Our Favorite Heart-Shaped Cakes (Ideas & How To's)
Heart-shaped cakes are undoubtedly in right now. You know the ones. You’ve seen them all over Instagram and Pinterest, decorated with lots of swoopy, piped frosting and topped off with a cute, sassy saying. These fabulous cakes are never out of place at a party—and they’re a trend we’re absolutely loving (if you’ve shopped our Cake Shop or follow us on social media, you know why!).
No matter what you’re celebrating, a heart-shaped cake just can’t be beat. Whether it’s a birthday party, graduation, Valentine’s Day (or other holiday parties), anniversary, intimate wedding, or girls’ night out, these cakes will make guests swoon. Here’s everything you need to know about them, from why we love them, to our favorite heart cakes, and beyond.
What’s the Deal with the Heart Shape Trend?
Ultimately, a heart cake is exactly what you think it is: a cake shaped like a heart. These hearts aren’t anatomical hearts, they’re just the general shape you’d think of when you think of a heart. Oftentimes, these cakes are fun, flirty, and a little bit dramatic, decked out in tons of lambeth frosting (or other retro-inspired frosting techniques), and topped off with a saying and cute decorations—sprinkles, edible glitter, or whatever strikes your fancy.
They’re super versatile and can come in any color or flavor. They go perfectly with just about any occasion and are a real show-stopper on any dessert table.
Why We Love a Sweet Heart-Shaped Cake
What’s not to love about a heart-shaped cake, right? Here’s why we’re such big fans:
They’re so fun: Heart-shaped cakes exude so much fun. They’re perfect for showing off on social media and in photos, and are an ideal centerpiece for any party.
They’re versatile: They work for every occasion, every color scheme, and every flavor preference. Chocolate cake with pale pink raspberry whipped mascarpone? Sounds good to us!
They’re easy to customize: Finish your cake off with a personalized saying or extra accouterments like sprinkles, glitter, gold leaf, chic candles, cherries, and more.
How to Make Your Own Heart Cake
If you want to make your own heart-shaped cake instead of placing an order from your favorite bakery (ahem, ECBG has some heart-shaped cakes on offer—more on them later), there are a few things you should keep in mind to construct a cake that stops everyone in their tracks:
Trim the cake
Make sure you use a sharp, serrated knife to shape your cake and level the layers. Serrated knives slice gently through delicate cake, while chef’s knives and the like squish and crush the cake—absolutely not what you want.
Don't forget a crumb coat
After trimming your cake, cover the entire cake in a thin layer of buttercream. Be careful around the shape of the heart so that you don't rip up any of the cake and compromise the shape. Pop the cake (it should be on a cardboard base or cake board and attached with a little buttercream) in the fridge until the frosting is firm. Then, add a second, thicker layer of frosting, smoothing the sides of the cake and creating sharp edges that'll look clean and polished. This will make everything look professional.
Prep your piping bags
The best heart-shaped cakes include over-the-top frosting and decorations. They’re supposed to be fun and carefree (but still gorgeous, of course). To pull it off at home, lean on some professional-quality piping tips (try a Wilton tip), fill a piping bag, and practice on parchment paper before attempting to decorate your cake. You’d rather get the hang of it while piping on something you can throw away instead of stressing over making the real thing perfect the very first time. Mix a few different shades of buttercream frosting and add your double ruffle garlands, large shell border, or other vintage designs.
Pick your favorite saying
While these cakes definitely don’t require a saying on the top of the cake, it does add to the fun and whimsy. Consider cute options like “a tini bit older” or “in my birthday era” or “leo szn”, but honestly, the world is your oyster. Pick something that resonates with you and feels casual and fun.
Don't serve it from the fridge
Though it's a good idea to keep your cake chilled until you're ready to serve it, you don't want to serve it directly from the fridge. Make sure to pull your frosted cake out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature before slicing and serving.
Our Favorite Heart Cakes
There are endless forms of heart cakes out there, but here are a few of our very favorites:
Eat Your Heart Out
This adorably chic cake is covered in classic lambeth piping and is our #1 best-selling cake in the Cake Shop. It’s a real stunner.
The Tini
Every martini lover needs one of these heart cakes. Choose green for a traditional dirty martini or the brown and chocolate version for espresso martini lovers. It’s the perfect (hangover-less) centerpiece.
Trophy Wife
There’s no more dramatic cake than this absolute stunner. Sheathed in layers of edible metallic buttercream (choose from gold, silver, or rose gold), this is a heart cake that’s ready for the spotlight—or your special day.
FAQs
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ECBG isn’t a retail bakery. Every cake we make is made to order. Because of that, we require at least 5 days’ notice for Cake Shop orders and at least 2 weeks’ notice for custom cakes. Reach out to learn more about the custom cake (or wedding cake) process.
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Absolutely! Even the Cake Shop cakes are semi-custom. Select your preferred cake flavor and filling when you fill out your order form. You can also let us know if you need a gluten-free cake or have other dietary restrictions. If you do have a food allergy, make sure to let us know during the inquiry process!
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If you’re making your own cake, you can shop Erin’s favorite tools to make sure you have everything you need.
Need a refresh on your cake decorating skills? Try one of our cake classes! We offer online cake classes and in-person classes at our Chicago bakeshop.
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You sure can! We offer a few different kinds of add-ons including gold candles, cherries, small disco balls, French macarons, and more.
Whether you’re placing an order or making your own cake at home, you can’t go wrong with a fun and flirty heart-shaped cake. At birthday parties, engagement parties, weddings, and more, a heart-shaped cake will turn everyone’s heads.
