Description
This Vintage Valentine’s Day Celebration Cake is a retro buttercream heart cake featuring tender vanilla layers and classic American buttercream decorated with charming vintage piping. Perfect for romantic celebrations and nostalgic dessert tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
- ½ cup (120ml) sour cream
- 1½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
- 5–6 cups (600–720g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (for buttercream)
- 2–4 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- Pinch of salt
- Pink and red gel food coloring
- Maraschino cherries (optional)
- Edible pearls (optional)
- Valentine sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 8-inch heart-shaped cake pans.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients with milk and sour cream, mixing just until combined.
- Divide batter evenly into pans and bake 28–32 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat butter for buttercream until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar.
- Mix in vanilla, salt, and cream until fluffy and spreadable.
- Place one cake layer on serving board and spread buttercream on top.
- Add second layer and apply thin crumb coat; chill 20–30 minutes.
- Frost with final layer of buttercream and decorate with vintage piping.
- Chill briefly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If you don’t have heart-shaped pans, bake in round pans and trim into a heart shape.
- For strawberry flavor, substitute ½ cup milk with strawberry puree.
- Cake layers can be baked one day ahead and wrapped tightly.
- Allow cake to sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving for best texture.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 52g
- Sodium: 260mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 115mg