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Secret Heart Strawberry Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

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4.2 from 20 reviews

  • Author: Amina
  • Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf, about 12 servings
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Secret Heart Strawberry Vanilla Pound Cake is a delightful and visually charming dessert featuring a beautiful pink strawberry-flavored heart center encased in a classic vanilla pound cake. Made with rich butter, sugar, and eggs, it’s baked to perfection then topped with a delicate swirl of pink and white vanilla frosting, making it perfect for special occasions or a sweet treat.

Ingredients

Pink Strawberry Batter

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon strawberry extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Pink gel food coloring (several drops)
  • Heart cookie cutter

Vanilla Pound Cake Batter

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Vanilla Bean Icing

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 lb. powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk (plus more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pink gel food coloring (for part of the icing)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray and line it with parchment paper.
  2. Make Strawberry Heart Batter: Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat 1 cup unsalted butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in 1 teaspoon strawberry extract and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually beat in 2 cups flour on low speed until combined. Add several drops of pink gel food coloring and mix evenly.
  3. Bake Heart Batter: Pour the pink batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for about 50 minutes; the loaf will not be fully baked at this stage. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then flip the loaf onto a wire rack and stand upright to cool completely.
  4. Cut Out Strawberry Hearts: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to measure the thickness for each slice and then cut the loaf into slices accordingly. Use the cookie cutter to cut heart shapes from each slice. Set the hearts aside.
  5. Prepare Vanilla Pound Cake Batter: Preheat oven to 350°F again. Spray another loaf pan with baking spray. Cream 1 cup unsalted butter and 1 cup sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs one at a time, beating after each. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually beat in 2 cups flour on low speed until all ingredients are combined.
  6. Assemble Cake with Hearts: Pour about 1/4 of the vanilla batter into the bottom of the loaf pan. Carefully stack the strawberry heart cutouts in a line so they reach from one end of the pan to the other. Add a little vanilla batter in between the hearts and finally cover the top and sides completely with remaining batter.
  7. Bake Completed Loaf: Bake at 350°F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then flip the loaf onto a wire rack and stand upright to cool completely.
  8. Prepare Vanilla Bean Icing: Combine 1/2 cup butter, 1 lb powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. If too dry, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until smooth and fluffy. Beat for 3-5 minutes on medium to high speed until fluffy.
  9. Color and Pipe Icing: Divide icing evenly into two bowls. Add several drops of pink gel food coloring to one bowl and mix well. Scoop pink icing into a piping bag fitted with a #2 tip. Leave the second bowl’s icing white and place in another piping bag with the same tip.
  10. Decorate Cake: Drizzle pink and white icing decoratively over the cooled loaf cake for a beautiful finishing touch.

Notes

  • Ensure all eggs and butter are at room temperature to achieve the best batter consistency and texture.
  • Using fresh strawberry extract enhances the heart’s flavor and color for a more vibrant appearance.
  • Line the loaf pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the cake layers and hearts.
  • If your batter seems too thick or dry, gradually add milk to adjust the consistency before baking.
  • The heart cookie cutter is key for making uniform, cute heart shapes; any size appropriate for your loaf pan will work.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before decorating to prevent the icing from melting or sliding off.
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://aminabakes.com/secret-heart-strawberry-vanilla-pound-cake-recipe/