This week on ShawnsPlate has been all about valentine sweets. What better way to finish it out than with my favorite valentine inspired dessert?! The Heart Shaped Box, in my opinion, is the ultimate Valentine’s Day cake.
I know, folks are always proclaiming “ultimate” on things. I promise, this dessert does deliver. Just look at it…a heart shaped chocolate box with strawberries spilling out from under it’s marbleized lid. When you thought it couldn’t get any better, cut it to reveal a luscious cheesecake!
Back in my days of wedding cakes and specialty desserts, this was one of my most requested cakes. You haven’t seen anything until you see it stacked 3-5 tiers, presented as a groom’s cake or made using 3-inch molds to create tiny cakes!
While I wish that I could take credit for this lovely thing, I fell in love with it’s look after seeing it on the cover of the February 1990 issue of Bon Appetit. Although I often prepare this as a cheesecake, cheesecake brownie, or chocolate pound cake base, in the magazine, it was prepared with a white cake as the base.
On the next page, I’ve included the step-by-step on how to make this cake. (and here’s a video) You’ve got all weekend…So, make it!
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| Alternately drop spoonfuls of melted white and dark chocolate into parchment lined pan. |
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| Tap pan on flat surface allowing chocolate to spread and air bubbles to come to the surface. |
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| Prick any remaining air bubbles and tap pan again…Swirl through with a knife to create marbleized design. |
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| Pretty! Pretty! Refrigerate until hardened and ready to use. |
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| Frost cake with ganache..use knife/spatula dipped in hot water to smooth any imperfection. |
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| Place strawberries in a single layer from middle to right edge…. |
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| Top with lid… |
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| Remove parchment strips… |
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| Beautiful! |
Heart Shaped Box Cake
~Design completely copied from Bon Appetit Magazine, February 1990~
1 8-inch heart shaped cake, I used cheesecake(see recipe at bottom)
4 ounces white chocolate, melted
4 ounces dark chocolate, melted
Chocolate Ganache, cooled
1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and dried reserve 1-2 for garnish
Special Equipment:
1 8-inch heart shaped pan
parchment paper
Use a 8-inch heart shaped cake pan to make cake you desire. You can even use a brownie mix if you want, I’m not telling or judging! After it’s cooled, remove from pan and wrap and refrigerate it until ready to use.
Use the pan to trace shape on parchment paper. Cut out leaving “tabs” to easily remove chocolate from pan. Place parchment liner in pan and alternately drop spoonfuls of melted chocolate in pan. Tap the bottom of the pan on a flat surface to spread chocolate and release any air bubbles. Prick any remaining air bubbles and tap pan again. Swirl the point of a knife through chocolate to create a marbleized design. Refrigerate until hardened and ready to use, about 1 hour.
This is crazy gorgeous! I mean, like WOW. I am jealous of whoever gets to eat this cake!
O.M.G. Totally decadent. Great video too. 🙂
Oh my gosh that is sooooo awesome!!! I really wish we were neighbors so I could try some of this. That cake is absolutely gorgeous and definitely lives up to its “ultimate” name!
This Valentine cake looks delicious. I hope many of your readers had the opportunity to use this recipe.
Speachless…. it’s so beautiful!