Easy Valentine's Day Cake

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Description

This easy Valentine's cake recipe with a double-layer heart-shaped cake covered in homemade vanilla icing is sure to impress your guests!

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square pan and an 8-inch round pan.
2 Make the cake: Beat sugar and butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir in baking powder and baking soda until just combined.
3 Stir in 1 cup flour until just combined, then mix in 2/3 cup milk until well combined. Continue adding 1 cup flour and 2/3 cup milk, alternating until all flour and milk are used and batter is smooth. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes completely before removing from pans, at least 2 hours.
5 Make the icing: Beat confectioners' sugar, butter, and vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.
6 Remove cakes from the pans. Place the square cake onto a work surface so it resembles a diamond. Cut the round cake in half; place one half adjacent to the top left side of the diamond and the other half adjacent to the top right side, creating a heart-shaped cake. Spread icing over the assembled cake.