Heart-shaped cakes aren't just for Valentine's Day. Learn how to make one to serve on birthdays, anniversaries or any other occasion! Make the mixture for the cake (the recipe for a chocolate cake is included here, but you can make any type of cake) and bake it in a heart-shaped mold or in a regular pan, then cut it out in the shape of a heart. Finally put the frosting and decorate to add a finishing touch.
Ingrediants
Chocolate cake
- 1 teaspoon of butter, to grease the pan
- 1 tablespoon of flour to flour the pan
- Non-stick cooking spray to prepare the pan (optional)
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups of flour
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 3/4 of a teaspoon of yeast
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup of low-fat buttermilk
- 3/4 cup of warm water
- 3 tablespoons of safflower oil
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- Icing
- Food coloring (red, blue, etc.)
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using a Special Mold
Step 1. Preheat the oven
Set it to 175 ° C.
Step 2. Prepare the heart-shaped cake molds
Butter and flour two 20-22 cm heart-shaped molds by rubbing about a teaspoon of butter on the bottom and sides of each mold. Add a tablespoon of flour and gently tilt the mold, so that it covers the entire surface. Remove the excess flour and throw it away.
If you don't want to grease and flour the baking sheets, you can use a non-stick cooking spray
Step 3. Mix all the dry ingredients together
Combine the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in the blender bowl.
Step 4. Add the wet ingredients and whisk
Add the eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Blend on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
There must be no lumps of flour in the mixture
Step 5. Pour the mixture into the molds
Try to divide the mixture equally between the two molds.
Step 6. Bake the cakes for about 35 minutes
Check if they are ready by sticking a toothpick or a special tester into the center of each cake. The toothpick / tester should come out clean.
If the tester is soiled with dough, put it back in the oven for a few minutes. Try again until the tester comes out clean
Step 7. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool
Let it cool in the mold for about 15 minutes. If you remove them from the molds, turn them upside down and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 8. Glaze and decorate
You can leave the cakes in the molds and cover them with the icing. Or you can take them out of the molds and make a two-layer heart-shaped cake. To do this, place one of the layers on a tray with the flat side up. Sprinkle some frosting on this bottom layer, then put the other layer on top. Coat the top and sides with more icing.
Method 2 of 3: Without the Mold
Step 1. Preheat the oven
Set it to 175 ° C.
Step 2. Prepare the baking sheets
Butter and flour an 8 '' square and a 8 '' round pan by rubbing about a teaspoon of butter on the bottom and sides of each pan. Add a tablespoon of flour and gently tilt the pan so that it covers the entire surface. Remove the excess flour and throw it away.
If you don't want to grease and flour the baking sheets, you can use a non-stick cooking spray
Step 3. Mix all the dry ingredients together
Combine the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in the blender bowl.
Step 4. Add the wet ingredients and whisk
Add the eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Blend on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
There must be no lumps of flour in the mixture
Step 5. Pour the mixture into the baking sheets
Try to divide the mixture equally between the two pans.
Step 6. Bake the cakes for about 35 minutes
Check if they are ready by sticking a toothpick or a special tester into the center of each cake. The toothpick / tester should come out clean.
If the tester is soiled with dough, put it back in the oven for a few minutes. Try again until the tester comes out clean
Step 7. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool
Let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then turn it upside down on a wire rack and let it cool completely before cutting and glazing.
Step 8. Cut the cake
Remove both cakes from the baking sheets. With a knife, cut the round cake in half. The two pieces will have a straight and a curved side.
Step 9. Assemble the heart
Cut the square cake along a diagonal and arrange the two halves so that one vertex points towards you. Take the two halves of the round cake and place them with the straight side against the sides of the square, as in the photo. You will get a heart shape.
Step 10. Glaze and decorate
Cover the top and sides with the icing - this will hold the pieces together and give the cake an even look.
Method 3 of 3: Decorate the Heart Shaped Cake
Step 1. Add decorative icing
After covering the cake with a layer of frosting, apply frosting with the pastry tube to create a text or sketches.
To change the color of the glaze, add some food coloring and mix well. Add until you get the color you want
Step 2. Make heart-shaped designs on the cake
With a cake mold or freehand sprinkle pieces of chocolate, sprinkles or other decorations for cakes forming a heart on the cake.
A heart shape can also be useful for shaping decorations
Step 3. Add some flowers
You can design them with icing or use real flowers to add a natural touch.
Step 4. Use a ribbon
Take a nice satin ribbon and wrap it around the bottom edges of the cake. This will give it a refined look, particularly if you are preparing it for a special occasion. Be sure to remove the ribbon before cutting the cake.
Step 5. Add some fruit
Berries can add an extra touch of color and sweetness. Place them on the cake whole or in slices, decorated in a decorative way.
Step 6. Make a drawing with a stencil
Take a piece of parchment paper and cut out a heart. Put it on the cake and sprinkle with powdered sugar or cocoa all over the surface. Remove the stencil to reveal the heart shape.
