Sweet Heart Cupcakes
The title of this post has a bit of a double meaning… this post is about these sweet, heart cupcakes, but it’s also about A sweetheart! I first saw this creative cupcake idea on Just Jenn Recipes several years ago. I made them a couple times pre-blog and I had this idea on my “future post ideas” list for this year. Then, last week Kristan of Confession of a Cookbook Queen posted an utterly delicious looking cherry frosting and I knew it would be the perfect filling for these sweet treats. Kristan also recently mentioned that she has become a “Valentine’s person”… it may have something to do with wanting gifts of candy and flowers, but we wont mention that to her hubby. So, when I knew Kristan’s birthday was on it’s way (it’s today!), I thought these would be the perfect cupcakes to send her (virtual) birthday wishes!
Although I’ve been reading Confessions of a Cookbook Queen for quite some time, I was first able to meet Kristan last spring at the Wilton Blogger’s Workshop. Then, this past fall on my drive to Cookie Camp, we made a stop off in Kristan’s hometown for a visit. Kristan is just as sweet, funny and beautiful as her blog and I feel lucky to count her a friend! Happy Birthday Kristan!
Now let’s have a cupcake!
These fun cupcakes are quite easy to create!
First, bake a batch of chocolate cupcakes. I used my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe, but feel free to use any recipe or box mix you prefer. The only special instructions would be to make sure to fill the liners just a bit more than you might normally (about 1/2 inch below the top of the liner), because you need to have a bit of a dome above the top edge of the liners.
While the cupcakes are baking, prepare of batch of delicious Cherry Frosting. You can use the recipe below, or you could use my simple American Buttercream, or Cream Cheese frosting, and simply tint it pink with some food coloring. Canned (pre-made) frosting would work fine for these as well.
Maraschino Cherry Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries
pinch of salt
Directions~
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat butter until smooth.
2. With the mixer running, Add 2 cups of powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
3. Add 4 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice, one tablespoon at a time.
4. Continue beating, and add the remaining 2 cups powdered sugar, and chopped maraschino cherries. If desired, add a drop of pink food coloring (I used Americolor electric pink).
5. Beat until fully combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Recipe source- Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
Heart Cutout Cupcake Assembly
(idea source- Just Jenn Recipes)
1. Use a serrated knife to cut off the top of the cupcake, using the top of the cupcake liner as a guide.
2. Use a small heart cookie cutter to cut out a heart shape from the cupcake dome.
3. Spread frosting onto the cupcake base, in a mounded shape.
4. If desired, sprinkle the cupcake dome with powdered sugar. Place top back on cupcake and press down a bit.
Share these sweet treats with someone you love!
Several other bakers have created special birthday treats for Kristan, be sure to check them out!
Love love these!!
Such a sweet post, Glory
What a great and easy idea!!
Have a lovely day
These are adorable! My inability to think outside of the box is baffling. I was like "how in the world did she do this?! UH cut the top off. Durr.
those are so cute!
I LOVE these! Cutting the heart in the top is brilliant. I love the contrast of the beautiful shade of pink with the dark chocolate cupcakes — SO pretty!
Wow love the staging of these pics so much…those little milk bottles with pink milk and even colour co-ordinating straws! I love it! and the treats look delish too! How lucky is Kristan – I bet she wishes it was a real birthday party with all the amazing treats you guys have baked up!
These are beautiful!! I love how the heart is cut out, and it's so easy for something that looks so elegant and pretty!
Glory, not only is this a super sweet post, but these cupcakes are beautiful!! I am so moved. You girls made my morning!! Very grateful to have you as a friend.
These are adorable! Love the cut out heart!
These are beautiful!!!
These are absolutely beautiful!
these are such a brilliant idea for making cupcakes, nice job!
Love love LOVE these! So cute! I'm really glad that I recently discovered your blog. I look forward to all the cute stuff you'll post!
Love this, Glory!! So pink and perfectly Kristan!
beautiful! What a lovely post!
Too cute! Adding this to my Valentine's day board:)
What a beautiful idea for Kristan's birthday treat, or Valentine's Day!
Those are just darling. Love your photography, too! Nice job.
Great idea! Love it!
