Valentine Cakes
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING:
1-1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decorating icing and confetti candies
In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Coat an 8-in. square baking dish with cooking spray and dust with flour; add butter. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. In a small mixing bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk, butter and vanilla until smooth; set aside. Transfer cake to a work surface. Using a 3- to 3-1/2-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter, gently cut out four heart-shaped cakes (set cake scraps aside for another use). Place one heart on a serving plate; spread with some frosting. Top with a second cake; frost top and sides. Repeat with remaining cakes and frosting. Decorate with icing and candies. Yield: 2 servings.
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING:
1-1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decorating icing and confetti candies
In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Coat an 8-in. square baking dish with cooking spray and dust with flour; add butter. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. In a small mixing bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk, butter and vanilla until smooth; set aside. Transfer cake to a work surface. Using a 3- to 3-1/2-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter, gently cut out four heart-shaped cakes (set cake scraps aside for another use). Place one heart on a serving plate; spread with some frosting. Top with a second cake; frost top and sides. Repeat with remaining cakes and frosting. Decorate with icing and candies. Yield: 2 servings.
