Description
Learn how to make a Vintage Heart Cake with this easy step-by-step recipe! This retro-style cake is decorated with delicate buttercream piping, swirls, and pearls, making it perfect for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or weddings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (soft pink, pastel blue, or mint green)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Pans: Grease and line a heart-shaped cake pan, or create a heart shape using one round and one square pan.
- Make the Cake Batter:
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, mixing until just combined.
- Bake the Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Pour batter into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Buttercream:
- Beat butter until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until fluffy.
- Add heavy cream and vanilla extract, then mix in food coloring.
- Decorate the Cake:
- Apply a crumb coat and chill for 10 minutes.
- Pipe rosettes, lace swirls, and pearl borders for a vintage look.
- Add edible pearls, sprinkles, or fondant ribbons for extra charm!
Notes
- To ensure a moist cake, avoid overmixing the batter.
- Chill the cake before decorating to prevent crumbs from mixing into the frosting.
- For a wedding-style version, use white buttercream with gold accents!
- Check out this heart cake decorating guide for more design inspiration.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Retro-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 85mg