Valentine's Day Special: Heart-Shaped Cake

 

Valentine's Day Heart-Shaped Cake

For this project, I prefered to do a minimalistic cake that was more about the looks than the flavour so I shamelessly used cake mix. (aahhh the horror, the terror!)

    Ingredients:

• 2 packs of birthday cake flavoured cake mix
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil 
• 1 cup milk or water
• 4 eggs 
• 1 pack of whipping cream 
• 3 tsp vanilla extract 
• Icing sugar (until desired sweetness is reached)
• 1 banana 
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 
• Extra sprinkles for garnish 
• Food colouring

    Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients for the cake batter as instructed on the package. 
2. In a prepared round cake pan, bake your prepared cake batter at the given temperature on the package. 
3. Leave your cakes to cool for 10 mins. Then,  cut off the round tops to create two flat cylinders.
4. In a separate bowl, whip together half a pack of whipping cream with icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and your chosen food colouring. Whip until you achieve soft peaks. REFRAIN FROM OVERMIXING as it may slowly turn into butter. 
5. Add a layer of frosting and smooth with a flat spatula or knife. At this time you may add any other ingredients to your layer. I chose bananas and chopped walnuts.
6. 
   
   
   
7. Add your second layer of cake on top and push gently to hold together. 
8. Using a sharp knife score two diagonals down the cake. Choose three of four points of intersection with the circle. Cut two triangles from the middle chosen point and the two side points.
   
   
   
9. Add frosting to the inner sides of the cut semi-circles. Attach them to the top circular part of the cake to form a heart shape.
10. Make a second batch of frosting with the remaining half of the heavy cream, 2 tsps vanilla extract and more icing sugar. 
11. Frost the remaining exterior of your cake with the new batch of frosting. Take your time to perfect and reach the desired appearance. 
    
    
    
12. Mix the remaining frosting with a different colour of food dye. Fill up your piping bag and trace over the edges of the cake. 
    
    
    
13. Ice the top with a sweet message to your loved ones or a depressing statement that destroys the entire intention of the cake as I have.
    
    
    
14. Refrigerate or serve immediately. And enjoy !!!