Description
Love those Little Debbie Valentine Cakes? Now you can make them at home! 🎂 These soft vanilla cakes are filled with fluffy marshmallow creme, then coated in a thin layer of pink chocolate for the perfect sweet treat. Whether you’re making them for a Valentine’s Day surprise or just to enjoy a nostalgic bite, these adorable heart-shaped cakes are pure love in every bite! 😍
Ingredients
For the Cake:
✔ 1 box white cake mix
✔ 1 cup granulated sugar
✔ 1 ⅓ cups water
✔ 3 eggs (room temp)
✔ 1 tbsp vanilla extract
✔ 2 tbsp vegetable oil
✔ 1 cup all-purpose flour
✔ ½ tsp kosher salt
✔ 1 cup full-fat sour cream
For the Filling:
✔ 7 oz marshmallow creme (or fluff)
✔ ¾ cup salted butter (room temp)
✔ 2 cups powdered sugar
✔ 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
✔ ¼ tsp kosher salt
✔ 2-4 tbsp heavy cream (room temp)
For the Coating:
✔ 32 oz almond bark
✔ 3 tbsp Crisco (or vegetable oil/butter)
✔ Pink gel food dye (must be gel-based)
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Cake:
📌 Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line and spray two 18×13-inch sheet pans with parchment paper.
📌 In a bowl, mix cake mix, sugar, water, eggs, vanilla, and oil for 1 min.
📌 Add flour, salt, and sour cream. Mix until smooth (2-3 min).
📌 Divide evenly between pans and bake for 15-18 min (cakes will be thin!).
📌 Cool at room temp for 30 min, then chill in the fridge for 30-60 min.
2️⃣ Make the Filling:
📌 Beat marshmallow creme & butter on medium-high until smooth (1 min).
📌 Add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and 2 tbsp heavy cream. Mix until fluffy.
📌 Add more cream if needed (should be spreadable but not runny).
3️⃣ Assemble the Cakes:
📌 Cut 32 heart shapes from the cooled cakes using a 3-inch cookie cutter.
📌 Spread filling on half the hearts & top with another heart.
📌 Place on a lined baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour.
4️⃣ Coat the Cakes:
📌 Melt almond bark in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
📌 Stir in Crisco until smooth. Set aside ½-1 cup white almond bark for decoration.
📌 Mix ½ tsp pink gel food dye into the remaining melted chocolate. Let cool 3-5 min.
Notes
📌 Dip frozen heart cakes into the pink chocolate, coating completely.
📌 Place on a wire rack over parchment paper & let set for 10 min.
📌 Drizzle with white chocolate for a classic Valentine’s Day swirl.
💕 Enjoy your homemade Valentine Cakes! Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for later!