Best Heart Cake Recipes

EASY HEART-SHAPED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square pan and an 8-inch round pan. Line bottoms with parchment or wax paper. Grease paper and dust lightly with flour.
• Beat white sugar, butter, vanilla, and almond extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until well combined.
• Stir flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together in another bowl.
• Beat 1 cup dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined. Add 1/2 cup milk; beat until combined. Continue adding 1 cup dry ingredients and 1/2 cup milk, beating after each addition, until all are used and batter is smooth. Divide evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
• Beat butter and vanilla together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating after each addition and adding milk as needed, until frosting is fluffy, smooth, and spreadable.
• Remove 1/3 cup frosting and divide between 2 small bowls. Tint 1 dark pink with red food coloring. Tint the other orange-pink with red and yellow food coloring. Tint remaining frosting light pink with red food coloring.
• Set square cake on a work surface and rotate 45 degrees so that it resembles a diamond. Spread a little light pink frosting on left and right top sides of the diamond. Cut round cake in half crosswise to make 2 half-moons. Attach half-moons to top left and top right sides of diamond, gently pressing cake pieces together to adhere. Spread remaining light pink frosting over the assembled cake. Drop spoonfuls of dark pink and pink-orange frosting onto cake. Drag an offset spatula through frosting to create a marbled look.
• Pat sprinkles onto the sides of the cake. Chill, covered, for up to 3 days. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before slicing into 16 pieces.

ALEXIS' HEART CAKE

Steps:

• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, and then vanilla, and mix until smooth and combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. If not using immediately, frosting can be refrigerated up to 3 days in an airtight container; before using, bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth again.
• Place food coloring in a resealable plastic bag. Add coconut flakes. Shake bag to evenly coat coconut with food coloring. Use immediately.
• Using a serrated knife, trim top of coconut cake to make level. Place coconut cake, trimmed side up, on a cake turntable or serving plate, and spread with about 2 cups frosting. Top with banana cake. Using an offset spatula, spread remaining frosting over entire cake. Sprinkle the top and sides with coconut. Cake can be kept refrigerated, covered with a cake dome, for up to 3 days.

HEART SMART CINNAMON STREUSEL COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray bottom and side of 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, stir 1/3 cup Bisquick mix, the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until crumbly.
• In medium bowl, stir all coffee cake ingredients until blended. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with topping.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool.

HIDDEN HEART STRAWBERRY BUNDT CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• On a cutting board, slice the ends off the pound cakes, then slice the cakes to the same thickness as the heart-shaped cookie cutter.
• Cut the centers out of the slices of pound cake with the cookie cutter. Set the hearts aside and discard the scraps or save for another use.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and salt with an electric hand mixer for 4 minutes, or until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Add the vanilla and eggs, 1 at a time, beating to incorporate before adding the next. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again.
• Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold to incorporate a bit with a rubber spatula.
• Continue mixing with the electric hand mixer, streaming in the milk and beating until just incorporated. Add the strawberry puree and beat to combine.
• Grease a bundt pan with nonstick spray.
• Add 2 cups of cake batter to the bundt pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Place the pound cake heart cut-outs around the pan, points up, submerging in the batter by about ½ inch (1 ¼ cm.) Add the rest of the batter, then gently tap the pan against the counter 2-3 times to release any air bubbles.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool for 30 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
• Make the vanilla simple syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and vanilla. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture reaches a gentle boil. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Make the white chocolate ganache: In a medium bowl, pour the heavy cream over the white chocolate chips. Whisk until completely smooth.
• Using a skewer, poke holes all over the cake, then brush with the vanilla simple syrup.
• Pour the white chocolate ganache over the cake. Decorate with sprinkles.
• Slice the cake to reveal the hidden hearts, then serve.
• Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY HEART CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cake mix, gelatin and flour. Beat in oil and eggs. Drain strawberries, reserving 1/2 cup syrup for frosting. Add berries and water to batter; mix well. Divide batter between two waxed paper-lined 8-in. baking pans, one square and one round. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes (square) and 35-40 minutes (round or until cake tests done. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , In a small bowl, combine butter and reserved syrup. Gradually add sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Place square cake diagonally on a 20x15-in. covered board. Cut round cake in half. , Frost cut sides; place frosted sides against the top two sides of square cake, forming a heart. Frost sides and top of cake. Decorate with red-hots if desired.

