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–+ servings
heart cake

Heart Cake

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This easy heart cake recipe for kids uses simple ingredients and basic pans to create a soft, homemade cake that’s fun to bake and decorate together. No special tools needed.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling & Decorating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Servings: 8 Slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (Cake Batter)
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder (Cake Batter)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (Cake Batter)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (Cake Batter)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature (Cake Batter)
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract (Cake Batter)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (Buttercream Frosting)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (Buttercream Frosting)
  • 2 to 3 tbsp milk (Buttercream Frosting)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (Buttercream Frosting)
  • food coloring (optional) (Buttercream Frosting)
  • colorful sprinkles (Decorations)
  • candy hearts (Decorations)
  • chocolate chips (Decorations)

Equipment

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Oven

    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line both the round and square cake pans.

  2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

    In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

  3. Cream Butter and Sugar

    In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 to 3 minutes).

  4. Add Eggs and Liquids

    Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in milk and vanilla extract.

  5. Combine Batter

    Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
    Kid-Friendly Tip: Kids can help with pouring ingredients, mixing batter, and scraping bowls.

  6. Bake the Cake Layers

    Divide batter evenly between the two pans.Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
    Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

  7. Shape the Heart Cake

    Cut the round cake in half.Rotate the square cake so it looks like a diamond.Place the two round halves on the top sides of the square cake to form a heart shape.

  8. Make the Buttercream Frosting

    Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth and spreadable. Add food coloring if desired.

  9. Frost and Decorate

    Frost the cake evenly. Let kids decorate using sprinkles, candy hearts, or chocolate chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 210mgFiber: 1gSugar: 38g

Notes

  • This recipe is designed to be kid friendly, with simple steps that children can safely help with, such as mixing and decorating.
  • Always allow the cake layers to cool completely before cutting and shaping to prevent crumbling.
  • If the heart shape looks uneven, frosting will easily smooth and hide small imperfections.
  • For less sweetness, reduce the powdered sugar in the frosting by ½ cup and add a little more milk.
  • Food coloring is optional. You can skip it or use natural, dye-free alternatives for a more wholesome option.
  • Parents should handle oven use and cutting, while kids can help with pouring, mixing, and decorating.

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