Heart Cake – A Romantic Dessert for Special Occasions
This Heart Cake is the ultimate romantic dessert! Made with a soft, moist vanilla sponge, layered with silky buttercream, and shaped like a heart, it's perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any special celebration
Equipment
- 8-inch round cake pan Used to create the rounded top of the heart shape.
- 8-inch square cake pan Forms the base of the heart shape.
- Mixing bowls For combining wet and dry ingredients.
- Electric mixer or hand whisk To cream butter and sugar and ensure a smooth batter.
- Measuring cups & spoons For accurate ingredient measurement.
- Rubber spatula Helps scrape the bowl and spread frosting smoothly.
- Cooling rack Cools cakes evenly before frosting.
- Cake knife or serrated knife For cutting and shaping the heart.
- Offset spatula For frosting and smoothing the cake.
- Piping bag & tips To decorate with buttercream swirls or borders.
Ingredients
- For the Cake Batter:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup whole milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ t easpoon baking soda
- ½ t easpoon salt
- For the Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Pink or red food coloring
- For Decoration:
- Fresh cherries or strawberries 🍒
- Sprinkles, edible glitter, or pearl decorations
Instructions
📖 Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line one 8-inch round cake pan and one 8-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, mixing until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 28-32, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes completely before shaping.
🛠️ Shaping the Heart Cake:
- Place the square cake on a serving platter.
- Cut the round cake in half and attach each half to the top of the square to form a heart shape.
- Secure the pieces with a thin layer of frosting.
🎨 Decorating the Cake:
- Prepare the buttercream by whipping butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, cream, and food coloring.
- Apply a crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes.
- Frost the cake smoothly and use a piping bag to add decorative swirls.
- Garnish with cherries, sprinkles, or edible glitter.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smooth batter.
- Avoid overmixing to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- No heart-shaped pan? Use a square and round cake to form a heart.
- Chill cake before frosting for the best texture.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for later use.
- Try flavor variations like chocolate, red velvet, or strawberry for a creative twist!