These heart-in-the-middle cupcakes are so cute and are easy to make! Change the center shape for lots of different holidays and celebrations.
Heart Cupcakes
CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS
Boxed cake mix (I used this cake mix)
3 Large Eggs
1/2 cup melted butter (not margarine)
1 cup of water
CUPCAKE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat over to 350°. Line muffin or cupcake pan with 18 cupcake liner cups.
2. In a large bowl, add cake mix, eggs, melted butter and water. Mix on low for one minute until ingredients are combined and then switch to high for approximately one minute until batter is thick and creamy.
3. Spoon approximately 1/4 of the batter into another bowl. Add red or pink food coloring and mix in thoroughly.
4. Grease the sides and bottom of a small cake or casserole pan. Pour the colored batter in. Keep in mind that you’ll want it to be a good thickness after baking for the heart shape.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350°. Once the cake is cooked enough to be firm, take it out. It will be cooked more inside the cupcake so don’t overbake it.
6. Cool the cake in the fridge or freezer. I left mine in the freezer for an hour to make sure it was cold enough and firm enough to hold its shape in the batter.
7. Using a heart-shaped cutter like this, cut as many shapes as you can from the colored cake. Put the hearts back into the fridge or freezer while you prepare the cupcake batter.
8. Spoon plain batter into the 18 cupcake liners. Once you have about 1/3 of each cup filled up, remove the hearts from the fridge and place one heart in each cupcake liner, standing the heart up.
9. Carefully spoon the remaining batter around and over the hearts (to prevent the hearts from being pushed up out of the batter as it rises). * Turn all of the hearts one way in the cupcakes so you will remember which way they face inside the cupcakes after baking.
10. Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes at 350° then remove from the oven to cool.
11. Once the cupcakes have cooled, remove them carefully from the pan, taking care to face the cupcakes in the same direction so you remember how the hearts are turned. Frost or decorate the cupcakes so it’s clear which side is the front. That way when you enjoy your cupcakes, you’ll be sure to see the heart shape clearly.
Hope you love them as much as we do! If you love the Heart in the Middle Cupcakes, be sure to try the Cookies & Cream Cupcakes and Strawberry Filled Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting too!
Let me know if you make them – I’d love to see your pics! 🙂
Scarlet of Family Focus Blog says
Wow. I would NEVER have thought of that nifty cupcake trick! Cute. Stumbled.
Jennifer @ Geek Chic Mama says
Very cute and a versatile idea! Different shapes and colors would make this technique perfect for lots of holidays/themes.
Shannon says
Love love love this. Thanks for sharing.
Jo Ann Moffatt says
Aren’t these just the cutest things? I usually make a heart-shaped cake for Valentines Day but this year I am going to make these instead. Thank you very much for this recipe.
Christi H. says
I am going to make these for the people at work-they all love cupcakes!
Brandy Collins says
Can’t wait to make these for V-Day!
Mary Ann Knox says
That is so amazing! Just WOW!!! Those look awesome! I will so try this for my daughter’s next school function!
vicki hale says
Lovely!!!!!!!! I am not a baker, but this makes me wanna give it a go! Thank you
Sarah Hoffman says
That’s awesome I would of never thought to do it that way so thank you so very much.. I will have to try this for Valentine Day
Jane Ritz says
Wow, I wouldn’t have thought of that in a million years. Kids will love those cupcakes. Thanks for sharing!
Leslie G says
Such a cool idea. My kud loves using a cookie cutter so perfect way to get him involved.
Robyn L says
awesome idea! so cool for Valentine’s coming up
cathy henatyszen says
that is so neat!!! would have never figured it out
time to pin it
Stephanie Ibabao-DeMore says
I’m going to make these! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂
Peggy says
This is such a simple idea and something the young grandchildren can actually do. thank you for making this Valentines Day activity fun and easy.
Ryan Origon says
These turned out super cute!!
ashley c says
Love this!!
beth combs says
these are TOO cute!!!!
Sara Isaacs says
That is such an awesome idea!
Sue Hull says
These are so cute! I’ve never seen anything like this.I pinned it on my recipes board.It’s always fun to find ways to bake cupcakes on Valentine’s Day. I have 2 neices who would love these. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Jessica S. says
What a cute idea! I have seen the “marble in the pan” for making heart cupcakes but nothing like this. My daughter would be tickled by these 🙂
jamie braun says
such a great idea.. they turned out so cute. definitely going to try this with my girls
Debbie Corbin says
what a great idea! I was just thinking about this the other day and wondering how people were doing that! thanks!
Wanda Tracey says
Wow I’m impressed.I wouuld never have known how to dothis in a hundred years.Thanks for sharing.
Emma H says
I really have to try this. So cute!!
Erin from Long Island says
omg, these are adorable! I really want to play around with this, especially for St Patrick’s Day!
Elizabeth Kasson says
How cute! Perfect for Valentines!
Laura Smith says
This is so awesome and you make it sound easy. I would think you could use this for any holiday with different colors/shapes. Thanks
Tricia says
Made them for my boyfriend for Valentines Day, they came out well. Thanks!
Mickey says
That’s great! I’m glad they turned out. 🙂
Toni F says
This is so cool. Wish i would have known about this when the kids were little
dawn cook says
i may make these this weekend, my son wants me to make cupcakes…. =)
judy gardner says
that is so cool and i could totally do that for the kids! good alternative to chocolates for valentines day! thanks for sharing!
Jennay says
This is such a great idea!! Thank you for sharing with us!! =) Just adorable!!
Amy Orvin says
These cupcakes are just precious. I love baking, especially cupcakes. I’d love to make my brother some of these. Thank you for the recipe.
Kimberly K. says
What a cute idea for cupcakes?
Amanda Ward says
very cute but I don’t think I have the patients for the cutting the hearts out
Summer Davis says
I hate you. Stop being so perfect. Come over and get drunk with me. heart in the middle of my love for you.
Mickey says
OMG I hate you too! I actually baked the cupcakes to show my love for you. We have to see each other soon for many beverages and hearts of love.