Go Back
Coquette Birthday Cake

Soft Pink Heart-Shaped Vanilla Cake (Coquette Birthday Cake) Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 610
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • pink gel food coloring
  • 1/4 cup strawberry or raspberry jam (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or whole milk (for frosting)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • pink gel food coloring (for frosting)
  • pearl sprinkles and a clean satin ribbon (for decoration, remove ribbon before serving)

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Beat 1 cup butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla and pink coloring.
  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, mixing just until combined.
  3. Divide batter into pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out to cool completely.
  4. Level domed tops. Using a heart template, cut each round into a heart shape. Chill the layers 20 minutes.
  5. For the frosting, beat remaining 1 1/2 cups butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla; beat on high 2 minutes until light. Tint pink.
  6. Place one heart on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting, then optional jam. Top with second heart. Apply a thin crumb coat all over and chill 30 minutes.
  7. Frost the cake with a final smooth layer. Pipe rosettes on top with a star tip, press in pearl sprinkles, and tie a ribbon around the base. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes

The ribbon is for looks only and must be removed before slicing. If you want an even taller cake, double the frosting recipe and add a third cake layer (you will need to bake one more 8-inch round). The heart shape will still work.