Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, a wedding, or simply to say “I love you”, the heart cake is a dessert that speaks straight from the heart. With its instantly recognizable shape and room for creative decoration, this cake brings joy to any celebration.
Loved for its charm and versatility, the heart cake can be customized to suit any flavor preference from red velvet and vanilla to chocolate or strawberry. You don’t need a special occasion to bake one, and the best part? You don’t even need a heart shaped pan to pull it off.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to make a heart cake from scratch, share Chef Lucas Benette’s clever shaping method, and give you pro decorating tips that make your cake feel as sweet as it tastes.
What Is a Heart Cake and Why Is It Special?
A heart cake is a simple yet symbolic dessert that’s shaped like a heart and decorated to fit a romantic or celebratory theme. While you can use a heart shaped pan, it’s easy to create one using a square and round cake, cut and joined to form the iconic shape.
Why It’s a Favorite:
- It’s perfect for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, or bridal showers.
- It can be customized in color, flavor, and decoration think pink buttercream, fresh strawberries, or piped rosettes.
- The heart shape adds emotion, turning a simple cake into a heartfelt gesture.
Whether you’re surprising a loved one or baking with someone special, this cake turns an everyday dessert into a memory you can taste.
Ingredients for a Heart Cake
Making a heart cake is as simple as any homemade cake you’ll just give it a little extra love in how you assemble it. Below are the essential ingredients you’ll need for a classic vanilla heart cake with buttercream frosting, but feel free to swap flavors based on your preference.
For the Cake Batter (Yields one 9″ square + one 9″ round layer)
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- 2½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- Optional: 1–2 drops pink or red gel food coloring
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 1½ cups unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2–4 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: Pink or red food coloring
Optional Decorations
- Sprinkles
- Fresh strawberries or raspberries
- Piped rosettes
- Chocolate hearts or candies
Chef Lucas Benette’s Tip for a Perfect Heart Shape
You don’t need a heart shaped pan to make a heart cake, and Chef Lucas Benette proves it every Valentine’s Day.
Here’s how he does it with just a round and square pan:
Lucas’s DIY Heart Cake Method:
- Bake one 9 inch round cake and one 9 inch square cake using the same batter. Let both cool completely.
- Cut the round cake in half to create two semi circles.
- Rotate the square cake so it looks like a diamond (corner pointing up).
- Attach the two semi circles to the top two sides of the diamond this forms the rounded top of the heart.
- Trim and level the edges with a serrated knife, if needed.
Secure the pieces with a bit of frosting between the cuts, then frost and decorate as one solid heart.
Lucas says: “The key is to chill the cake before cutting and assembling cool cake is easier to shape and frost.”
How to Decorate a Heart Cake (Step by Step)
Once your heart cake is shaped, it’s time to bring it to life with frosting, color, and decoration. Whether you want a simple pink glaze or a full on piped rosette finish, this part is where your creativity shines.
Step 1: Crumb Coat the Cake
- Use a thin layer of buttercream to coat the entire cake.
- This seals in crumbs and helps your final frosting layer go on smooth.
- Chill the cake for 15–30 minutes after applying the crumb coat.
Step 2: Apply Final Frosting Layer
- Spread a generous, even layer of buttercream over the top and sides.
- Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to smooth the surface.
- Add color using tinted buttercream if desired light pinks, reds, or ombré work beautifully.
Step 3: Add Decorative Elements
Choose any combo of these:
- Piped Rosettes Use a star tip to pipe rosettes along the border
- Sprinkles or Sugar Pearls Add sparkle and texture
- Fresh Strawberries Slice thin and fan on one corner or top center
- Mini Chocolate Hearts or Candies For Valentine’s Day flair
- Stenciled Messages Dust with powdered sugar or cocoa over a love-themed stencil
Popular Flavor Variations for Heart Cakes
Not into plain vanilla? Here’s a quick flavor pairing guide to inspire your own creation:
| Cake Flavor | Frosting Match | Filling Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | Chocolate ganache | Cherry or raspberry jam |
| Red Velvet | Cream cheese frosting | Whipped cream |
| Vanilla | Strawberry buttercream | Fresh sliced strawberries |
| Strawberry | Vanilla whipped frosting | Strawberry jam |
| Lemon | Lemon glaze or buttercream | Lemon curd |
You can also color your cake layers pink, red, or ombré using gel food coloring for a bold visual impact when sliced.
FAQs About Heart Cakes
1. Do Walmart make heart cakes?
Yes, Walmart does offer heart shaped cakes, especially around occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and anniversaries. You can often order custom heart cakes through their bakery department, with options to personalize the message, frosting, and decorations. Availability may vary by location, so it’s best to call ahead or order online.
2. Does Dairy Queen do heart shaped cakes?
Yes, many Dairy Queen locations make heart shaped ice cream cakes for Valentine’s Day and other romantic celebrations. These cakes typically include their signature soft-serve and fudge-cookie crunch layers. They can often be customized with names or messages, and some locations offer them year round by request.
3. How do I make a heart shaped cake?
You can make a heart shaped cake without a special pan by using:
- One square cake
- One round cake
Cut the round cake in half and place each half on two adjacent sides of the square (rotated to a diamond shape). This forms a perfect heart. Frost the whole cake as one piece, and decorate to your liking.
4. What is a hearth cake in the Bible?
In the Bible, a “hearth cake” refers to a simple cake or bread baked on hot coals or a hearthstone. It appears in passages like 1 Kings 19:6, where the prophet Elijah is fed with a “cake baked on coals.” Hearth cakes were rustic, unleavened, and made with basic ingredients like flour and water very different from modern heart shaped cakes.
Final Thoughts on Sharing the Love with Heart Cake
A heart cake isn’t just a dessert it’s a message baked into a beautiful shape. Whether you’re making it for your sweetheart, your best friend, or just to celebrate something special, this cake delivers emotion and flavor in every slice.
Thanks to Chef Lucas Benette’s clever shaping technique and these simple decorating steps, now you can confidently make your own customized, romantic heart cake no fancy tools required.
Whether you’re baking it for Valentine’s Day or a just because treat, don’t be surprised when you see smiles after the first bite.