CHOCOLATE HEART LAYER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON MOUSSE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 8x8x2-inch heart-shaped cake ring on sheet of foil. Wrap foil up sides of ring. Brush foil and inside of ring with 1 tablespoon butter; dust with flour. Place on baking sheet.
• Sift flour, cocoa, and salt into medium bowl. Combine eggs and sugar in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until thick and billowy and heavy ribbon falls when beaters are lifted, about 5 minutes. Sift half of dry ingredients over; fold in gently. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients. Transfer 1/4 cup batter to small bowl; fold in 3 tablespoons butter. Gently fold butter mixture into batter; do not overmix or batter will deflate. Transfer batter to ring.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cake with foil to rack; cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• For Mousse Base:
• Bring whipping cream and cinnamon sticks just to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat; let steep 1 hour at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate cinnamon cream overnight.
• For Mousse, Cake Assembly, and Glaze:
• Blend jam and kirsch in small bowl. Cut around sides of cake; lift off ring. Using metal spatula, loosen cake from foil and transfer to rack. Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half. Using tart pan bottom, transfer top cake layer to work surface; turn cut side up. Spread half of jam on cut side of both cake layers.
• Strain cinnamon cream into large bowl; beat until soft peaks form. Stir finely chopped chocolate in heavy small saucepan over low heat until smooth. Quickly fold warm chocolate into whipped cream (chocolate must be warm to blend smoothly). Immediately drop mousse by dollops over bottom cake layer; spread to within 3/4 inch of edge. Gently press second layer, jam side down, atop mousse. Smooth sides of cake with offset spatula. Chill assembled cake on rack while preparing glaze.
• Bring cream, 1/4 cup water, corn syrup, and tea to boil in small saucepan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; steep 5 minutes. Strain into another small saucepan; return to boil.
• Remove from heat. Add coarsely chopped chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool glaze until thickened, but still pourable, about 30 minutes. Place rack with cake over baking sheet. Slowly pour glaze over cake to cover, using spatula if necessary to spread evenly. Chill until glaze is firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Place cake on platter and serve.

VANILLA HEART-SHAPED CAKE WITH RASPBERRY-AND-CUSTARD-FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread coconut in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until dry but not browning, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely on sheet.
• Increase oven temperature to 350°F. Butter a 10-by-2-inch heart-shaped cake pan (see cook's note for product link). Line bottom with parchment, butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water, whisk together eggs, sugar, and vanilla seeds until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm. Remove from pot and beat on high speed until thick and pale, about 4 minutes. Add flour mixture; whisk just to combine. Add butter; whisk to combine. Add crème fraîche, milk, and vanilla extract; whisk to combine.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and bake until top springs back when lightly touched and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes, then invert onto rack, remove parchment, and let cool completely. Cake can be made ahead to this point, wrapped in plastic, and stored at room temperature up to 1 day.
• Whisk pastry cream to lighten, then whisk heavy cream to stiff peaks. Fold whipped cream into pastry cream. Using a serrated knife, split cake in half horizontally. Use a 4 1/2-to-5-inch heart-shaped cutter to cut out center of bottom layer. Spread a thin layer of cream mixture (about 1 cup) over other (uncut) layer, then arrange about 2 3/4 cups berries over cream, covering entire layer.
• Dollop about 1 1/2 cups more cream mixture over berries, spreading with an offset spatula to cover. Place cut-out layer on top, bottom-side up. Fill heart-shaped hollow with remaining cream mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or, covered, up to 24 hours.
• Frost top and sides of cake with crème-fraîche whipped cream. Sprinkle border with coconut. Arrange remaining 1 1/4 cups berries over cream mixture in heart-shaped hollow. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or, covered, up to 8 hours.

