Description

Heart-Shaped Cake is a stunning, beginner-friendly Valentine’s Day dessert that creates bakery-quality hearts without special pans. This Chocolate Layer Cake uses a free heart template, simple cutting, and a rich chocolate frosting to wow guests. Bake two standard pans, arrange the pieces into a perfect heart, and frost smoothly for a glossy centerpiece ideal for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, or birthdays. Moist, delicious, and easy to decorate, shareable, and totally impressive.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup hot water
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
¼ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line one 9×13-inch rectangular pan and one 8-inch round pan.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Stir in hot water.
Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans.
Bake for 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.
Cut the round cake in half. Cut the rectangular cake diagonally from corner to corner.
Place the rectangular triangles together to form a V shape.
Place the two round halves on the open sides to create a heart shape.
Trim edges slightly if needed and frost the entire cake smoothly.
Decorate as desired and serve.

Notes

Use a free heart template to guide cutting for a perfect heart shape.
Ensure both cakes are cooled before assembling and frosting.
Trim edges for a clean heart silhouette if needed.
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can decorate with sprinkles, piping, or edible decorations to suit the occasion.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/16 of cake)
Calories: 420 kcal
Sugar: Approximately 40 g
Sodium: Approximately 180 mg
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 60 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 6 g
Cholesterol: 70 mg

Keywords: Heart-Shaped Cake, Valentines Day dessert, easy chocolate cake, beginner-friendly cake, no special pans, heart template, chocolate frosting, romantic dessert, birthday cake