaped grape tomatoes by simply slicing them on the bias and flipping one half to create a heart shape. Add a mini mozzarella heart (again using a smaller cookie cutter), tuck in a basil leaf, and you have the sweetest little bite.
Ingredients
Grape tomatoes
Fresh mozzarella
Fresh basil
Extra virgin olive oil
Aged balsamic
Flaky sea salt
How to Make It
Slice grape tomatoes on a diagonal.
Flip one half and nestle it against the other to form a heart.
Cut mini mozzarella hearts using a small cookie cutter.
Assemble with basil.
Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic.
Finish with flaky salt.
They’re playful. They’re charming. And they take just minutes to assemble — which is exactly what we want when entertaining.
Caramel Affogato with Maple Bacon Sea Salt
For dessert, we leaned into something indulgent but incredibly simple: a caramel affogato topped with maple bacon sea salt. The sea salt is actually vegetarian, but mimics the flavors of maple bacon with maple sugar and hickory-smoked sea salt. It's a speciality ingredient that we love (you can buy the Maple Bacon Sea Salt that we used on Amazon HERE).
It’s the perfect balance of sweet, bitter, and savory - and it feels restaurant-worthy while taking less than five minutes to make.
Ingredients
2 scoops vanilla ice cream or gelato
2 ounces espresso
Caramel sauce
How to Make It
Place two scoops of vanilla ice cream in a coupe glass.
Pour 2 ounces of espresso over the top. (Traditionally, affogato uses still-warm espresso. For parties, I chill mine slightly so it lasts longer and doesn’t melt too quickly.)
Drizzle with caramel sauce.
Finish with a sprinkle of maple bacon sea salt.
That combination - creamy vanilla, bold espresso, rich caramel, and just a hint of smoky salt - is absolute magic. I also made a delicious chocolate spoon using a silicone mold - simply melt semi-sweet or dark chocolate, pour into the mold, and let it set. Once firm, I hand-painted a small white chocolate heart on top for a sweet finishing touch. It’s an easy detail that feels thoughtful and instantly elevates the dessert.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean complicated menus or stressful prep. A few thoughtful touches - heart-shaped mozzarella, a beautifully drizzled plate, a playful dessert - can transform the entire experience.
Huge thanks to Jillian and the CBS Las Vegas team for such a fun time on set. Whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or simply good food, I hope these recipes bring a little extra joy to your table.
Because sometimes the simplest dishes - made with heart - are the most memorable. 💕
Here's the link to the original segment on CBS: https://www.8newsnow.com/news/las-vegas-now/galentines-and-valentines-day-appetizer-and-dessert-ideas/
Christianne Klein is an Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV Host, journalist, travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of FoodFamilyTravel.com.
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