Thes cupcakes look wonderful!
How utterly clever! Making these!!
Love these cupcakes and your photos are gorgeous! Cherry and chocolate…yum!
Hey…why didn't I think of that ;0) LOVE this idea so much!!
Think I'll make these for Valentine's Day! Chocolate and cherry – a perfect combination. I love the way you have photographed them!
http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/
Wow, these are gorgeous! Love this idea for cupcakes. The peekaboo frosting is adorable!
Great idea!!
Lovely cupcakes, we are getting ready for Valentine's day…!!!
Lovely- great idea to cut out the tops like that!
these are SOOOO cute!
These are genius!
WOW they are adorable. LOVE is in the cupcakes! You are amazing!
I love these and can't wait to make them! Kristan's cherry frosting recipe sounds wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing!
So perfect and easy for Valentine's day. I know my 4&5yr old girls will LOVE helping me make these. Thanks for sharing
Very cute! I love the effect of such a simple method. Great idea Glory! Love you!
~Cecilia
look at how deliciously adorable these look! I absolutely LOVE them! And maraschino cherries! YUM! I've recently made some coffee cakes if you'd like to have a look here – http://lovelyinrandom.blogspot.com/2012/01/your-shot-of-espresso-in-cupcake.html
Dinx @ Lovely in Random xoxo
It is a really good idea, I love it
Very cute, very girly and you make it look so easy!
Love, love, love! Cute, cute, cute! Yes I typed out each word three times instead of copy/pasting
Everything about these is perfect and beautiful!
Pink-a-yummy! These are so cute! Love, love them
YOU REALLY ARE MINI-MARTHA. Pretty perfection!
pretty pictures. Looks so cute with the strawberry milk in bottles
What a fantastic technique! I love it, especially the contrast b/w the chocolate cake and cherry frosting.
I'll be filing this idea away for sure!
Yes again just so gorgeous – what a great idea for Valentines – they are on my list to make now
Leanne
xx
Wilton brings all of us together. xo for the link back Glory!
i should definitely try those for this valentines day! very lovely!
I love the idea!!! Thanks for sharing!
You're soooo wonderful!
I'm alway looking forward your writing new article from Japan:)
This is my blog:)
Please come and see this if you have time!
http://girlwf.exblog.jp/
What a cute little heart cupcake!
absolutely beautiful! a great idea!
I'm going to try it!!
I love your blog very much.I follow from far away…..from Israel.
you are invited to see my blog:
http://www.tapuz.co.il/blog/net/userBlog.aspx?FolderName=hatuli8
Lior
beautifully simple!
You are amazing… these are just wonderful~!!! -and i love Kristan as well…. I follow her blog and think she is one of the funniest sweetest moms ever!!
Ohhh what a clever way of adding the cut out heart. I would have ended up struggling with trying to cut out the perfect heart from the cupcake and making something that resembled a muddy hole! Thank you so much for sharing this. Lee x
Simplemente geniales y muy originales…encantado de haberte conocido.
Si lo desea te invito a conocer mi blog de reposteria
lareposteriademiguel.blogspot.com
Un saludo
Miguel
What a cute idea!
Ahh! How adorable! I just saw these on Pinterest. I can't get over how cute and clever they are.
I'm sure they're delicious. I just need a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter.
What an awesome idea! I saw this on Pinterest, but wanted to come and comment on it because it was so cool. Thanks for sharing.
I've seen this post from bedifferentnormal.com and these cupcakes indeed a perfect table center piece on valentines day.
Just had to share this on our FB page…too cute & clever!
so pretty and very creative, love it!
These are beautiful..and the pink milk..ahhh!
These are absolutely gorgeous! And look so yummy too! Will definitely have to try this :3
~ Kieli ~
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About how many cupcakes will this make using your favorite chocolate cake recipe? Since you have to fill the liners fuller than usual, I assume it makes fewer cupcakes than what the original recipe says.
These are adorable and I bet delicious!
i was wondering where can i get those old stlye glass milk bottles .. thanx <3
Oh I absolutely adore these! They look amazing.
Just stopping by to let you know that I've featured your craft on Family Fun Crafts! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/sweetheart-cupcakes/
If you have other kid friendly crafts, I'd love it if you would submit them.
