How to Make Heart-Shaped Cupcakes for Valentine’s Day

I love baking Valentine’s Day treats—it’s the perfect excuse to indulge my sweet tooth and get creative in the kitchen. This year, I whipped up some adorable heart-shaped chocolate cupcakes that are easy to prepare (really!) thanks to a simple trick that requires only a muffin pan and a handful of ceramic marbles. Betty Crocker SuperMoist devil’s food cake mix cuts the work for these cupcakes in half, and a quick, fluffy homemade frosting gives them a sweet finishing touch. Here’s how to make them!

You’ll need the following ingredients: Betty Crocker SuperMoist devil’s food cake mix, water, vegetable oil, eggs, powdered sugar, butter, milk and vanilla extract. To achieve the heart shape, you’ll also need ceramic marbles; if you don’t have marbles, don’t worry—you can shape foil into marble-sized balls instead.

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare the cake batter as directed on the box, mixing the cake mix, water, vegetable oil and eggs using a hand-held mixer or large spoon.

Next, line a muffin pan with paper cupcake liners. Place one marble in each muffin cup, between the liner and the pan, to form a heart shape.

Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter. You’ll have enough batter for 30 cupcakes, so you’ll need to bake multiple batches.

Bake the cupcakes for 14 to 15 minutes—they should bounce back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Let them cool completely.

While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. Beat the powdered sugar, butter, milk and vanilla extract on medium-high speed for two or three minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.

Add pink or red coloring to the frosting as desired and mix until smooth.

Spread the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes with a knife or spatula, or use a decorating bag fitted with a plain tip for a cleaner look. Make this baking project a fun family activity by having the kiddos help frost and decorate the cupcakes with colored sprinkles.