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    Home » Recipes » Valentine's Day

    Valentines Day Cake

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Valentines Day Cake, easy to make, tastes delicious, and is a show stopper! Tender chocolate cake with the best homemade strawberry buttercream and chocolate ganache!

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    sticking a fork into a slice of cake
    The perfect combo of chocolate and strawberry in every bite.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    I recently shared my heart cake and my Valentine Cake pops, but I had to get this cake in before the holiday too!

    We all love the classic combo of chocolate and strawberry (I mean I even shared how to make chocolate dipped strawberries here), and I knew I had to share my favorite combo of them with you this Valentine’s Day!

    closeup of top of decorated valentine cake
    Decorate with candies, strawberries, or sprinkles!

    The strawberry buttercream is so delicious and extremely easy to make. I do use my got to doctored cake box recipe for this cake but you can easily make my homemade chocolate cake instead- just halve the recipe or else you will get a huge cake- which on second thought might not be a bad thing!

    What you need for this recipe:

    Chocolate Cake Box Mix

    Cake Ingredients: Vegetable Oil, Vanilla, Sour Cream, Heavy Cream, Eggs, Cocoa Powder, Espresso Powder (optional)

    Strawberry Buttercream Ingredients: Strawberries, Water, Salt, Butter, Vanilla, Powdered Sugar, Heavy Cream, LorAnn Strawberry Oil (optional but recommend- you can find it at most grocery stores!), bright pink food gel coloring (optional but makes the frosting a nice pink)

    Ganache: Heavy Cream, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

    Decorations: Strawberries, Sprinkles, Crushed Chocolate, Candies

    slice of valentine cake showing the drip
    I mean look at that ganache drip! Yum!!!

    How to make this easy Valentines Day Cake?

    • Mix up your cake batter
    • Bake cake in two 8 in round cake pans
    • Let cool completely before frosting
    • While cooling make strawberry frosting
    • chocolate cake batter in cake pans
    • cake baked still in pan

    How to make strawberry buttercream?

    • Heat water, strawberries, and salt in a medium sauce pan,
    • Mash strawberries as the mixture boils.
    • Reduce mixture to ~½ cup then set aside to cool. If you want a super smooth mixture, you can use a emulsion blender but this isn’t a must.
    • Using a stand mixer, beat butter until fluffy then mix in the vanilla, powdered sugar, and heavy cream
    • Add in the cooked strawberries, a few drops of the strawberry oil, and a few drops of the gel food coloring.
    • Mix until fluffy.
    • strawberries in sauce pan
    • boiled and mashed strawberries
    • pureed strawberry mixed
    • vanilla buttercream in bowl
    • adding strawberry and coloring to frosting
    • strawberry buttercream on spatula

    Tips for making the best Valentines Day Cake


    Frosting- If you want to make a super smooth cake like this, double the frosting recipe and do a crumb coat, refrigerate, then do a final smooth coat.

    Frosting Flavor- Adding 2-4 drops of LorAnn Strawberry Oil really makes the strawberry flavor stand out. Start with only two drops, taste, then add more. A little oil goes a long way.

    cake on fork next to slice of cake
    The cake is tender and the frosting is one of my favorites!

    How to decorate Valentine’s Day Cake?

    • Place 1st cake layer on a cake board with a little bit of buttercream underneath to help it stay in place.
    • Add a nice even layer of strawberry frosting then place the second layer of buttercream. Fill in any gaps in the sides with more buttercream. Then refrigerate for a few minutes to allow the frosting to set up.
    • Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream. If you want a smooth finish, you can use a cake scraper but ideally you would double the frosting amount and do a crumb coat then a final layer.  Refrigerate until frosting is set.
    • Combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl and heat until smooth. Then pour over the top of the cake allowing it to drip down the sides.
    • Decorate the top with strawberries, candy, and chocolate pieces.
    • dollop of frosting on cake board
    • first layer of cake on cake board
    • piped frosting layer on first cake layer
    • smoothed frosting layer on first cake layer
    • second cake layer added
    • adding frosting to fill any gaps in the center
    • smoothing the frosting on the side
    • cake frosted with strawberry buttercream
    • heavy cream and chocolate chips before heating
    • smooth ganache in bowl
    • pouring ganache over cake
    • ganache dripping over sides of cake
    • adding strawberries to top of cake

    If you like this cake make sure to check out my chocolate truffle cake and my easy Valentine Cupcakes!

    Why use a doctored cake mix?

    I like to doctor a cake mix because it’s easy and tastes really good. If I have time, I love to make my homemade chocolate cake.

    cross section of cake
    This cake is so pretty! The perfect Valentine's Cake!

    How to store cake?

    Store cake and any cake slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Keeping the air away will keep the cake tender and won’t dry out.

    Valentine's Day Cake Pinterest pin (slice of cake with cake in background)
    Don't forget to pin this recipe!

