Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us. If there was ever a time to express our love for those around us and those who are sadly not, it is now. With this in mind, the One Gin team has created some heavenly cocktail and baking recipes that are quick and easy to make, so this Valentine’s Day at home can still be one to remember.

You can also now save £7 off a bottle of One Sage & Apple Gin at Tesco until 15th February. Perfect timing for anyone looking for an exceptional gift to give this Valentine’s Day. 

Love Heart Shortbread with One Gin Jam

These One Love Heart Shortbread Biscuits – best served with a Rose Gimlet – are the perfect way to help share some love this Valentine’s day. Just add 50ml of One Sage & Apple Gin to the jam to treat any gin fan.

Ingredients:

230g unsalted butter, at room temperature
100g icing sugar, sifted, plus extra for dusting
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
260g plain flour, sifted, plus extra to roll out the dough
170g strawberry jam
100ml One Sage Gin

Method:

Preheat oven to 160°C. In a bowl, beat together butter, icing sugar, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add flour to the mixture until just combined. At this point, a ball of dough will begin to form.

Remove dough, and knead with your hands until a full ball forms. Wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the dough to harden so it’s easier to roll out.

On a floured surface, roll out dough with a rolling pin, adding extra flour to your rolling surface and rolling pin if dough begins to stick. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.

Using a 3 inch circle biscuit cutter, cut out 24 circle shapes, rerolling and cutting scraps.

Using a 1 1/2 inch heart biscuit cutter, cut out the shape in the center of 12 (half) of the circle biscuits.

Arrange whole and cut out cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake on top and bottom racks, rotating and switching pans halfway through, until edges are light golden, about 20 minutes.

Remove biscuits from the oven and let them cool

In a bowl, mix the jam and gin together until combined.

Spread jam and gin mixture over each whole biscuit, then place on top a biscuit with the heart cut out and gently press. 

Dust with icing sugar and serve.

One Gin Rose Gimlet

INGREDIENTS

50ml One Sage & Apple Gin
25ml Rosé Vermouth
12.5ml Bottlegreen Raspberry Cordial
3 x dried rose buds

METHOD

Chill your coupette or martini glass in the freezer. Combine all the ingredients, apart from one rose bud, into a cold mixing glass, fill with ice and stir for twenty seconds. Using a strainer (or dessert spoon) to hold back the ice, pour the cocktail into your chilled glass and garnish with the remaining rosebud.

Gin and chocolate are a match made in heaven. We’ve got two chocolate recipes here, which we think are just perfect paired with a distinctively bold One Gin & tonic. This luxurious chocolate bark recipe is so simple, you don’t even need an oven! But the result is both elegant and delicious. 

Luxurious Chocolate Bark:

Ingredients:

200g dark chocolate
200g milk chocolate
300g white chocolate
80g chopped roasted almonds
80g freeze dried raspberries
80g coconut chips
A pinch of sea salt

Method:

Chop dark chocolate into large pieces and transfer into a bowl.

Fill a medium saucepan with an inch of water and place a bowl over the top so that the mouth of the pan is covered by the bowl. Over a medium heat, melt the dark chocolate.

Do the same with the milk chocolate and white chocolate.

Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Spread the dark chocolate in an even layer over the tray. Drop the milk chocolate over and use a knife to swirl the chocolate together, then repeat with the white chocolate.

Sprinkle the almonds, raspberries, coconut chips, and seasalt evenly over the chocolate. 

Carefully transfer to the freezer for 30-45 minutes or until chocolate is firm. 

Break into large pieces and serve. 

For something a little softer that is sure to melt in your mouth on Valentine’s Day, this Raspberry & Chocolate Cake Bar partners perfectly with a One Gin & tonic (especially with an extra-romantic apple heart garnish). 

Raspberry & Chocolate Cake Bar

Ingredients:

300g dark chocolate
230g unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey
170g cubed store-bought pound cake
100g chopped walnuts
50g dried raspberries
50g almonds 

Method:

Place chocolate, butter and honey in a heat proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once melted remove the bowl from heat. Set aside 1/3 cup of mixture.

Add cubed pound cake and walnuts into chocolate mixture and fold to combine. Spread mixture into plastic or foil lined pan. Pour the remaining 1/3 cup of mixture on top and using an offset spatula, spread to an even finish.

Sprinkle raspberry and almonds on top. Transfer the fully assembled pan to the refrigerator and chill until set. Once set, grab hold of plastic wrap or foil overhang and remove from pan and slice to serve.

Keep bars chilled until ready to serve. Bars will keep for 3-4 day in a tightly covered container.

One Gin & Tonic 

Ingredients

50ml One Sage & Apple Gin or One Sage Gin
120ml premium tonic water
3 x freshly cut apple slices

Method

Fill your glass with ice, pour the gin and top up with premium tonic. Add two of the apple slices. Using a small heart shaped biscuit cutter, cut out a heart shape from a third apple slice and garnish.

Even if you can’t be with loved ones this year, you can still send a mini gift of love. Order a One Gin miniature or gift pack now for delivery before Sunday, and share a distinctively bold G&T or two over a video call on Valentine’s Day.

Show us how you’re celebrating using #OneLove or tag @thespiritofone.