Surprise Heart Holiday Loaf Cake is a cheerful and festive dessert featuring a tender pound cake with a hidden red heart shape baked into the center. Finished with a smooth green icing or glaze, it’s the perfect showstopper for holiday brunches, dessert tables, or edible gifting.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This cake is as delightful to look at as it is to eat. The hidden heart in the middle adds a fun and meaningful surprise when sliced, making it perfect for sharing love and holiday cheer. With a buttery, dense crumb and a light glaze, it’s elegant enough for special occasions but simple enough for any home baker to achieve.

Ingredients

(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)

For the red heart cake (insert):

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt
Unsalted butter, softened
Granulated sugar
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Red food coloring
Optional: almond extract or peppermint extract

For the main (outer) loaf:

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt
Unsalted butter
Granulated sugar
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Milk or buttermilk

For the green glaze:

Powdered sugar
Milk
Green food coloring
Optional: holiday sprinkles for garnish

Directions

Make the red heart insert cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare a basic vanilla or almond pound cake batter, tint it red with food coloring.
- Pour into a square or loaf pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean (about 25–30 minutes).
- Cool completely, then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts from the red cake slices. Set aside.
Prepare the main loaf cake:
- Make a second batch of plain vanilla pound cake batter.
- Grease and line a standard loaf pan.
- Pour a thin layer of the batter into the bottom of the loaf pan.
- Line up the red cake hearts upright in a row down the center of the pan.
- Carefully pour the remaining batter around and over the hearts, smoothing the top.
Bake:
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45–55 minutes, or until golden and a tester inserted in the outer cake comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate:
- Mix powdered sugar and milk to create a glaze. Add green food coloring.
- Drizzle over cooled cake. Add sprinkles if desired.

Servings and Timing

Yield: 1 loaf (8–10 slices)
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time (total): 75–85 minutes
Cool and Decorate: 1 hour
Total Time: ~2.5 to 3 hours

Variations

Use chocolate cake for the heart center and vanilla for the outer layer.
Change the heart shape to a star, tree, or initial for other occasions.
Add citrus zest or spice to the outer cake for extra flavor.
Use white glaze instead of green for a more neutral look.

Storage/Reheating

Store the cake tightly wrapped or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. To freeze, wrap the loaf tightly without glaze and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw and glaze before serving. Warm slices gently if desired.

FAQs

How do I keep the heart shape from shifting during baking?

Make sure the heart cutouts are packed tightly together and pour the batter carefully around them to keep them upright.

Can I use box cake mix?

Yes, you can use boxed mix for either part of the cake, though homemade gives better texture and control over consistency.

Do I need to bake two cakes?

Yes, one for the red heart insert and one for the outer loaf — but both are simple pound cake batters.

What kind of cookie cutter should I use?

Use a heart-shaped cutter that’s slightly smaller than the width and height of your loaf pan.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes — use a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour and check that all other ingredients are gluten-free.

Can I change the shape for other holidays?

Absolutely. Try stars for New Year’s, trees for Christmas, or pumpkins for fall.

How do I avoid overbaking the heart center?

Bake the red heart cake just until done and don’t overbake the assembled loaf. Keep an eye on color and texture.

Why is my glaze too runny?

Add more powdered sugar to thicken, or reduce the milk by teaspoons to achieve the right consistency.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, make two loaves or one large loaf in a 9×5-inch pan. Adjust baking time accordingly.

Can I serve this warm?

Yes — warm individual slices slightly in the microwave for 10–12 seconds. It’s best served at room temperature for slicing.

Conclusion

Surprise Heart Holiday Loaf Cake is a creative and delightful way to bring a little extra love to your holiday baking. With its charming heart-shaped center and festive green glaze, it’s a dessert that’s sure to impress both in flavor and presentation. Bake it for someone special or bring it to your next gathering for a heartfelt holiday statement.

Surprise Heart Holiday Loaf Cake – Festive Pound Cake with Hidden Red Heart Center and Green Icing

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Surprise Heart Holiday Loaf Cake is a delightful and festive pound cake with a hidden red heart shape baked into the center of each slice. Topped with green icing and holiday sprinkles, this show-stopping dessert adds a sweet surprise to your Christmas table.

Author: Emma Harper
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours (including cooling and decorating)
Yield: 1 loaf (10–12 slices) 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
Prepare red velvet cake mix according to package directions. Pour into a 9×13-inch pan and bake until done (about 20–25 minutes). Let cool completely.
Once cooled, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts from the red velvet cake. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Mix in vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Add green food coloring until desired color is achieved.
Pour a thin layer of green batter into the bottom of a greased and lined loaf pan.
Stand red velvet hearts upright in a row down the center of the pan.
Gently pour remaining green batter around and over the hearts, covering completely.
Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the green cake (not the heart center) comes out clean. Let cool completely.
For icing, mix powdered sugar with milk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled loaf and decorate with holiday sprinkles.

Notes

Make sure red velvet hearts are well-cooled before cutting and inserting.
Don’t overfill the loaf pan—leave space for the cake to rise.
Store covered at room temperature for 2–3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 27g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 70mg