How to Make a Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Cake (without a heart-shaped pan!)

10 Comments | Written on February 8, 2012 at 5:00 am , by Kristina Vanni

Love is in the air…

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! This adorable recipe is a fun way to express your feelings through a sweet treat.

There’s no need to invest in a special heart-shaped pan that you will only use once a year. It’s so easy to make this heart shaped cake with two basic pans you already have on hand. Take a look at the recipe and let me show you how!

Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Cake (click here to view and print recipe)

1 package cake mix (2-layer size) any flavor except angel food

1 cup cold milk

1 package (4-serving size) Vanilla flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tub (8 ounces) Whipped topping, thawed

1/4 teaspoon red food coloring

Small candies or multicolored sprinkles

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake mix as directed on package. Divide batter evenly between greased and floured 8-inch round and 8-inch square baking pans. Bake as directed on package. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks.

Pour milk into medium bowl. Add pudding mix and sugar. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Gently stir in whipped topping and food coloring.

Leave square cake whole; cut round cake in half. Assemble pieces on serving tray as shown in photographs below, using a small amount of pudding mixture to hold pieces together. Frost cake with remaining pudding mixture. Decorate with candies or sprinkles. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Step 1: Bake your favorite flavor of cake in one 8-inch square pan and one 8-inch round pan. It’s very important that the pans be the same size! Slice the round cake in half.

Step 2: Place each half of the round cake to the sides of the square cake. Instant heart shape! (You can use a bit of frosting to hold the pieces together.)