Insomnia Cookies' New Chocolate Lava Cake Is Perfect For Valentine's Day

Think chocolate makes for a trite and tacky Valentine's Day gift? Does a red heart-shaped box of nougat-filled bonbons cool your sense of romance toward any would-be admirers that would dare treat you with one? Or is it that the chocolate is just too irresistible, a temptation you'd rather have out of sight and mind? Regardless of your opinion of chocolate — and sweets in general — as it relates to Valentine's Day, it's here to stay, and with good reason.

Chocolate has been viewed as an aphrodisiac and symbol of love since it was used in ancient Mayan wedding ceremonies, explains The Sugar Association. That may be because chocolate releases dopamine, an internal neurotransmitter that summons good feelings and a sense of reward (via Daily Mail). It also causes our bodies to release dopamine, which causes the pupils to dilate and the heart to speed up, both signs associated with romantic love. One ingredient in cocoa is theobromine, which a 2015 paper published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found has a host of beneficial effects, which include heart health, increased energy, and improved mood. That makes chocolate (even if you have to buy it for yourself) not too shabby a way to seek a happy, healthy Valentine's Day.

But if a box of chocolates is still too corny for your tastes — or the tastes of your special someone — then our pick for a hot alt Valentine's Day gift may just make you melt.

Gourmet cookie purveyors Insomnia Cookies are stepping out of their comfort zone as the holiday approaches and offering their spin on a classic dessert, the chocolate lava cake — aka molten chocolate cake. Their Deluxe Filled Lava Cake is made with three different types of real Ghirardelli chocolate: semi-sweet chips, rich cocoa powder, and a luscious chocolate filling. The cakes rolled out on their website and in stores on January 24th and will be available for a limited time through February 19th, perfect for those Valentine's Day pre-planners and belated celebrators alike.

In addition to the chocolate lava cake, Insomnia rolled out a few other treats that are in line with the holiday. Those include red velvet cookies and brookies (cookie-brownie hybrids), Chocolate-covered Strawberry cookies, Vegan Red Velvet Cookies N Cream cookies, and a Be Mine Fancy Sprinkles Blend. While all of these treats are available individually, they can be purchased in concert in various specialty packs released for the holiday, such as the Chocolate Lover's 4+6 Pack and the "For My Gal Pal" Gift Box Sleeve.