How to Make a Heart Shaped Cake for Valentine’s Day

On Valentine’s Day, millions of different ways to say “I love you” are expressed in 24 hours. Many of those “I love you's” are wrapped sweetly in chocolates, cookies and other confections. Send an extra-special “I love you” with a homemade--and home baked--Valentine’s Day, heart-shaped cake. (No special molds required). This delicious love note is the perfect dessert for the entire family, or it can cap off a romantic meal. That’s amore! Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A square cake pan
• A round cake pan (both pans should be similar in size--say, a 9-inch round pan and a 9-inch square pan)
• Ingredients for a cake, a box mix is fine
• Ingredients for frosting (think pink or red)
• Decoration suggestions: cinnamon candies, Hershey Kisses

1. Use your favorite cake recipe and bake in these standard pans. Using one round pan and one square pan, bake the cake according to directions. Let cool.
2. A serrated knife works well cutting cakes. Cut off the cake tops to make them level.
3. A single cut down the middle is all that is needed. Cut the round cake in half.
4. Arrange square cake in a diamond shape on cake plate. A cutting board works well, too.
5. See the heart starting to take shape. Arrange each of the half-rounds on each side of the top half of the diamond. A heart shape is created.
6. To prepare for frosting, dust the crumbs off the cake. Make sure cake is cooled.
7. This says Frost. Then, enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• The cake can be made well in advance and frozen. Thaw at room temperature and frost on Valentine’s Day.
• Kitchen stores, television cooking shows and February issues of magazines are sure to have plenty of inspiration for a very special cake. Check them out.
• Hiding a present in the cake offers an extra special surprise. Make sure the gift can withstand the heat of 350 degree F oven.
• Paper doilies and aluminum foil dress up a plain surface to place the cake.