CHOCOLATE HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray bottoms only of foil pans. Make cake batter as directed on box. Pour into pans.
• Bake 26 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Spread frosting over cakes. Decorate with candies. Store loosely covered.

MINI HEART-SHAPED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with rack in the center of the oven. Butter an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet, line with parchment paper, butter parchment, and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, food coloring, and 1/4 cup boiling water. Set aside to cool.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and shortening on high speed until smooth. Add sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir buttermilk and vanilla into cocoa mixture. Into another medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. With the mixer on low, add flour mixture alternating with cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat until incorporated.
• In a small bowl, mix together vinegar and baking soda until baking soda dissolves; mixture will fizz. Add to batter and mix until just combined.
• Pour batter into prepared baking sheet, smoothing the top. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 20 to 30 minutes, rotating pan after 10 minutes.
• Cook cake completely on a wire rack. Using a 4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 12 hearts.
• Place 4 strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy susan. Place 1 layer on the cake plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the cake; top with another heart, bottom side up. Cover entire cake with a thin layer of frosting and transfer to refrigerator for 10 minutes. Repeat process with remaining ingredients.
• Remove cakes from the refrigerator and cover each cake with a generous layer of frosting, smoothing as you go around to create a flat surface.
• Place chocolate in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip; decorate as desired.

HEART-SHAPED COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch heart-shaped cake pan; line bottom with parchment paper. Butter parchment and dust with flour, tapping out excess; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Place shredded coconut in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Stir chopped coconut into flour mixture until combined; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Add whole eggs, egg whites, and vanilla; beat until fluffy and combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture, alternating with the coconut milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Invert cake onto rack; peel off parchment paper. Reinvert cake and let cool completely, top side up.

HEART HEALTHY CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13" X 9" baking pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flours, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves, set aside.
• In another large bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly beat in the sugar. Then slowly beat in the applesauce, buttermilk and vanilla.
• Using a spoon, stir in the flour mixture just until combined. Then stir in, one ingredient at a time, the crushed pineapple, carrots, walnuts and raisins.
• Spread mixture in prepared pan. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool completely. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

HEART HEALTHY APPLE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Combine apples with sugar, raisins, and pecans; let stand half an hour.
• Stir in oil, vanilla, and egg.
• Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl; stir into apple mixture 1/3 at a time, just enough to moisten.
• Pour batter into greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRY BROKEN HEART CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the strawberry sauce: Add the strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries have softened but are still vibrant red.
• Strain the strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Use a spatula to press the juice out of the berries. Discard the pulp and set the sauce in the refrigerator to cool.
• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease 2 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake mix, water, canola oil, and eggs until smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake the cakes according to the package instructions, until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Let cool completely.
• Place one of the cooled cakes on a cutting board on top of a 10-inch (25 cm) square of parchment paper. Carefully trim off the domed top of the cake so it is level. Use a sharp knife to lightly make an X across the cake. Using the X as a guide, trim the top and bottom of the cake to create straight edges, discarding the trimmings. Cut the top triangle of the cake out, and place on the bottom, so it aligns neatly along the bottom edge. Trim the top points of cake so they become rounded, to create a heart. Use a pencil to trace the heart on the parchment. Move the cake pieces and parchment aside, reserving the parchment for later use. Repeat with the remaining cake.
• On a rimmed serving platter, build the cake: Transfer one of the heart cakes to the platter. Pipe a strip of chocolate frosting to attach the top and bottom of the heart. Pipe a layer of frosting over the top of the cake. Stack the remaining cake layer on top and repeat frosting.
• Pipe frosting onto the sides of the cake and use an offset spatula to spread evenly over the entire cake. Pipe a thick ¾-inch (2 mm) tall border around the top edge of the cake. Make sure there are no gaps. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Place the parchment with the traced heart on a baking sheet. Pour the melted chocolate into the center of the traced heart, using an offset spatula to fill in evenly. Place the other square of parchment on top. Refrigerate until hardened, at least 20 minutes.
• Peel back the top sheet of parchment from the chocolate heart and pipe a thin layer of chocolate frosting on top, spreading evenly with an offset spatula. If not using immediately, cover with the second piece of parchment paper again and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the cake.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and carefully pour in the strawberry sauce into the bordered top until nearly full. Carefully place the frosting-coated chocolate heart on top of the frosting border. Use the remaining chocolate frosting to carefully fill in the sides between the heart and the cake, then spread another thin layer of frosting over the top. Return to the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
• Make the chocolate ganache: Combine the chocolate chips and ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream in a microwave-safe medium bowl. Microwave on medium power for 1½ minutes, then let sit 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add the remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream and stir to incorporate. Let cool at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until just slightly warm to the touch, but still runny.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Pour about ½ cup of the ganache in the center of the cake. Use an offset spatula to lightly push to the edges, allowing some of the ganache to drip over the sides. Add more ganache as needed. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
• Dip the strawberries in the remaining ganache and arrange around the edges of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, until completely set, or until ready to serve.
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!

