Valentine's Surprise Heart Cake!
Surprise your loved ones with this delightful Valentine's Surprise Heart Cake, featuring a hidden red heart inside! Easy to make with pound cake mix, it's perfect for a special occasion.
Equipment
- Medium Bowl
- 9x5 inch loaf pan
- bread knife
- 2 ¼-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Whisk
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 4 large eggs
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1.33 cups water
- 2 boxes Betty Crocker Pound Cake Mix approx. 16 oz each
- 1-2 teaspoons red gel food coloring for vibrant color
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
For Decorating
- Valentine’s sprinkle mix optional, for decorating
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine one box of pound cake mix with 2 eggs, ¼ cup softened butter, ⅔ cup water, and 1 teaspoon of red gel food coloring. Mix on low speed for about 30 seconds, then increase to medium for 1-2 minutes until the batter is smooth. Feel free to add a bit more red food coloring for a deeper, more vibrant hue if desired.
- Lightly spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with Baker’s Joy or a non-stick spray. Pour the red batter into this prepared pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 45 minutes.
- Once baked, remove the red cake from the oven and let it chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. This makes it nice and firm for easy cutting. After cooling, carefully remove the cake from the pan and slice it into ¾-inch thick pieces using a bread knife. Now, use a 2 ¼-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a heart from the center of each slice. Keep these lovely red hearts aside.
- Next, prepare the second box of pound cake mix. Follow the same steps as before: mix the remaining cake mix with 2 eggs, ¼ cup softened butter, and ⅔ cup water until you have a smooth batter.
- Lightly spray a clean 9x5 inch loaf pan once more. Carefully arrange the red heart cut-outs upright in a single line along the bottom center of the pan. Gently pour the plain pound cake batter (from the second mix) around the sides of the hearts, then completely over the top. You can give the pan a gentle shake to help the batter settle nicely around the hearts.
- Bake this assembled cake at 350°F (175°C) for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the side (making sure to avoid hitting a heart!) comes out clean. Remember, oven temperatures can vary, so keep an eye on it.
- While your cake is cooling, it’s time to make the simple glaze. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk. Gradually add more milk, just a tiny bit at a time, until you achieve a thick, pourable consistency for your glaze.
- Let the cake cool completely after baking. Once cool, drizzle your delicious glaze evenly over the top and then scatter your festive Valentine’s sprinkle mix. Allow the glaze to set before slicing into the cake to reveal your beautiful, sweet surprise heart inside!
Notes
Remember, oven temperatures can vary, so keep an eye on it. Feel free to add a bit more red food coloring for a deeper, more vibrant hue if desired. This makes the first cake nice and firm for easy cutting. A toothpick inserted into the side (making sure to avoid hitting a heart!) should come out clean when baking the final cake. Allow the glaze to set completely before slicing into the cake to reveal your beautiful, sweet surprise heart inside!
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 129 kcal
Total Carbs: 10g
Net Carbs: 10g
Fats: 9g
Protein: 2g
Calories: 129 kcal
Total Carbs: 10g
Net Carbs: 10g
Fats: 9g
Protein: 2g
