Description
These Hidden Heart Valentine’s Cupcakes are a sweet surprise for your loved one! Moist vanilla cupcakes conceal a pink heart shape inside every bite — a charming and delicious way to say ‘I love you’ on Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
For the Pink Hearts:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
Red or pink food coloring
For the Vanilla Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
For the Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3–4 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pink sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9-inch baking pan.
2. Prepare the pink heart cake first: Cream butter and sugar together, add eggs and vanilla, then mix in dry ingredients and milk until smooth.
3. Add red or pink food coloring to desired shade and pour into the pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Let cool completely, then use a small heart-shaped cutter to cut out hearts from the pink cake.
5. Prepare the vanilla cupcake batter as directed.
6. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. Spoon a small amount of batter into each liner.
7. Stand one pink heart cutout upright in the center of each liner, then gently cover with more vanilla batter (don’t overfill).
8. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until cupcakes are lightly golden and set.
9. Cool completely before frosting.
10. For the frosting, beat butter until creamy, add powdered sugar gradually, then mix in cream and vanilla until fluffy.
11. Pipe frosting on top and decorate with pink sprinkles.
Notes
Keep the heart cutouts aligned in the same direction so the hidden shape shows perfectly when sliced.
Freeze the pink heart cake slightly before cutting for cleaner edges.
Use contrasting colors for a bolder surprise (e.g., red hearts in chocolate cupcakes).
Store cupcakes covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day parties, anniversaries, or romantic surprises!
- Prep Time: 35 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 36g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: hidden heart cupcakes, Valentine’s Day desserts, surprise cupcakes, romantic baking, vanilla cupcakes