Go Back
+ servings
Print
Easy, One-Bowl Chocolate Sweetheart Cake

Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Heart Cake

This Chocolate Obsession Valentine Cake is moist, delicious and perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day! Video and picture tutorials are included!

Course Cakes, Dessert
Cuisine Holiday foods
Keyword Chocolate Obsession Valentine Cake, Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Heart Cake, One-Bowl, No-Mixer
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 20
Calories 426 kcal
Author Chris Scheuer

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces butter 2 sticks
  • 1 cup water
  • 6 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup buttermilk

For the frosting:

  • 1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 4 ounces butter 1 stick
  • 5 tablespoons half and half or whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 ounces very soft butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325˚F. Spray an 8-inch round pan and an 8-inch square pan with baking spray. Wipe with a paper towel, to ensure the entire pan is coated with spray. Spray pans again lightly and line the bottom of each with parchment paper.

  2. Combine butter, water and cocoa in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Cook on high power for 3 minutes, or until the butter is mostly melted. Whisk well until smooth and lump-free.

  3. Whisk in vanilla and sugar, then flour and salt, stirring until nice and smooth after each addition.

  4. Add eggs and whisk until completely incorporated.

  5. Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the batter, then add buttermilk. Stir well.

  6. Tap the bowl several times to bring air bubbles to the surface then divide the batter between prepared pans, trying to make the depth of the batter the same in each pan. The square pan will hold a little more batter (see the note above in the post).

  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Don’t overbake (my cakes usually take about 38 minutes, but every oven is different.) Allow cakes to cool in the pan, then turn out onto a work surface. Invert cakes so the top surface faces up.

  8. To make the heart shape, place the square cake on the diagonal on a large serving platter. Cut the circle cake in half and place each half touching an upper edge of the square cake. (See pictures above in the post.)

While cake is baking, make the icing.

  1. Combine 4 ounces (1 stick) of butter and the chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high power for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and whisk for 1 minute or until smooth and all chocolate chips have melted. (Return to microwave for 15-second intervals if chips have not melted after stirring.)

  2. Add half and half (or milk) and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.

  3. Add powdered sugar and salt. Whisk in the center of the bowl, bringing in more and more of the powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and all sugar is incorporated. If icing is super thick and hard to whisk, add a little more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time until smooth.

  4. Finally, whisk in the very soft butter for about 30 seconds until the icing is nice and fluffy.

  5. Frost the heart-shaped cake with prepared icing, starting at the top, working icing over the edges to cover. Sprinkle immediately with nonpareils, if using. Allow cake to sit for 30 minutes before serving to allow icing to set. See the tips above in the post.

Recipe Notes

  • See Café Tips above in the post for more detailed instructions and tips to ensure success.

    If you prefer to use Metric measurements there is a button in each of our recipes, right above the word “Instructions”. Just click that button to toggle to grams, milliliters, etc. If you ever come across one of our recipes that doesn't have the Metric conversion (some of the older recipes may not), feel free to leave a comment and I will add it.

Nutrition Facts
Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Heart Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 426 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 298mg13%
Potassium 126mg4%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 42g47%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 535IU11%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.