14 February yes, it’s Valentine Day. The Day of love but WE have one more special reason to celebrate. This day is more special for us because it is our son Reyansh’s 11th Birthday. This Hidden Heart Cake is perfect for this occasion. This cake is made with whole wheat flour and it is soft, moist, filled with lots of love 🙂 and chocolate.
How to make this cake ?
Making of Heart Cake Batter: Start by making a chocolate curd cake batter and bake it in a loaf pan. Cool the cake completely and then use a cookie cutter to cut it into heart shapes.
Make vanilla cake batter. I used vanilla curd batter recipe. It makes the most delicious cake.
Assembling: Spoon some vanilla cake batter in the bottom, then place the heart and then cover the entire cake with remaining batter and bake.
Decorating and Serving: Drizzle some chocolate sauce with sprinkles and it’s done.
Hidden heart cakes, or surprise cakes, are a simple and creative way to add a fun twist to birthday cakes. This is also a unique and thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one. And the effect is much easier than you may think. This doubles as a craft for kids as well and really wows them :). With only a few tweaks and a couple of extra steps you will transform a loaf cake into an impressive and beautiful dessert that also serves as a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for any cake lover.
I used curd as one of the wet ingredients in this recipe. Curd is an excellent replacement for the egg when used for baking. It adds a very nice softness to the baked good it is added too in eggless chocolate cakes and eggless vanilla cake. Instead of sour curd, you can also use plain curd, baking soda, and baking powder to make the cake spongy and fluffy.
Chocolate Cake Recipe :
Ingredients :
Whole Wheat Flour – 1 & 1/2 cups
Greek yogurt – 1 cup
Brown sugar – 1/2 or 3/4 cup
Cocoa powder – 1/4 cup
Baking Soda – 1/2 tsp
Baking powder – 1 tsp
Refined Oil – 1/4 cup
A pinch of Himalayan pink salt
Method :
- Dry mixture: Shift whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda. Mix salt and keep it aside.
- Wet mixture: In a grinder add brown sugar, curd, oil and mix until smooth.
- Mix dry mixture into wet mixture.
- Put prepared batter into a greased pan.
- Tab the pan on a countertop to release any large air bubbles.
- Put the pan into the preheated wok and bake it for 1 hour.
- When cake is done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove bread from the pan and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan.
- Allow cake to cool completely .
- Once cool, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out chocolate sponge hearts. Keep it aside.
Vanilla Cake Recipe :
Ingredients :
Whole Wheat Flour – 1 & 1/2 cups
Greek yogurt – 1 cup
Sugar – 1/2 or 3/4 cup
Baking Soda – 1/2 tsp
Baking powder – 1 tsp
Refined Oil – 1/4 cup
A pinch of Himalayan pink salt
Method :
- Dry mixture: Shift whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Mix salt and keep it aside.
- Wet mixture: In a grinder add sugar, curd, oil and mix until smooth.
- Mix dry mixture into wet mixture.
- Assembling : Transfer some of the cake batter into the baking pan, just enough to create a thin layer of batter at the bottom. Arrange the sponge hearts in a row along the middle of the baking pan. Pour/spoon the rest of the vanilla curd batter around and over the row of sponge hearts, smooth out the top,
- Tab the pan on a countertop to release any large air bubbles.
- Put the pan into the preheated wok and bake it for 1 hour.
- When cake is done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove bread from the pan and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan.
- Allow cake to cool completely before slicing.
For chocolate sauce – In a bowl add chocolate sprinkles (1/2 cup) with one piece of dark chocolate and milk (1/8 cup). Microwave high for 1 minute and its ready.
HOW TO BAKE THE CAKE IN KADAI (WOK)
In a heavy bottom, kadai add a cup of salt or sand. Place a steel stand in a wok. Cover and preheat the kadai on high heat for about 8 minutes. (Adding salt at the bottom ensures that the kadai doesn’t burn. Heavy bottom kadai acts as oven and ensures even cooking from all sides). I never used salt in my baking because I use a heavy bottom kadai (Prestige Brand) and I am baking for the past 2 years in the same kadai. It works perfectly fine. But, it depends on the brand, quality of the kadai.
After 8 minutes, lower the heat and put the baking tin in a kadai (wok). Cover a lid and bake bread for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes check the cake with a knife, if the mixture does not stick, it means the bread is done. If batter still sticks to the knife then again bread for another 10 minutes.
Tips:
- Baking time may vary.
- If cake batter looks dry, add 2- 4 tbsp of water or milk.
- If baking in Oven: Bake in the preheated oven at 180 deg Celsius or around 360 Fahrenheit for about 1 hour 30 minutes. The baking time may vary. So keep checking the cake after 40 to 45 minutes.
Heart Shape Goodies :
Easy homemade cake goodies covered in a sweet chocolate coating. The perfect bite-sized party treat or favor for any occasion.
Dip the end of the toothpick into the melted chocolate and push that same end into the heart shape sponge. The melted chocolate helps as “glue”. Coat sponge with chocolate sauce and top with sprinkles. Then keep them in a refrigerator for one hour.
Mad About Cooking 