VALENTINE HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven according to package directions.
• Prepare cake mix as directed; lightly grease heart-shaped pan.
• Pour cake mix into pan and bake in preheated oven; let cool.
• Ice cake with white frosting and pipe frosting around bottom and top edges of cake with cake decorator tips to form a ridge. Spread strawberry glaze on top of cake and decorate with strawberries around edges; use your imagination as you go.

WEIGHT WATCHERS CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Coat an 8-inch-round disposable aluminum pan with cooking spray and sprinkle with flour. Bend sides of pan to form a heart shape.
• Mix together cake mix, water, egg substitute and 1/3 cup of jam with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds; change speed to high and mix for 2 minutes more.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Invert onto a plate and remove from pan; place right side up on wire rack and allow to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, melt chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water; allow to cool, then stir in remaining jam and half-and-half. Frost cake with chocolate mixture and outline perimeter of cake with raspberries.
• (Note: If chocolate mixture stiffens while frosting cake, microwave for 30 seconds to soften.).

HEART-HEALTHY APPLE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Lightly coat a 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a medium bowl combine the 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 cup whole flour, soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt, set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl toss together the chopped apple and egg product; stir in the 3/4 cup sugar, the 1/4 cup nuts and applesauce;Add flourmixture and stir JUST until combined.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; For TOPPING, stir together the brown sugar the remaining flour, whole wheat flour and cinnamon; Cut in butter until crumbly, stir in remaining nuts, sprinkle topping over batter in pan.
• Bake in 350 degree oven 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean; cool in pan for 10 minutes, serve warm.

HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch heart-shaped pan with butter and dust with some extra bread crumbs.
• Cream 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter in a bowl with an electric mixer; mix in 2/3 cup white sugar and vanilla sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, until light and foamy.
• Place 5 ounces chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then blend into egg mixture. Mix almond meal with bread crumbs and fold into the chocolate batter. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven on the lowest rack for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cook completely, about 1 hour. Remove from pan.
• Place 5 ounces chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then mix in confectioner's sugar.
• Cream 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in chocolate-sugar mixture and almond extract until ganache is smooth.
• Cut heart cake horizontally into 2 layers. Cover the bottom layer with some chocolate ganache and place second layer on top. Cover heart on all sides with remaining chocolate ganache.
• Roll out marzipan into a thin layer on parchment paper. Cut out circles with a small glass to make petals; you need about 12 petals per rose. Roll one of the circles into a spiral shape for the center of the rose. Add the next marzipan circle and roll it around the center piece. The marzipan should just stick together. If you need extra "glue", use some water. Decorate cake with pink roses and other candy to your liking.

