Heart Shaped Birthday Cake
A heart shaped birthday cake is the perfect way to celebrate love, joy, and special milestones. Whether it's for a birthday, Valentine’s Day, an engagement party, or even a bridal shower, this vintage-inspired design with beautiful piping will make any occasion extra special. And the best part? You don’t need a specialty heart-shaped cake pan to achieve this gorgeous look!
Ingredients
Cake & Tools:
- 2 (8-inch) round cake layers, cooled and leveled
- Serrated knife
- Cake turntable
- Offset spatula
- Icing smoother
- 10×10-inch cake board or a 12-inch cake drum
- Piping bags
- Piping tips: Wilton 4B 32, 102, and 3
- Food color gels AmeriColor Deep Pink & Fuchsia
- X-Acto knife optional for trimming cake board
Buttercream:
- 9 cups of vanilla buttercream
- Food color gels pink shades for a vintage look
Instructions
Shape the Cake Layers
- Place one round cake on a cutting board.
- Cut two small equal wedges from the sides to form a point at the bottom.
- Use the cut pieces to round out the top of the heart.
- Repeat with the second cake layer and stack for a perfect heart shape.
Assemble & Crumb Coat the Cake
- Spread a thin layer of buttercream on your cake board.
- Place the first cake layer on the board and position the cut pieces to complete the heart shape.
- Add a layer of buttercream, then place the second cake layer on top.
- Apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Frost the Cake
- Apply a smooth final coat of buttercream using an offset spatula.
- Use an icing smoother to achieve clean edges.
- Chill the cake for 20 minutes before piping.
Prepare the Vintage Piping
- Divide buttercream into three bowls and color them with varying shades of pink.
- Fill piping bags with: Darkest pink: Wilton Tip 4B (for large shell borders). Medium pink: Wilton Tip 32 (for small shell borders). Light pink: Wilton Tip 102 (for ruffle garlands)
Pipe the Vintage Decorations
- Pipe large shell borders along the top and bottom edges.
- Add small shell borders inside the large shells.
- Pipe ruffle garlands on the sides, layering them for a textured effect.
- Connect ruffle garlands with small piped hearts for a finishing touch.
Write a Custom Message
- Using Wilton Tip 3, pipe a message on top of the cake.
- Ideas for text: "Happy Birthday!", "Love You Always", "Best Day Ever!"
- If needed, chill the cake to adjust or rewrite the message.
Notes
- Let the cake sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.
- Pair it with matching vintage-themed cupcakes or heart-shaped cookies for an extra sweet celebration.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.