Easy Valentine’s Day Dessert – Vanilla Strawberry Heart Cake

Vanilla Strawberry Loaf Heart Cake

Hidden Strawberry Heart Cake Ingredients

1 C unsalted butter, room temp
2 C flour
1 C sugar
4 eggs, room temp
2 tsp strawberry extract
1/2 tsp salt
pink gel food coloring
heart cookie cutter

Vanilla Cake Ingredients

1 C unsalted butter, room temp
2 C flour
1 C sugar
4 eggs, room temp
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

Royal Icing Ingredients

2 egg whites
1 C powder sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp vanilla
Pink gel food coloring

Hidden Strawberry Heart Directions

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a loaf pan with baking spray.
-On high speed with an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
-Beat after adding each of the eggs, one at a time. Add strawberry extract and salt.
-Gradually add the flour beating on low until all ingredients are combined.
-Add several drops of the pink gel food coloring.
-Pour the pink batter into the loaf pan.
-Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes ( loaf will not be completely baked) .
-Cool in pan 15 minutes.
-Flip the loaf onto a wire rack to cool.
-Turn upright to cool completely.
-With the cookie cutter in hand measure for the width of each slice.
-Cut each slice according to the above measurement.
-Using the cookie cutter, cut out the hearts. Set aside.

Vanilla Loaf Directions

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a loaf pan with baking spray.
-Set each heart slice into the loaf pan (these should reach from one end of the loaf pan to the other end of the loaf pan).
-On high speed with an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
-Beating after adding each of the eggs into the bowl, one at a time. Stir in the vanilla and salt.
-Gradually add the flour beating on low until all ingredients are combined.
-Begin by filling in the batter on both sides and in between the heart slices and lastly cover the top of the heart as well with the batter.

-Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean .
-Cool in pan 15 minutes.
-Flip the loaf onto a wire rack to cool.
-Turn upright to cool completely.

Royal Icing Directions

-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
– Divide the icing evenly into two bowls.
-In the first bowl of icing add several drops of pink gel food coloring. Mix well.
-Scoop the pink icing into a piping bag with a #2 tip.
-In the second bowl this icing remains white.
-Scoop the white icing into a piping bag with a #2 tip.
-Drizzle the pink and white icing on the top of the loaf cake.

Enjoy!