Valentine’s Day is practically right around the corner! Be sure to add these Heart Shaped Chocolate Cakes with a tender raspberry cream to your plans!

I‘m not really the kind of person that needs a special occasion before I’ll make something sinfully delicious, but if I did, Valentine’s Day would be it. It’s the perfect occasion to make something sweet for someone special.
You see, I see hearts everywhere in last two weeks. They just appear in front of me out of common everyday things. I found a heart in an egg, a heart shaped carrot on my plate, a heart shaped splash of water on my jacket, rubber band heart….
Also, none of these were upside down; they all appeared upright to me, the way a heart would appear to anyone.
Weird !! Spooky !! Cute !!
The big question you’re probably wondering is…..what does it all mean?
You would think I would have the answer to that, but I really don’t. Is it significant to me? Yes. But I’m not sure what it means just yet.
Anyway it gave me a great idea for a fun Valentine’s Day treat!!

Heart Shaped Chocolate Cakes with a tender raspberry cream are the perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day or date night!
It’s one of those desserts that is classy and delicious, The texture is light and airy so it just melts in your mouth. Plus, there is just something about chocolate hearts that can seduce me any day!
Let’s be real, you ladies can plan your Valentine’s night and include this lovely dessert for the man in your life. Or even you fellas can make this for your lady and make her feel like you went all out.

In the meantime…..
Be aware of signs in your life. They are not random. The Universe is trying to tell you something.

Heart Shaped Chocolate Raspberry Cakes

 

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Prep time

60 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

1 hour 20 mins

 

Author: CakesCottage - adapted from Cooking Channel

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 20

Ingredients

• CAKE
• 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1⅛ cups cocoa powder
• 1½ cups buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2¼ teaspoons baking soda
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• RASPBERRY CREAM
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons raspberry preserves
• CHOCOLATE GANACHE
• 1 pound bittersweet chocolate
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• ½ cup apricot jam

Instructions

1. CAKE
2. :Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees and line two jelly roll pans with parchment.
3. Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
4. In a medium bowl, Whisk together, eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla until well combined.
5. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
6. Carefully pour batter into prepared pans and bake 20 minutes,
7. or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
8. Cool completely. Using a heart shaped cookie cutter, carefully cut out hearts, trying your best to cut hearts as close together as possible.
9. Depending on the size of your cutter this will get you about 10 2-layer cakes per sheet.
10. RASPBERRY CREAM:
11. In a heavy saucepan whip the heavy cream until soft peaks, add the raspberry preserves and continue whipping until stiff peaks.
12. Fill a pastry bag, fitted with a round pastry tip and pipe the cream on half of the heart shaped
13. cakes. Top the cream with another layer of cake.
14. GANACHE CHOCOLATE:
15. Finely chop chocolate.
16. In a small saucepan over medium-low, heat the strained apricot jam until melted.
17. Add the cream, milk and corn syrup and heat just to simmer.
18. Remove from the heat. Add all the chopped chocolate,
19. Make sure the chocolate is completely covered by the cream,
20. and let sit for about 3 minutes and then gently whisk until smooth.
21. Place about 1 cup of the chocolate ganache in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes or until slightly firm, but still spreadable.
22. Leave the remainder of the ganache in the pot to keep it pourable.
23. Fill the gap between the layers of cakes with refrigerated ganache using a small spatula, your goal is to make them smooth.
24. Now place the cakes on a cooling rack over a pan lined with parchment.
25. Slowly pour the ganache over the cake, starting in the middle and working outward. Be sure to check all the sides as you go.
26. If your ganache starts to get too thick, return the pot to the stove and heat on very low heat,
27. just for a few seconds.
28. Allow the cakes to set at room temperature for about 20 minutes.

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