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Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Heart Cake

Elina James
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • For the Cake:
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp red food coloring
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3–4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • For Decoration (Optional):
  • Heart-shaped sprinkles
  • Red or pink sanding sugar
  • Chocolate hearts or edible pearls

Instructions
 

  • Step 1: Prepare the Cake Pans: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch heart-shaped cake pans and line with parchment paper.
  • Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, red food coloring, and vanilla extract. Stir in vinegar last.
  • Step 4: Combine Ingredients: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix to keep the cake tender.
  • Step 5: Bake the Cake: Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
  • Step 6: Prepare the Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract.
  • Step 7: Assemble the Cake: Level the tops of the cakes if needed. Place one layer on a serving plate and spread a layer of frosting. Top with the second layer and frost the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with sprinkles, sanding sugar, chocolate hearts, or piped frosting as desired.