Name: Hidden Heart Chocolate Loaf Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 100 min
Total time: 140 min
Ingredients: 175 g Butter or baking spread; 175 g Caster sugar; 3 Eggs (large); 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 175 g Self raising flour; Pink food colouring; 175 g Butter or baking spread; 175 g Caster sugar; 3 Eggs (large); 150 g Self raising flour; 35 g Cocoa powder; 1/2 tsp Baking powder; 1 1/2 tbsp Milk; 100 g Butter; 200 g Icing sugar; 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 50 g Dark chocolate (melted); 1 tbsp Milk; Heart sprinkles (optional)

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The photos for this post were updated in February 2021.

This Hidden Heart Chocolate Loaf Cake is made using the hidden design technique, it looks so impressive and clever but is easier to make than you think! There are lots of different ideas out there of what image to hide inside, but this is a good one to start off with if you want to give hidden designs a go for the first time. Plus it's perfect for Valentine's Day! As well as it's pretty apperance, it's a delicious chocolate cake with a rich buttercream that's infused with dark chocolate - so yummy!

The most exciting part is the moment of truth when you cut into it and see the design inside, it's such a fun surprise especially if you don't tell your friends and family about it! It will certainly provide a romantic surprise too if you bake this for your loved one.

How to make Hidden Heart Chocolate Loaf Cake...

To make the pink sponge I started by creaming together butter and sugar. I then added eggs and vanilla extract, and whisked in. Finally I mixed in self raising flour and enough pink food colouring to get a strong shade.

I poured it into a loaf tin and baked for 50 minutes, then I left it to cool completely.

When it was fully cool I cut off the ends of the sponge, then scored marks along it the same thickness as my heart shaped cutter. I cut the sponge into pieces and then used my heart shaped cutter to cut out hearts from each piece.

What can you do with the leftover cake cuttings?

I made some easy no bake Three Ingredient Leftover Cake Truffles with the leftover cake! You could also make cake pops or cakesicles.

To make the chocolate sponge I creamed together butter and sugar. I then added eggs, milk and vanilla extract and whisked in. Finally I folded in self raising flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. I put some mixture into the bottom of the tin, and set the heart shaped pink cake into it as neatly as I could in a row.

Then I spooned the remaining mixture around and on top of the pink sponge and baked it for 50 minutes.

To make the buttercream I mixed together icing sugar, vanilla extract and butter. I then added in melted dark chocolate and mixed until smooth. I spread the buttercream over the fully cooled sponge and sprinkled on some heart sprinkles.

How should this cake be stored and can it be frozen?

The cake will keep in an airtight container for 3 days in a cool place. You can freeze the sponge either alone, or decorated. Once the sponge is fully cool, wrap well with cling film or put it in an airtight container. You can freeze the frosting on it’s own in a tub, or you can decorate the cake and freeze it fully assembled.

To do this and avoid damage to the decoration, freeze it either in an airtight container. Or let it freeze solid on a cake board or plate, then wrap in cling film. Remove the cling film when you take it out to defrost it, if you don’t it could damage the decoration as it defrosts and softens. You can also freeze slices of the cake, again well wrapped in cling film or in airtight containers.

What is the best food colouring to use for the pink cake?

To get a bright pink shade that remains strong after the cake is baked you need to use a professional grade gel food colouring. You can buy these easily from many online shops, including amazon. I used the brand Pro Gel, other brands include Americolour and Sugarflair.

Tips for making the Hidden Heart Chocolate Loaf Cake:

I used a Wilton 1M nozzle to pipe on the buttercream.
The heart shaped cutter I used measures 4.5cm wide and 4.5cm high.
I find it easier to put the chocolate cake batter into a piping bag and pipe it around the pink sponge, but you can spoon it in too.

Recommended equipment & ingredients*

Loaf cake tin	Mixing bowls	Cooling rack
Kitchen scales	Loaf cake tin liners	Heart sprinkles
Pink food colouring	Loaf cake storage box	Heart cutters

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