Loulou’s Love Box Recipe

Warm croissants

Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Place croissants on a baking sheet and warm for 5–7 minutes until lightly crisp and warm through. Remove and let rest 1 minute.

Spread 1 tablespoon of butter on each croissant while warm so it melts in. Serve jam in a small ramekin alongside croissants (about 1½ tbs jam per ramekin).

If using a whole brownie, cut one portion roughly 6 x 6 cm (or one personal piece). Warm lightly in oven with croissants for 2–3 minutes if desired, or leave at room temperature. Place brownie in the box adjacent to croissant section.

Orange juice

Pour 250 ml of fresh orange juice into a sealed bottle or small carafe and chill until packing.

Ginger-lemon shot

In a blender or with a fine grater, grate the 15 g fresh ginger. Combine grated ginger, 15 ml fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp honey and 15 ml cold water in a small jar. Stir or briefly blend for 5–10 seconds, then strain through a fine mesh or coffee filter into a 30–45 ml shot glass or small bottle. Adjust honey to taste. Chill the shot and seal until serving.

Divide 300 g Greek yogurt between two small bowls or containers (about 150 g each). Sprinkle 20 g chopped walnuts over each portion. Drizzle 1 tablespoon (about 1 tbs) honey over each bowl. Seal containers for transport, or leave open if serving immediately.

Prepare the fruit: hull and quarter strawberries; peel and dice the green apple; halve grapes; peel and dice kiwi. Combine all fruit in a bowl. Add 5 ml fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon chopped mint (if using). Gently toss to combine. Divide into two small portions (approx. 150 g each) and place in containers.

Cut and bake (if making from dough)

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Roll 150 g cookie dough to 4–5 mm thickness. Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut hearts. Optionally add 1/2 tsp jam between two small heart cookies to make jam-filled hearts. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 8–10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool on a rack.

If using ready shortbread cookies, simply cut or use heart-shaped store cookies. Dust finished hearts lightly with 1 tsp powdered sugar and pack 3–4 hearts in a small compartment of the box.

Arrange items into Loulou’s love box: one warmed croissant with butter and a small ramekin of jam; one brownie piece; one sealed container of Greek yogurt with walnuts and honey; one small container of fruit salad; a small bottle/shot of ginger-lemon topped with the orange juice bottle; and 3–4 heart-shaped sweets in a paper cup. Ensure cold items (yogurt, fruit, drinks) are kept chilled with an ice pack if needed. Include small spoons/forks and napkin.