How to Make a Heart-Shaped Cake (without a Heart Cake Pan)
Learn how to make a heart-shaped cake using pans you already have, for an easy and festive Valentine’s dessert idea!
Easy Heart Shaped Cake
No heart-shaped cake pan? No problem!
With this easy baking hack, you can create a cute heart-shaped sheet cake using pans you probably already have in your kitchen. All you need to bake this heart cake is round pan, a square pan, and a box of cake mix. Then you can decorate with your favorite frosting and sprinkles!
No fancy tools, no extra spending, just a simple trick that works every time!
This method is perfect for Valentine’s Day, a romantic anniversary, birthday, classroom party, or simply a sweet family dessert at home. The cake bakes up evenly, slices easily, and looks amazing once it’s frosted, whether you keep it simple or go all-out with sprinkles and decorations. It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” ideas that’s both clever and practical.
If you’re baking with kids, this is also a fun way to show them that you don’t need special equipment to make something feel special. A little creativity goes a long way, and this heart-shaped cake proves that sometimes the best kitchen hacks are the simplest ones!
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Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix + ingredients listed on package directions
- 2 cans of frosting – We used Pillsbury Valentine Funfetti frosting, which is vanilla-flavored pink frosting that comes with heart sprinkles. You could also make your own homemade buttercream with our recipe below.
Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar (up to 1 cup extra as needed)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring (optional)
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Instructions
Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour an 8-inch or 9-inch round pan and square pan.
- Prepare cake batter according to package directions.
- Pour batter evenly between the prepared round pan and square baking pan and bake according to the box instructions for 2 round pans.
- Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool enough to handle. Shake the pans to loosen the cakes and flip onto a wire cooling rack.
- Cut the round cake in half. Assemble the cooled cake pieces to form a heart shape. Frost and decorate.
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Buttercream:
- Beat butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of bowl as needed. Continue mixing until stiff peaks form.
- If the frosting is too thick to spread, mix in a splash of milk or cream. If the frosting is too runny, mix in more powdered sugar.
- Optional: mix in a few drops of pink food coloring.
Video Tutorial:
Prep Tips:
- Use the same cake batter for both pans so everything bakes evenly. One standard box of cake mix is perfect. I recommend using the 15.25oz box of cake mix.
- Grease and line your pans with parchment paper to make removing the cake pieces easier.
- Fill pans evenly so the round and square cakes bake at the same height. You can also use a serrated knife to even the tops of the cakes before frosting.
- Let cakes cool completely before cutting or assembling to prevent crumbling.
- Assemble on your serving tray to avoid transferring the finished cake.
- Frost generously to hide seams and make the heart shape pop. We used 2 full cans of frosting. Can you ever have too much frosting??
More Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes:
- Valentine Pretzel Treats
- Valentine Swirl Cookies
- Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
- Red Lips Valentine Cookies
- Conversation Heart Marshmallow Pops
- Instant Pot Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake
- Valentine Cheesecake Brownie Hearts
- “Queen of Hearts” Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts
- Heart Shaped Danishes
Easy Heart Shaped Cake Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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How to Make a Heart-Shaped Cake (without a Heart Cake Pan)
Equipment
- 1 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan
- 1 8-inch or 9-inch square cake pan
- Serrated Knife
- Offset spatula
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix plus ingredients listed on package directions
- 2 cans frosting or homemade buttercream
Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring optional
Instructions
Cake Instructions:
- To Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour a round cake pan and square cake pan.
- Prepare cake batter according to package directions.
- Pour batter into the prepared round pan and square baking pan, diving the batter evenly.
- Bake according to the box instructions for 2 round pans.
- Remove cakes from oven. Allow cakes to cool enough to handle, then shake the pans gently to loosen the cakes and flip carefully onto a wire cooling rack.
- Cut the round cake in half.
- Assemble the cooled cake pieces to form a heart shape.
- Frost and decorate.
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Buttercream:
- Beat butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of bowl as needed. Continue mixing until stiff peaks form.
- If the frosting is too thick to spread, mix in a splash of milk or cream. If the frosting is too runny, mix in more powdered sugar.
- Optional: mix in a few drops of pink food coloring.
Video
Notes
- Use the same batter: One standard 15.25 oz box of cake mix is perfect for both pans and helps the cakes bake evenly.
- Prep your pans: Grease and line pans with parchment paper for easy release.
- Fill evenly: Divide batter evenly between pans so both cakes bake to the same height. Level tops with a serrated knife if needed.
- Cool completely: Let cakes fully cool before cutting or assembling to prevent crumbling.
- Assemble in place: Build the heart shape directly on your serving tray to avoid moving the finished cake.
- Frost generously: Use plenty of frosting to hide seams and define the heart shape. We used 2 full cans. No regrets.
Nutrition
Pin our Heart Shaped Cake Hack on Pinterest:
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