Heart Cake Tutorial

Finally!!  Is that what you are thinking?  Its ok.  You can admit it.  We are all friends here. 

Do you remember this little thing?

 

Well it turns out some of you daring bakers want to make this yourselves.  Yeah you!  I cant wait to see and read all about it... send me links girls! (and boys... if there are any boys)

Well. In order for me to do a tutorial I had to make another one.  So, forgive the less then stellar decorations, but here is our 'tutorial' heart cake.

 

But you didnt come to see the outside right? 

Here goes.

Start out by making four eight inch pans of white cake.  (If you want the actual recipe, just click here)

Make one 9x13 (you can do whatever shape and size you want) pan of red velvet cake. (recipe here)

First I need to level each cake.

I use this handy dandy leveling cake thingy I got at Walmart for a few bucks. 

Remember to do this for all four white cakes.

Add about 1/2 cup to 1 cup frosting and then put one layer on top.  You want two separate two layer cakes at this point.

For the red velvet cake I just ran my fork through it to break it up.  Then I added about a cup of frosting and combined well.

NOW!  I usually like to freeze the cakes for at least a couple hours.  If you cant freeze them, at least try and pop them in the fridge for a bit!

I know this looks pretty weird (maybe cause it is) but this is what I am going to use to make sure I have some uniformity in the heart design.  Its just two toothpicks and a piece of twine.

Place one toothpick in the center of the cake, then (holding firmly) drag the outside toothpick around the cake and make a circle.

Like this!  Now I have a rough guide line of where I am going to being carving.  Do this to both cakes. (or, if you are a good drawer, just take a knife and cut a shallow line around the perimeter.)

Carve out a V shape in the cake.

The top half of the heart is a little trickier.  This time, I started with my knife in the center of the cake and created this little island. 

I then moved back out to my "guide line" and started cutting.  I ended up creating this channel.  Once this has been created, you can go back in a do some more carving to create more detail.

Here is after I went in with a spoon and carved out a bit more.

 The two cakes carved out.  The hard part is pretty much done now!

Now I can start filling in the cakes with the red velvet cake.

All filled! At this point I put it in my freezer for about 15 minutes.  Just to let them set.

I added some frosting the the edge of the bottom cake.  Make sure you know which is which!  You are going to want to add the cake with the hallowed out 'channel' to the top of the V cake.

Here goes nothin!  I have found the easiest way to do this is to just use your hand.  Place it flat over the top of the 'channel' cake and flip it over.  Then gently place it one the bottom cake.

Add some more frosting and do a rough crumb coat over the whole cake.

And here is our thin layer of icing for the crumb coat.  Put this in the fridge about at least a half hour, or as long as overnight.

Now.  Go eat an apple.  Seriously.  Cause if you are anything like me you have been snacking on the cake scraps this whole time and you need a healthy energy boost.

There.  Feel better?  Lets get back to work.

I ended up using all my red velvet cake so I didnt have any left over for decoration.  So white it is!

Ready to see what all this work was for?

I thought it turned out pretty good!  Granted, this is my third time making it in a month so I had better be able to at least make it presentable by now. :)

 

And it tastes as good as it looks!  (I might be biased)

So I hope you are brave enough to try a heart cake for your loved one this Valentines Day.  Be sure to let me know how it works out.. and take lots and lots of pictures! :)

Recipes:

Red Velvet Cake

For the red velvet cake I messed around with a recipe from Magnolia Bakery.

*This is how I modified this recipe:  I used 2 sticks of butter, 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of food color, and apple cider vinegar.  I wanted a more dense cake because I knew I was using it in the center of the heart cake and I needed to make sure it was sturdy enough.

3 1/3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
6 tablespoons red food coloring
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and lightly flour three 9 x 2-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with waxed paper.

To make the cake:
In a small bowl, sift the cake flour and set aside. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, whisk together the red food coloring, cocoa, and vanilla. Add to the batter and beat well.