If you would like to display a
featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above.
I love these! I used your method to make star cookies for my daughter's class (She had an outerspace themed party.) Thanks so much for the idea!
Love this idea! Just found your blog tonight and am loving it! I'm a baker myself… http://beautydetermined.tumblr.com/
Keep baking and sharing your creativity!
I am so in love with these!!! I want to try them! Check out my new recipe blog? Http://gigglingbites.blogspot.com
Can I also fill it with chocolate coating?
Delicious! Thanks! Trackback: http://blog.joyhey.com/2012/01/26/inspiration-sweet-pink-valentine/
I featured these on Fun Friday Finds today.
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2012/01/fun-friday-finds.html
I would also love for you to link up to my I Heart Projects Linky Party! Hope to see you there.
Oh I love this! Also perfect for my V-Day photo shoot, I think I'll add these to the list..except I'll make red velvet! So pretty! Thanks for sharing. I'm your newest follower! I'd love it if you followed me back at bridgetbakes.blogspot.com
I made them http://cake-cookie-pie.blogspot.com/2012/01/cupcakes-za-valentinovo.html
I used your recipe for perfectly chocolate cupcakes and I filled them with raspberries and blackberries sauce and yogurt frosting
These look amazingly delicious!! I am pinning them and am going to attempt to make them. Please come share at my party!
http://herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com/2012/01/sent-with-love.html
What a fantastic idea! I love it.
nice opinion. thanks for sharing...
This is super lovely! Loved it!
red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting also look nice
Another gorgeous cupcake! My goodness you are so inspirational. I had to pin it on the CraftBliss Valentine Freebie Bliss Board on Pinterest and link back to you. ~Dee
what a lovely design!
These were so cute!! And hey look easy now that you've explained the process! Thanks for posting!
Both my husband and I are diabetics so I think I'll use the Marachino cherries with low-fat cream cheese instead of all that sugar and butter!
What a sweetheart of an idea! Perfect for Valentine's Day or a tea party.
I just made the Cherry frosting and it is delicious. My 3 little boys love it too. It tastes even better when paired with the chocolate cupcake. Great decorating idea! This recipe is a keeper.
I'm making these now for my boys classrooms. I am having an issue with the cupcake top breaking when I try to use the cookie cutter on it! Any Suggesttions???
@Candi- Two things you could try… put the cupcake tops in the freezer for a bit. The cake will firm up and maybe be easier to cut. Also, try cutting from the underside of the top… in other words, take the cupcake top, and place it top side down on the cutting board. Try cutting it that way. Best of luck!
These are beautiful. I can't wait to try them for my daughter's bday party. I'd love to serve them with the milk too. Can you tell me where you found the milk bottles? Thanks!
@See Julie Run- These little bottles were a gift from a friend, but Shopsweetlulu.com sells other similar ones.
How do you frost the topless cupcakes without the frosting getting all crumby? These taste great but the first sample one I made looked all crumby.
Hi, I'm Maria from Italy and I'd like to thamk you for your exquisite sense of beauty and for posting yout sweet creations! I tried to imitate your heart cutout cupcakes, but the picture are a "little bit" different from yours!
If you want to have a look:
http://torteedesign.blogspot.com/2012/02/san-valentino-heart-cutout-cupcakes.html
I love these! Although I was kind of disappointed in the results we got. We followed everything to a T but the frosting had a funny consistency and ended up just melting by the time we got them to our mom's house
Perhaps it was because our mixer couldn't mix it? It actually died out on us lol
Too cute! Found your blog through the blogroll and your pictures are beautiful. Now following on FB and cant wait to try these ideas!
Um! I saw this on foodgawker. Now I need to get a small heart cookie cutter!
I will fall in love with these treats…over and over again. Lovely!
This is too cute to be true:)
Omg, where did you get those milk bottles? I cannot find any like that.
I tried this technique but with a small crown instead of a heart for my daughters princess themed birthday party. The tops did not want to stay together (i’m guessing because the cake was really moist) and the powdered sugar started soaking into the cake (again…maybe the amount of moisture in the cake). But they were still delicious and definitely a hit!