Cute Little Debbie Heart Cakes

Highlighted in: Sweet Treats for Any Day

Make these cute heart cakes inspired by Little Debbie! Soft vanilla cakes filled with creamy marshmallow and coated in pink candy. They take a little effort, but they're tastier than store-bought and great as gifts. Add some white chocolate swirls to complete the look.
Una donna con un cappello a coda di cavallo e un vestito nero.
Écrit par Kylie
Last modified on Sat, 22 Mar 2025 21:42:12 GMT
Heart-shaped snack cakes with pink topping Save it
Heart-shaped snack cakes with pink topping | kylierecipes.com

Whip up some childhood magic with these handmade heart-shaped snack treats. Each mouthful delivers soft vanilla sponge wrapped around a pillowy marshmallow middle, all covered in a delightful pink candy shell that's just perfect for Valentine's celebrations.

These adorable little cakes stir up wonderful childhood memories while letting you make them yourself with love at home. The fun of making and giving them adds an extra special touch to the whole baking experience.

Must-Have Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour (2 cups): Makes the soft cake foundation
  • Granulated sugar (1½ cups): Gives just the right sweetness
  • Unsalted butter (1 cup): Adds moisture and richness
  • Large eggs (4): Provides firmness and depth
  • Buttermilk (1 cup): Keeps the cake incredibly soft
  • Pure vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Boosts the taste
  • Baking powder (2 teaspoons): Helps the cake rise well
  • Fine sea salt (½ teaspoon): Cuts through sweetness
  • Marshmallow fluff (7 oz): Makes the fluffy center
  • Unsalted butter (1 cup): Makes filling extra creamy
  • Powdered sugar (2 cups): Adds sweetness and thickness
  • Pure vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Gives filling taste
  • Fine sea salt (pinch): Rounds out the flavors
  • Pink candy melts (24 oz): Creates the outer shell
  • White candy melts (4 oz): For pretty patterns on top
  • Coconut oil (2 tablespoons): Makes coating smoother

Cooking Steps

Get the Cake Ready:
Put parchment in your pan. Whip butter till fluffy, slowly mix in sugar. Add eggs one by one. Switch between flour mix and buttermilk. Tap to remove bubbles.
Cook it Right:
Pour mix into pan, even it out. Bake until it looks golden and feels done.
Fix the Filling:
Beat butter until it's airy. Slowly blend in marshmallow fluff and sugar. Add vanilla and salt, mix until puffy.
Finish with Coating:
Dunk frozen cake stacks into pink mixture. Add white swirls on top.
Copycat Little Debbie Valentines Cakes Recipe Save it
Copycat Little Debbie Valentines Cakes Recipe | kylierecipes.com

Watching your temps and timing carefully will get you the right feel in these nostalgic goodies. Every step builds toward making treats that look store-bought but taste way better.

Ways to Serve

Show them off on multi-level trays with fresh berries and mint leaves. Make fancy table settings by putting them next to handmade cards. Set them up in heart shapes to make a table look special.

Mix It Up

Switch vanilla for almond or rose flavor. Put fruit taste in the middle. Pick different colored coatings. Add a chocolate layer for the chocoholics.

Keeping Fresh

Store in containers that seal tight with paper between layers. They'll stay good for 2 days on the counter or 7 days in the fridge. Cakes without coating can go in the freezer for a month.

These sweet Valentine's snacks bring happiness both when you're making them and sharing them with friends. Seeing someone smile when they bite into your homemade version makes all your work worth it.

Elegant Copycat Little Debbie Valentines Cakes Save it
Elegant Copycat Little Debbie Valentines Cakes | kylierecipes.com

FAQ sur la recette

→ Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! Store them in an airtight container for a few days, or freeze them if needed longer.
→ Why should ingredients be room temperature?
It helps everything mix better, making the cake softer and smoother all around.
→ Can I use other candy melt colors?
Sure! Try different colors to match the occasion or theme.
→ Why freeze before coating?
Chilling makes the cakes more solid, so they won’t break and the coating goes on smoothly.
→ Can I pick another shape?
You bet! Hearts are fun, but stars, circles, or other shapes work for different celebrations.

Little Debbie Heart Cakes

Fluffy heart-shaped cakes with marshmallow filling and pink candy topping—just like the popular snacks you love.

Préparation
30 minutes
Temps de cuisson
40 minutes
Durée totale
70 minutes
Écrit par: Kylie

Type de recette: Desserts

Niveau de difficulté: Complexe

Cuisine: American

Quantité obtenue: 12 Nombre de portions (12 cakes)

Régimes: Végétarien(ne)

Composition

→ Cake

01 1 cup sugar
02 1 1/4 cups plain flour
03 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 1/4 teaspoon table salt
05 2 teaspoons and a half of vanilla
06 1/2 cup room-temp unsalted butter
07 2 eggs, room temperature, too
08 1/2 cup buttermilk (bring to room temp)

→ Filling

09 1 cup butter, softened
10 3 cups fine powdered sugar
11 1 cup marshmallow creme
12 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Coating

13 2 1/2 cups pink candy melts
14 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
15 2 tablespoons melted white chocolate

Étapes de réalisation

Étape n°01

Heat the oven to 350°F. Butter a half-sheet pan, place a parchment sheet on it, and butter the paper too.

Étape n°02

Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl.

Étape n°03

Beat the butter and sugar till fluffy. Add one egg at a time, mixing well. Pour in vanilla, then alternate adding the buttermilk and the dry mix.

Étape n°04

Pour the batter in the pan evenly. Bake 15-20 mins—watch for golden edges. Cool for 10 mins, then chill in a fridge for another 20 mins.

Étape n°05

Beat your butter and marshmallow fluff until smooth. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar, and mix well.

Étape n°06

Cut heart shapes with a 4-inch cutter. Pipe filling onto half of them, then top with the other half. Freeze everything for an hour.

Étape n°07

Melt candy melts with coconut oil and dip each frozen piece until fully covered. Set them in the fridge for 15 mins to firm up.

Étape n°08

Pipe patterns on top with melted white chocolate. Let it chill again to harden the decorations.

Détails supplémentaires

  1. Inspired by Little Debbie's holiday treats.
  2. Pop these in the freezer to store longer.
  3. Make sure all ingredients are room temp for smooth mixing.

Outils et ustensiles nécessaires

  • 18x13 inch half-pan
  • Mixer (electric works best)
  • Heart cutter (4 inches wide)
  • Parchment for lining
  • Offset spatula for smoothing
  • Piping bags to fill

Informations sur les allergènes

Vérifie les ingrédients pour repérer d’éventuels allergènes et consulte un expert médical en cas de doute.
  • Contains dairy like butter and buttermilk.
  • Eggs are one of the main ingredients.
  • Uses wheat flour, so it's not gluten-free.