In a measuring cup, stir the salt into the buttermilk. Add to the batter in three parts, alternating with the flour. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overheat.

In a small bowl, stir together the cider vinegar and baking soda. Add to the batter and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.

Divide the batter among the prepared pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the layers cool in the pans for 1 hour. Remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

*****

*I used only all-purpose flour and then added 1 tsp baking powder. I am going to play around with this a bit more next time and maybe even add some baking soda. I found this recipe on Food Network.

White Cake

• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into cake pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (for round cake), or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

*****

And I am loving Magnolia's Vanilla Buttercream frosting.

*My only modification to the recipe is I like to add a little almond extract, and it seems that 1 tsp. is the perfect amount!  And be sure to use CLEAR vanilla extract to get a white frosting.

Makes enough for one 2-layer 9-inch cake or 2 dozen cupcakes*

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Comments

[Becky]

Oh my goodness! You.Did.Not.Just.Do.This!!! YOU ROCK! I had given up thinking about this cake this year, after I lost about 3 hours of sleep trying to figure out how to make it the other night...I thought I'd have to wait until next year! Oh I could just squeal...I might've just done that, but I'll never tell...I can't wait to try this! (((HUGS!!))) Did I say You Rock yet...I did didn't I...well, just so ya know!;)

[Londa]

You are one great teacher! The apple instruction cracked me up, as if you have a window into my kitchen!
I would love to try this...someday! I'm building the courage!

[Joy Ellis]

That is so awesome! I think I may try this for my daughters birthday next week! Thanks for sharing this with us!!

[Jo]

Love it. I can't even begin to think of how I'd have the energy and ambition to MAKE it but I sure do love looking at it.

[Missie]

Amazing!

[Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}]

Fantastic!

[Mandi]

lol, how did you know I'd be snacking on scraps the whole time?

[Alicia]

Impressed doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this!!!

[TidyMom]

FABULOUS!!! Fantastic tutorial!!.......I bet it tastes amazing too!!

[jami]

Super tutorial, and the cake is adorable!

[Sarah]

Wow!!! That doesn't even begin to cover it. And thank you for doing this - three times would make me crazy, and not to mention the expense. So - thank you!

I never, ever would've thought to do it this way. I'm a but slow that way! Can't wait to try this next week. Thank you!!!

[Marian (Sweetopia)]

Oh soooooo awesome! I'm completely inspired to try this now!! Thank youuuu for an easy to follow tutorial!

[sheri]

Holy yum! This is so not good for my dieting. I want cake so bad now I can't stand it!

[Wendy@ Almota Roses]

I can see there is going to be cake for Valentine's Day. Love your creativity, Amanda!

Have a wonderful day,
Wendy

[Lorie]

BRILLIANT!!!!!

[Veronica M.]

Girl, you come up with the most brilliant ideas! It might take me 10 years to work up the desire to actually make it myself, but I really enjoyed the tutorial and the pictures. I hope to use it some day. :)

[Veronica M.]

P.S. Are those homemade bake-even strips around your pans and if so, what material are they? They work really well--much better than the ones I bought. And it doesn't look as though you did but I thought I'd ask if you freeze your cakes before carving.

[tien]

This was brilliant!!! It was impressive results so it was worth the effort!!! -Tien :)

[bridget {bake at 350}]

Just brilliant! This STILL just boggles my mind! A. How did you come up with that idea? B. Are you an engineer?

Even with the instructions, I know I couldn't do it.

[Gail]

My favorite part of this entire tutorial is the 'compass' you made with the toothpicks and string. Genius. Truly genius.

[Tessa]

Oh my god that is the most beautiful cake I've ever seen. I love hearts.

[Taiya]

Umm.. would you get a restraining order if I said that I was in love with you?! Because I might be. :D My daughter's birthday is Valentine's Day. You just made my whole month with this tutorial! Not to mention the oreo goodies you made... this is amazing and I am making the cake for her birthday party next Sunday!

