Beautiful Women’s Birthday Cake (Heart-Shaped Vanilla Sponge)
A heart-shaped vanilla sponge cake with Swiss meringue buttercream, made to celebrate the amazing women in your life. Elegant, tender, and rich with homemade love.
Equipment
- 8-inch Cake Tins
- Mixing Bowls
- Stand or Hand Mixer
- Whisk
- Offset Spatula
- Piping bag (optional)
- Cake Turntable (optional)
- Baking Paper
Ingredients
For the Vanilla Sponge
- 330 g plain flour
- 320 g caster sugar
- 1.5 tbsp baking powder
- 175 g unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 eggs
- 190 ml whole milk
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
For the Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- 150 g egg whites
- 200 g caster sugar
- 400 g unsalted butter softened
- gel food coloring optional, for tinting
To Decorate
- cocktail cherries for color and charm
- edible flowers for a feminine, elegant finish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease two 8-inch cake tins and line with parchment.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add butter and beat until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
- Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly thick.
- Divide batter between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes. Cool in tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
- For the buttercream: Place egg whites and sugar in a bowl over simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves, then beat to stiff peaks. Add softened butter and beat until creamy.
- Trim cakes into a heart shape or use a template. Apply a thin crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes.
- Decorate with tinted buttercream, using piping bags or a spatula. Add cherries, edible flowers, or sprinkles as desired.
Notes
Customize the cake with your favorite colors, decorations, or even a flavored syrup brushed onto each layer for added depth. For ombré effects, divide and tint the buttercream in stages before layering.