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How to Make a Heart Shaped Cake

We’re showing you How to Make a Heart Shaped Cake when you don’t even own a heart shaped cake pan!

heart shaped cake with white frosting and pink sprinkles

This is a delicious homemade red velvet cake (though you can make chocolate cake or vanilla cake or any other favorite flavor or boxed mix). And you will only need two pans that you probably already have in your kitchen to make this cake- an 8-inch square and an 8-inch round.

RecipeBoy shared this idea way back in 2014 when he was just 13 years old. There are a couple of original photos of him included in this post. We’ve re-shot the photos in 2022 and are sharing them today.

red velvet cake batter in bowl and then in pans

How to make a Heart Shaped Cake:

The full, printable recipe is at the end of this post. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and spray a square and a round pan with nonstick spray.

Follow the instructions for making the red velvet cake batter, and divide the batter between the two pans. You want the batter to be even between the two pans so the cakes will rise up to the same height. Bake for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cakes cool for a few minutes, and then turn them out onto a rack to cool completely.

red velvet cake pieces put together to make a heart

Cut the round cake in half. You can use a tape measure to cut it exactly even.

Then take the two half circle cakes and connect them to the square.

white frosting in a bowl

Make a batch of our really delicious vanilla buttercream frosting.

RecipeBoy frosting a heart shaped cake

First frost the cake lightly to create a crumb coat. Refrigerate until that first coat is set.

white frosting on a heart shaped cake

Then frost again more generously to cover the cake completely. Use a piping bag with leftover frosting to decoratively pipe the edge of the heart. Add a few decorative sprinkles, if you’d like.

heart shaped cake with white frosting on a cutting board

The heart shape is really pretty, and it’s a great dessert for Valentine’s Day. Want to impress someone? Most people will think that this cake came straight out of a bakery. The cake happens to be super delicious too. Enjoy!

slice of red velvet cake on a white plate

Here are a few more cake recipes you might like to try:

heart shaped cake with white frosting and pink sprinkles

How to Make a Heart Shaped Cake

RecipeBoy.com
Here's a super easy way to make a heart shaped cake.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 705 kcal

Ingredients
  

RED VELVET CAKE:

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

Instructions
 

BAKE THE CAKE:

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray an 8-inch square and an 8-inch round pan with nonstick baking spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar to the flour mixture. Use an electric mixer to beat for 1 minutes, scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula. Continue to beat on high speed for 2 minutes.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the two pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached. Let cool for 10 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.
  • Find a cutting board or large platter that will fit the large heart cake. Place the square cake on point (one corner pointing down). Cut the round cake in half and place on the upper sides of the square to form a heart shape.

FROST THE CAKE:

  • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
  • Frost the cake once lightly to create a crumb coat. Refrigerate until set. Then frost again more generously to cover the cake completely. Use a piping bag with leftover frosting to decoratively pipe the edge of the heart and (if enough) along the bottom edge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 705kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 6gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 426mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 1gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 579IUCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cake, heart, valentine's day cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

RecipeBoy holding a heart shaped cake

Recipe Rating




Lauren

Monday 24th of February 2014

I have never thought to do this! ...I just need an excuse to make a cake... :)

ERIKA

Wednesday 19th of February 2014

Looks great.

Lynna

Wednesday 12th of February 2014

I love this easy trick to make a heart shaped cake!

katie

Wednesday 12th of February 2014

Such a cool concept and I love that you can use pans that you already have on hand--no need to buy a speciality pan :)

Karen Wolff

Wednesday 12th of February 2014

fantastic idea for those of us who do not own heart shaped pans but would love the heart shape!