I love my Heart Shaped Wilton Cake Pans, they are so easy to use, to clean, very durable, bake evenly, and wonderful for making Anniversary, Wedding Shower, Sweet Sixteen, Wedding /Valentines Day Cakes and more. I purchase 2 different sizes 12 inch for $10.00 and 16 inch for $14.00. I used the heart shaped cake pans them to make my future daughter-in-law’s (at the time) Wedding Shower cake.
My Wilton Heart Shape Pans have a non stick coating, but when making a cake for a special occasion, I grease and flour the pans just to make sure they do not stick.
Cake Mix you want to use 1/2 of your batter as a regular cake mix (I like to use marble cake mix) and then 1/2 pound cake(yellow)
1 Cake Mix equals 4 to 5 1/2 cups of batter (they vary), when you have your cake mix, mixed, fill your pans 2/3 full. Sometimes I have left over batter so I make another cake or some cupcakes for home.
The 12 x 2 inch heart shaped pan should be greased and floured good so the cake will not stick to the pan, and is easy to remove the cake from the pan. It takes 8 cups of batter for the 12 inch, and is baked at 325 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, test with toothpick around the center area, if your toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
The 16 x 2 inch heart shaped pan should also be greased and floured good so the cake will not stick to the pan, and is easy to remove the cake from the pan. It takes 12 1/2 cups of batter for the 16 inch, and is baked at 325 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Again test with toothpick to make sure the cake is done
Now when my cakes are done, I let them cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, I then take my cake board and put it over the 16 inch pan as this is going to be my base for my cake, my husband helps me with turning the cake pan and board (so the cake does not crack), I level off with a leveling knife so the cake is nice and even, and remove all of the crumbs, then begin frosting. I put one thin layer of frosting on the cake and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the frosting will form a crust. Then for the second coat of frosting, and smooth the frosting with a knife that is dipped in hot water(this makes for a smooth finish).
Now it is time to put the 12 inch on top of the 16 inch heart. This you have to be careful with so the cake does not crack. I have left the cake in the pan for extra security. My husband tips the cake board up on a slant with the cake on it, and I tip the 12 inch pan over on its side and line it up for centering on the 16 inch heart. I touch the 12 inch pan to the 16, and tip the pan till the cakes touch each other. Then my husband lowers the board till it is flat, and I am ready to level the 12 inch cake, and begin frosting. First the first layer of frosting, wait 10 to 15 minutes and apply the second coat and smooth with the knife that has been dipped in hot water. Then I am ready for decorating.
I decorate not only with frosting, but I also use artificial flowers. I added a little vanilla to my white frosting to give it the cream colored look.
I used my star tubes for decorating the edges (now you want to do the bottom edge first, then where the cakes meet, then the top of the bottom cake and then the very top of the 12 inch top cake. I used small purple silk roses, greens/ferns and pearls to do the rest of the decorating.
If you are just a beginner and don’t want to use decorating tubes then you can just put your frosting on and smooth it out. And decorate with the artificial flowers and pearls and greens, or whatever you choose.
The 12 x 2 and 16 x 2, made together will serve well over 125 People (small pieces of cake). Around here they like big pieces, so it will serve 75 to 100 people
When making a single cake, I follow the instructions above, and then trim the bottom edge first and then the top layer. I sometimes use pink and white frosting’s, or a bright red and white frosting’s. The Lettering I do with white frosting
Clean Up: Wash by hand or by dishwasher. The clean-up is easy, as I grease and flour my pans heavily so the cake does not stick.
You can do so much with these pans, use them single, or double them up. They also can be used for a heart shaped wedding cake. If you want to be real creative, bake some cupcakes or a small round 9 inch cake, and you can piece together with frosting and make the heart into a bear or lions head, you can even a make large candy kiss, just fill in the areas (hold the pieces together with frosting) that need cake or cup cakes that need them. It is fun to experiment.
Storage: Just stack your heart shaped pans inside of each other, you are able to stack round cake pans inside the smallest heart, and then stack the hearts inside the largest square Wilton cake pan, saves on storage.
You can purchase the Heart Shape Cake pans through Wilton catalog or on line http://www.wilton.com also some pans are available at: Walmart, Ben Franklin Craft Stores, and Hobby Lobby, and craft stores that carry Wilton’s products.
I do have to admit that when arriving at the shower with the cake and trying to get it out of the car. My cake board started to split from the weight of the cakes. So make sure you have a board that is as heavy as a cutting board for the heavier cakes. I did have to move some flowers around on the cake as a section on the lower heart cracked and started to cave in. You will be able to see that in the picture.
