Description

Master the art of geometric baking with this stunning heart-shaped cake, cleverly constructed using one square and one round pan. This recipe features a delicate chocolate sponge lightened by whipped egg whites and finished with a fresh strawberry buttercream that offers a vibrant, natural tang.

Ingredients

3 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup boiling water
1 cup salted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup butter (for frosting)
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped
1 drop pink gel food coloring (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease, flour, and line one 8-inch round pan and one 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
Pour boiling water over chocolate chips, whisk until smooth, and allow to cool to room temperature for 15 minutes.
Cream softened butter and sugar in a stand mixer for 3–4 minutes, then add egg yolks, vanilla, and the cooled chocolate mixture.
Whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together; add to the batter alternately with buttermilk, starting and ending with flour.
Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until soft peaks form, then gently fold into the batter using a spatula.
Divide batter between the two pans and bake for 25 minutes; cool in pans for 10 minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
Beat the frosting butter and powdered sugar until creamy, then emulsify the finely chopped strawberries into the mixture.
Place the square cake as a diamond, cut the round cake in half crosswise, and attach the halves to the top sides of the square to form a heart before frosting.

Notes

To achieve perfectly flush edges when assembling your heart, use a serrated knife to level the tops of both cakes if they domed slightly during baking. If the strawberry juices make your frosting too soft for piping, simply chill the frosting for 15 minutes to firm up the butter before finishing the assembly.

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American