HIDDEN HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease a 900g loaf tin and line with a long strip of baking parchment. Cream 175g butter and 175g sugar until light and fluffy. Beat 3 of the eggs and pour in, a little at a time, mixing after each addition. Sift together 140g flour, 1⁄2 tsp baking powder and the cocoa, then fold into the butter mixture along with the almonds. Combine 100ml milk, 11⁄2 tsp vanilla and all the food colouring and add to the batter, then mix until evenly coloured.
• Pour into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 1 hr 10 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10 mins in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack. When cool, cut the cake into 4cm slices. Using a 5cm cutter, stamp out the hearts (save any remaining cake for another treat).
• Repeat step 1 to make a second cake mixture - you won't have cocoa or food colour in this batch. Pour 3⁄4 of the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Push the bottoms of the hearts into the batter in a tightly packed row. Spoon over the remaining cake mixture, covering as much of the hearts as possible. bake for 1 hr or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10 mins in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the icing, gently heat all the ingredients over a low heat until combined. Leave to cool, then chill until needed. Spread over the cooled cake and decorate with the sprinkles, if using. Will keep for 3 days stored in a cake tin.

HIDDEN HEART CAKE

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving excess on all sides to fold over the top. In a medium bowl, combine the sprinkles and 1/2 cup of crumbs from the Heart-Shaped Blondies. Set aside.
• Soften 1/2 cup of the ice cream and spread in an even layer on the bottom of the loaf pan. Freeze the layer of ice cream until set, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the 12 heart-shaped blondies in a row and press them together as tightly as possible.
• Soften all of the remaining ice cream until smooth and easy to spread. Remove the loaf pan from the freezer and spread another 1/2 cup of softened ice cream over the bottom. Carefully place the log of blondies, heart lobes down against the ice cream, in the center of the pan. There should be a 1/2-inch gap between both ends of the log and the ends of the loaf pan.
• Spread the remaining softened ice cream around the log, filling the loaf pan to the top. Work carefully to keep the blondies pressed together tightly. Top the loaf with the blondie crumb/sprinkle mixture in an even layer. Fold the plastic wrap over the cake. Freeze until set, about 4 hours.
• Invert the pan to remove the ice cream cake. Peel off the plastic wrap and discard. Slice the ice cream cake like a loaf of bread, revealing the hidden heart inside. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Put the sugar in a large bowl, add the butter and stir to combine. Cool to room temperature. Beat in the red food coloring, vanilla and eggs.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a smooth batter is formed.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Lay another sheet of parchment paper over the batter and place an inverted baking sheet over the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the blondies in the baking sheet slightly before inverting them onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.
• Cut the blondies into 12 hearts using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter with straight edges. The hearts should be about 1/2 inch thick. Crumble the remaining blondies into coarse crumbs.

HEART-SHAPED CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F for shiny metal pan or 325°F for dark, nonstick or glass pan. Grease and flour bottoms and sides of 2 heart-shaped pans (or two 9-inch round cake pans or three 8-inch round cake pans).
• Prepare cake ingredients as directed on cake mix box. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake 25 to 35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean. Cool cakes 10 minutes in pans, then carefully remove from pans and cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in blender or food processor, blend strawberries and lemon juice until fully pureed. Pour puree into small saucepan. Bring mixture to simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, 10 to 15 minutes until mixture reduces to about 1/4 to ? cup. Cool completely to room temperature.
• In large bowl or bowl of stand mixer, beat butter and strawberry mixture 1 to 2 minutes on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in powdered sugar on medium speed 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition until mixture is smooth. Add milk and vanilla; stir to combine. Increase speed to high and beat 1 minute more until frosting is creamy and fluffy.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Frost top with generous amount of frosting. Top with remaining cake layer; frost top and sides with remaining frosting. Decorate with chocolate-covered strawberries, if desired. Store leftovers tightly covered in refrigerator up to 3 days.
• *To make chocolate-covered strawberries, melt 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Dip strawberries halfway into chocolate mixture, then transfer to wax paper or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes to set.