VALENTINES WEEK: VALENTINES MINI SPONGE HEART CAKES

Hello Everyone and welcome to day four of "Valentine's Week". This is the second baking post of the themed week but today rather than something biscuit related, i thought i would do a cake post. I mentioned in yesterday's post that i picked up these super cute confetti heart decorations and they would be perfect for decorating cupcakes/cakes, so that is just what i did...

To make the hearts you will need:

large heart shaped cutter

175g caster sugar

175g butter, softened

3 large eggs

150g self raising flour, sifted

25g cocoa powder, sifted

1tsp baking powder

To make the topping you will need:

piping bag

55g butter, softened

100g icing sugar, sifted

2 drops vanilla extract

strawberry or raspberry jam

confetti heart decorations

Method:

Firstly you are going to want to pre heat your oven to gas mark 4/180c/350f and then line your baking tins with grease proof paper. Then you are going to want to start on your cake mixture, take the sugar, butter and eggs and place them all in your mixer or bowl whatever you prefer to use. Then you are going to want to start mixing the ingredients on a low speed and gradually add the sifted flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, then slowly start to speed up the mixer. Mix all together until combined and smooth. Pour the combined mixture into your lined baking tins and cook in the oven 20/25 minutes. Once out of the oven leave to cool completely, once cooled take your heart shaped cutters and cut out two heart shapes on each of the two sponges (so you are left with four heart shapes). To make the topping you are going to want to place your softened butter, icing sugar and vanilla in your mixer or bowl and mix until combined. Next place some of the mixture onto one of the hearts and then jam on the other and sandwich together, do the same with both sets of hearts. Take a piping bag and pipe on the rest of the butter cream to decorate in a design of your choice and sprinkle the heart shaped confetti on top. 

See you tomorrow, for the last post of Valentine's week!

♥