The way to almost everyone’s heart is through their stomach, or so they say. Whether celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day or just have a craving for chocolate, this heart-shaped chocolate cake is where it’s at.
Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Servings: 8
This heart-shaped chocolate cake is a delightful treat, perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
For the Base
- 2 packs of chocolate-filled biscuits
- 100g butter, melted and cooled
- 2 tbsp strawberry jam
- 250g fresh strawberries
For the Cream
- 500g heavy cream (35% fat)
- 400g dark chocolate (60% cocoa)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp cognac
For Garnishing
- A few fresh strawberries
Equipment
- Blender
- Bowl
- Spatula
- Heart-shaped springform pan
Instructions
For the Base
- Prepare the strawberries: Wash and dry them thoroughly. Set aside 4-5 small strawberries for garnishing and cut the rest into quarters.
- Crush the biscuits: Use a blender to crush the chocolate-filled biscuits into fine crumbs and transfer them to a bowl.
- Mix with butter: Pour the melted butter over the biscuit crumbs and mix well until evenly moistened.
- Shape the base: Press the mixture evenly into a heart-shaped springform pan, smoothing the surface with the back of a spoon.
- Add jam & strawberries: Spread a thin layer of strawberry jam over the biscuit base, then arrange the sliced strawberries in a single layer, pressing them gently into place.
- Chill: Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
For the Chocolate Cream
- Chop the chocolate: Finely chop the dark chocolate and place it in a bowl.
- Heat the cream: In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream until just before boiling. Remove from heat and pour over the chopped chocolate.
- Melt & mix: Cover the bowl for 1 minute, then stir until smooth and fully combined.
- Add butter & cognac: Mix in the butter and cognac until the mixture becomes glossy. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Reserve some cream: Set aside 3-4 tablespoons of the chocolate mixture for final decoration.
- Pour over the base: Slowly pour the remaining chocolate cream over the strawberry layer in the pan.
- Chill: Refrigerate the cake for 2-3 hours until firm.
For Serving
- Unmold the cake: Carefully remove the cake from the pan. Dip a knife in warm water to help loosen the edges.
- Prepare the topping: Melt the reserved chocolate cream in a bain-marie (double boiler). Drizzle it over the cake in decorative lines.
- Garnish: Top with the whole strawberries set aside earlier.
- Rest & Serve: Let the cake sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Enjoy this rich and indulgent heart-shaped chocolate cake—the perfect dessert to share with loved ones! ❤️
Source: Argiro