Strawberry Valentine Cake Hearts, #SundaySupper

'Tis the season when cherubs string their bows, aim at the hearts of mortals and watch the merriment of St. Valentine's Day. And sometimes the tears. (Spoken by one whose personal cupid didn't aim quite right until much later in life.) 



 

In addition to the shenanigans of February 14th, my guess is that the chubby-cheeked cherubs are giggling at all the delights food bloggers are concocting for the special day. Especially the foodies who congregate on Twitter at #SundaySupper every week.

On February 10th, Jen of Juanita's Cocina will host the much anticipated Valentine party. You are invited to join the exchange of #SundaySupper recipes and ideas at 7p.m. ET on Twitter. Put #SundaySupper in the search bar or click here for the party.

 


 

I'm bringing my Strawberry Valentine Cake Hearts to the party. Pink always brightens my mood. There is just something so cheery and healing about the hue. How about you? Do you have a pick-me-up color? Love to read your blues busters in the comments box. 

Happy to report, too, the pink of my Strawberry Valentine Hearts is all natural. Not a drop of food coloring went into the mix or the frosting. The cake recipe is from Allrecipes.com's Gothic Girl. Ingredients include sifted cake flour, strawberry jello, milk, butter, sugar, vanilla and pureed strawberries. All the lovely stuff of life!

Strawberry Cake
from Allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored
Jell-O®
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs (room temperature)
2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberry puree made from
frozen sweetened strawberries
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Blend in vanilla and strawberry puree. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a small knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in their pans over a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, before tapping out to cool completely.
 © 2013 Allrecipes.com 
 

Gothic Girl recommended sweetened frozen strawberries. I opted for non-sweetened and swirled in a generous 1/4 teaspoon of organic strawberry jam into each mini heart. (About a half teaspoon for the larger layer hearts.) The result was dee-lightful! Light, luscious and infused with strawberry, the cake was yummy. And the delicious factor was enhanced when topped with the Ninja Baker's Strawberry Buttercream.



 

The Ninja Baker's Strawberry Buttercream is easy. Combine a 1/2 cup of European butter, 1/2 cup of non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening, 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, 3 tablespoons of strawberry puree and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Slowly mix in 4 cups of sifted powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of meringue powder.

For more Valentine recipes visit the sites of the sweet #SundaySupper food bloggers listed below.

#SundaySupper Valentine's Day Breakfasts, Apps & Main Dishes:

#SundaySupper Valentine's Day Sweet Eats:

#SundaySupper Valentine's Day Drinks:

#SundaySupper Valentine's Day Tablescape: A Romantic Table For Two Please from An Appealing Plan



 

Wishing you all the sweetness and love of Valentine's Day throughout the year.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker's recipes are also available at:

BlogHer Food Editor's Pick of the Day
(27 December 2012)

?Allrecipes.com:
The Ninja Baker's Japanese Plum Sweet Memories and Recipes


Bob's Red Mill:
Almond Oatmeal Apple Cookies

Bob's Red Mill:
The Ninja Baker's Gluten-Free Breakfast Cupcake

Wholesome Sweeteners:
The Ninja Baker's Gluten-Free Coconut Chocolate Cheesecake Minis with Espresso Cream

Wholesome Sweeteners:
The Ninja Baker's Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cupcakes with Champagne Glaze & Optional Lemon Peach Marmalade Filling

?LifeKraze