Heart Surprise Pound Cake

In my house we are creatures of habit. So, every year as hearts go up around school and stores, cupid makes his appearance, and everything starts turning pink, my daughter begins to ask for the "Special Valentines Bread." I am always happy to oblige...I mean this pound cake with a surprise heart is so darn cute and always surprises not only the kiddos but adults too!

I think it has been 3 years or so since I discovered this type of bread. I make it every single Valentines day (and for many parties before). I have also adapted it for other holidays like the Shamrock Surprise Pound Cake.

It might look complicated...but I PROMISE you, its not!

Supplies/Ingredients

• 2 boxes Betty Crocker Pound Cake Mix (plus 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, and 2/3 cups water, and loaf pans for each loaf of cake)
• NOTE: I have made this many times. I have used other mixes and I have made a from scratch pound cake. I have found this mix gives you the best results. That's just my opinion.
• 1 small heart cookie cutter (affiliate link), mines about 1 1/2" at the widest/top
• Red food coloring

Mix it/Make it!

NOTE: You will need about 4 hours to complete this cake, not because it is complicated but because the baking and cooling takes time.

• Grease one loaf pan.
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Mix one box of Pound Cake according to package directions.
• Add six capfuls of red food coloring (You can adjust this to be more pink or more red for you liking)
• Mix thoroughly.

• Bake for one hour at 350F. Check you cake.
• Remove from oven and let cool thoroughly.
• Once cool, cut the bread into 3/4"-1" slices.

• Use the heart cookie cutter to cut small hearts in each slice. I am able to get at least 2 hearts from each piece, and three (if I plan carefully) in the larger center slices.
• Set hearts aside.

• Now prepare the second loaf pan by greasing it and preheating the oven..
• Mix according to package directions. This time, do NOT add food coloring.
• Place about 1 1/2 cups of batter in the bottom of the loaf pan. You want the batter to be about 1" "deep" in the pan.

• Now we will place the hearts. 
• Begin about 1/2" from the end of the loaf pan.
• Place a line of hearts down the center of the pan, the hearts will rest in the batter.
• Be sure to keep 1/2" or so on the ends, so that there is room for batter to encase the (pre-baked) hearts all around.

• Once all the hearts are placed, spoon the remaining batter all around the hearts and on top. Make sure you cannot see any of the hearts.
• Bake for 60 minutes; remove from oven; let cool.

Cut and serve...and amaze!

Isn't it adorable? You ready to try some?

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre