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Linda

Your Heart Cake Cheat Sheet

This charming heart-shaped cake is perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, or any special occasion where love is the star ingredient. With simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions, you’ll have a delightful centerpiece that not only looks stunning but tastes heavenly too. Learn how to make a beautiful heart-shaped cake even without a special tin, how to cut a square cake into a heart shape, and how many servings a heart cake typically yields. This recipe answers all your baking questions, ensuring a show-stopping dessert for your loved ones.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 231
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1.75 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour or 1 3/4 cups (242 grams) Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-free Baking Flour for gluten-free
  • 0.75 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs room temp
  • 1 cup milk of choice
  • 0.5 cup neutral oil of choice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 0.75 cup boiling water
For the Frosting
  • 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter room temp
  • 2.5 cup powdered sugar plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 0.66 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Whisk
  • Electric Mixer
  • Spatula
  • Heart-Shaped Cake Pan (or rectangular pan)
  • Parchment paper

Method
 

Prepping the Foundation
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch heart-shaped cake pan (or line a rectangular pan with parchment paper).
  2. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
Baking the Heart of the Matter
  1. Cream together butter and sugar in a separate bowl until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in eggs one at a time.
  3. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, alternating with milk. Mix until just combined.
  4. Slowly pour in boiling water while mixing on low speed.
Achieving the Perfect Shape
  1. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  2. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting Finesse
  1. To make frosting, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  2. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla extract and salt.
  3. Beat in cocoa powder until frosting is light and fluffy.
  4. Frost cooled cake and decorate as desired.

Notes

This recipe is easily adaptable to be gluten-free and dairy-free.
Be sure to use room-temperature ingredients for best results.
Get creative with the frosting and decorations!