    Watch how to make this recipe!

    Want more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    slice of valentine cake on plate featured image

    Valentines Day Cake

    Author: Lisa
    Valentines Day Cake, easy to make, tastes delicious, and is a show stopper! Tender chocolate cake with the best homemade strawberry buttercream and chocolate ganache!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Decorating Time 10 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 18

    Ingredients
      

    Cake

    • 1 box chocolate cake mix*
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • 2 tbs vanilla
    • ¾ cup sour cream
    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • 4 eggs
    • ¼ cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional

    Strawberry Buttercream

    • ½ cup strawberries* about 6-8 strawberries
    • ¼ cup water
    • Pinch of salt
    • 1 ½ cups butter slightly softened
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla
    • 6 ½ cups powdered sugar + more if needed
    • 5 tbs heavy cream + more if needed
    • 3-4 drops LorAnn Strawberry Oil* optional but recommended
    • Neon Pink Food Gel- optional but really gives it that pink color you want

    Ganache

    • ¼ heavy cream
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • Strawberries Sprinkles, Crushed Chocolate, Candies as toppings (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray two 8 in cake pans with a flouring baking spray (like baker’s joy)
    • Mix together, either by hand or in a stand mixer, the oil, vanilla, sour cream, heavy cream and eggs. Then mix in the boxed cake mix, cocoa powder, and espresso powder if using.
      1 box chocolate cake mix*, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 tbs vanilla, ¾ cup sour cream, ¾ cup heavy cream, 4 eggs, ¼ cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon espresso powder
    • Pour batter into cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes- or until a toothpick comes out clean. *
      chocolate cake batter in cake pans
    • Once baked allow to cool and make your frosting.
      cake baked still in pan

    Strawberry Buttercream

    • In a medium sauce pan, combine water, strawberries, and salt. Heat over medium heat, mashing the strawberries as the liquid boils.
      ½ cup strawberries*, Pinch of salt, ¼ cup water
      strawberries in sauce pan
    • Boil until liquid is reduced to about ¼ cup, 3-4 minutes. Once at ¼ cup, remove from heat and refrigerate until cool.*
      boiled and mashed strawberries
    • In a stand mixer beat butter on medium until fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, powdered sugar, and heavy cream until a buttercream forms.
      1 ½ cups butter, 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla, 6 ½ cups powdered sugar + more if needed, 5 tbs heavy cream + more if needed
      vanilla buttercream in bowl
    • Add in the strawberries, a few drops of the strawberry oil, and a few drops of the gel food coloring.
      3-4 drops LorAnn Strawberry Oil*, Neon Pink Food Gel- optional but really gives it that pink color you want
      adding strawberry and coloring to frosting
    • Mix until fluffy. If the mixture is too runny add more powdered sugar (¼ cup at a time), and if it’s too stiff add more heavy cream (1tbs at a time).
      strawberry buttercream on spatula

    Frost the Cake

    • Place the first cake layer on your cake plate or board. Add a nice layer of strawberry buttercream, then place the second cake laver over that.
      smoothed frosting layer on first cake layer
    • Frost the cake with strawberry buttercream* the refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to allow the buttercream to setup.
      smoothing the frosting on the side
    • While refrigerating the cake, make your ganache. In a microwave safe dish combine heavy cream and chocolate chips. Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and combined. Usually takes about 1 minutes.
      ¼ heavy cream, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
      smooth ganache in bowl
    • Pour the ganache over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Before it sets up place any candies or strawberries on top.
      Strawberries
      ganache dripping over sides of cake
    • Enjoy!
      slice of valentine cake on plate

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    • *If you prefer a homemade chocolate cake, use this recipe but cut it half- it’s my favorite!
    • *If you don’t have the extra ingredients to doctor the box mix just follow the directions on the back of the box and bake accordingly.
    • *If you have a thermometer, the cakes will be done at an internal temperature of 205-210°F
    • *Strawberry Oil can be found in the baking/decorating isle of most grocery stores. It comes in a tiny bottle but you only need a few drops. You can also buy it online here.
    • *You can use fresh or frozen strawberries, just make sure they are thawed if using frozen.
    • *If your strawberry mixture is too chunky you can smooth it out by using an immersion blender on it.
    • *The strawberry buttercream makes enough for a single coat without a crumb coat. If you want a super smooth finish with a sharp edge (like seed here), I recommend doubling the frosting, doing crumb coat then a final coat.
    • *Refrigerate cake and any leftovers. It’s best to keep sliced cake in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 553kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 4gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 362mgPotassium: 190mgFiber: 1gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 799IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword valentines cake
    Did you make this recipe?Tag me on Instagram at @atablefullofjoy

    More Valentine's Day

    • Red Velvet Cake Balls
    • White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    • Valentine’s Day Cake Pops
    • Heart Cake

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