Thank you!

[Jojo Krang]

Thanks a lot for sharing the recipe. This heart cake is genius idea. To come up with something like this, you really have to think 3D. I bet your heart was beating like hell when you did the first cut after finishing the cake, haha.

[nori]

you are A-MAZING!!! it turned out beautiful and looks scrumptious!!!

[kaci]

Wow- amazing! I'll see if I can build up some confidence to give that a try! Wow!

[Ellen]

Wow, this is such a cute idea! Just discovered your blog today, I loved looking at all your creative ideas for cake & cookie decorating!

[ElizaBeth]

SO AWESOME!! I'd have never figured out how you did that one!

[Christina]

This intimidates the world out of me, but I am tempted to try it for V-day :)
I am so thankful you are so detailed in your tutorials!
I know I say this a lot but You are so talented!

[melrose]

The idea is simply great!!! Thank you for your effort (I linked this post for my readers on my blog!).

[Kate]

I love this cake even more decorated pure white. So pretty.

I'm still waiting for a cake with two people holding hands inside. You know you want to do it.

And I want to know if you use bake even strips or whatever they're called. When take my cakes out of the oven they have a hard crusty rim on one side only and they are lopsided. Which doesn't matter so much when I flip them and match the lopsided parts together to make one cake. But I want pure flatness like yours.

Oh for the love of pete just come live with me so you can bake for me forevah.

[Memoria]

YOU. ARE. SO. AWESOME!!!! Thanks for posting this very-easy-to-follow tutorial. I'm not the creative type, but I may try this out one day. Who knows?

[Ruchi]

Soo impressive!!! And thanks for sharing step by step instructions!!!!

[grace]

i'd say you've reached master heart-cake-maker status now--it looks perfect. thanks for the step-by-step--it'll be good to have if i ever feel truly ambitious and romantic at the same time. :)
and that toothpick tool is awesome!

[Liz]

i love this! your blog is wonderful!

[Michelle]

Wow. That is spectacular.

[Alicia]

This cake is the cutest thing I've seen in quite some time. thanks for the tutorial -- I think I'm going to have to try this some time.

[holly]

We did it!!! I posted pix on my blog, come check it out- http://holly-nowmorethanever.blogspot.com/

[Mama M.]

Oh, honest to Pete! You are one talented lady.

Amazing. I wish I could do this...oh, i know I could give it the old college shot, but I'd send myself to the loony bin if I tried.

And, if I completed it...I'd never let anyone touch it...you know, hard work and all...

[Amy]

Awesome!!!!

Thank you! Now I have to add this to my ever-growing baking to-do list, LOL! I feel nervous about doing this - like I won't be able to carve it well at all, but I will TRY! I think. LOL. I was wondering if you have tried this type of thing on mini cakes?

[Amanda Jo]

LOVE IT! You explained it so well that even I (a very clumsy non-baker) may actually be able to make this! I am EXCITED! My family will love it!

[Zannaland]

LOVE.THIS. So adorable and unexpected! Well done!

[Kimberly Smith]

This is extremely awesome!

I really want to try it!

[alison]

o.m.g. I'm totally trying this. GREAT idea and amazing tutorial! : )

[Stephanie]

Wow! What a great idea, and love the picture tutorial!

[Bizu Philippines]

Wow! this amazing thank you so much for the tutorial and specially for the ingredients,i will try this soon. :)

vee

[Ivamarjanovic]

wow that is really impressive.

I am going to have to try that at home. I added your post to my list of valentines tips

[Candace]

Absolutely beautiful.

[Michelle Mospens]

THE BEST Valentine's Day Cake EEEEVVVERRRRRRrrrrr!

Wow.

xo

[Mrs. Kinne]

I am in awe of your cake-making abilities!

[Heleny]

I'm so tempted to try this now!!! It's amazing :)