Heart Cake
A romantic and elegant heart-shaped cake, perfect for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or birthdays. This soft and fluffy cake can be customized with different flavors, colors, and decorations!
Equipment
- Mixing bowls –
- Electric mixer
- 8-inch square cake pan
- 8-inch round cake pan
- Cooling rack
- Serrated knife
- Offset spatula
- Piping bags (optional)
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon red food coloring optional
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- Pink or red food coloring optional
Instructions
Preheat Oven:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line one 8-inch square cake pan and one 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
Prepare Dry Ingredients:
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mix Wet Ingredients:
- In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla and red food coloring (if using).
Combine Ingredients:
- Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
Bake the Cake:
- Divide batter evenly between the square and round cake pans.
- Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Shape the Heart:
- Cut the round cake in half.
- Arrange the square cake as a diamond and place the two round halves on top to form a heart.
Prepare the Frosting:
- Beat butter until smooth.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream, mixing until fluffy.
- Add food coloring if desired.
Assemble the Cake:
- Apply a crumb coat (thin layer of frosting) and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Frost the cake smoothly and decorate with piping, sprinkles, or edible flowers.
Serve & Enjoy:
- Let the cake set for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Flavor Variations: Use chocolate cake, strawberry cake, or red velvet for different flavors.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Best Served: For Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, or birthdays!