
This heart-shaped pink cake is a perfect Valentine's Day dessert. The heart-shaped layers are made of a sweet vanilla cake and filled with rich chocolate ganache. For an easy and elegant topper, snip a few fresh roses and petals and place them right on the cake.
Do you guys remember boxes of conversational hearts in grade school?! Something about cracking open a new box instantly transports me to fourth grade. Those days I had very uneven bangs, light up shoes, and my Lisa Frank Valentine's cards were cooler than cool.
I have a real soft spot for conversation heart-inspired desserts! There is something about them that is equal parts nostalgic and adorable. I also think that the actual candies taste very ‘blah’ so I love the idea of reinventing them.
I went for a more elegant neutral look for this cake, but you can certainly put any sayings in the center of the heart with red icing and be creative expressing your mushy side.
Raspberry/Strawberry Preserves: One of my favorite easy/fruity ways to fill a cake with. This color will totally match your Valentine's Day scheme as well.
Lemon Curd: Great for all my tart lovers! I always keep a jar of Trader Joes lemon curd on hand for this specific reason.
Fresh Fruit and Whipped Cream: If you want a filling on the lighter side this is an easy, yet flavorful, option.
Buttercream: When all else fails, go for more buttercream. You can never have enough.
Fresh is best: Top the cake off with flowers right before serving. If you’re making this cake the night before, it’s best to save the flower topper to avoid wilting.
Types of flowers that are safe for a cake topper: Pansy, Lavender, Viola, Violet, Rose, Marigold, Cornflower, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Day Lily, Hibiscus, Peony, Chamomile, Freesia, Gerber Daisy, Lisianthus, Queen Anne's Lace, Primrose, Sunflower.
Rinse them: This might sound silly… but be sure to give your flowers an extra good rinse before topping. Speaking from experience here when I say flowers are traps for little bugs!
For the Vanilla Cake:
For the Chocolate Ganache Filling:
For the Buttercream:
For the Filling:
For the Buttercream:
*Note: Cake was made with two separate sponge layers for extra height. If this look is desired, double the cake recipe or split into two cake tins.
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