Hearts made of sponge cake with walnuts

Heart-shaped sponge cake with walnuts - a sweet recipe, perfect for celebrating love, whether it is Valentine's Day or Dragobete. This heart-shaped cake not only looks fantastic but also has a unique taste, thanks to the fluffy walnut sponge layers that blend harmoniously with a fine cream. The preparation is simple, and the result will surely impress anyone.

Total preparation time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes
Number of servings: 12 hearts

Ingredients:

For the sponge cake layers:
- 6 eggs
- 150 g sugar
- 100 g ground walnuts
- 100 g flour
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

For the buttercream:
- 200 g butter (at room temperature)
- 200 g powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla essence
- 2-3 tablespoons milk (optional, for a smoother texture)

For decoration:
- Cocoa or grated chocolate
- Ground walnuts or almond slices

Instructions:

1. Start by preparing the sponge cake. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a baking tray with oil or butter, then dust it with flour to prevent sticking.

2. In a large bowl, separate the egg whites from the yolks. Use a mixer to beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until frothy. Gradually add the sugar and continue mixing until you achieve a firm meringue.

3. In another bowl, beat the yolks together with the vanilla essence. Fold in the ground walnuts and flour, mixing gently with a spatula.

4. Carefully combine the egg white mixture with the yolk mixture, being careful not to lose air in the batter. Pour the mixture into the prepared tray and level it with a spatula.

5. Bake the sponge for 25-30 minutes or until it is golden brown and passes the toothpick test. Let it cool completely in the tray.

6. While the sponge cools, you can prepare the buttercream. In a bowl, mix the softened butter with the powdered sugar until creamy and airy. Add the vanilla essence and, if desired, a little milk to achieve a smoother consistency.

7. Once the sponge has cooled, cut it into heart shapes using a special cutter or a knife.

8. Fill each heart with the buttercream, using a knife or piping bag for an elegant decoration. You can also apply cream on the outside for a uniform look.

9. Decorate the hearts with cocoa, ground walnuts, or grated chocolate, to add flavor and an attractive appearance.

10. Chill the cakes in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving, so the cream firms up a bit.

Serving suggestions: These heart-shaped walnut sponge cakes pair perfectly with a cup of coffee or aromatic tea. You can also add some fresh fruits, like strawberries or raspberries, to create a delicious contrast.

Possible variations: Instead of walnuts, you can use almonds or hazelnuts for a different flavor. You can also flavor the cream with other essences, such as rum or almond essence.

This quick and simple dessert will not only bring a smile to your loved ones' faces, but it will also add a personal touch to your celebration. So, get ready to enjoy a culinary experience full of love!

THE BASE: I mixed the egg yolks with oil, sugar, and vanilla, then added the flour mixed with baking powder. I whipped the egg whites, mixed them with walnuts, and gently incorporated them into the flour mixture. I poured the batter into a round pan and baked it for about 30 minutes at 170C (350F). I removed it from the mold, let it cool, cut it in half (unfortunately unevenly, as you can see), and using a cookie cutter, I cut heart shapes from both halves of the base. CARAMEL SAUCE: I melted 200g of milk caramels over steam (I don’t have a microwave, it would have been much easier) with a tablespoon of butter and about 3 tablespoons of milk until it became a sauce. WHITE CREAM: I whisked 3 egg yolks with 5 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of vanilla pudding, and 60ml of milk and placed it over steam until the cream thickened. I whipped 100g of butter with a mixer until creamy, then added the cooled pudding and whipped it for another minute until the cream was homogeneous. I soaked the heart shapes with a little syrup flavored with rum essence, first spread caramel sauce on all of them, then added the white cream and made small cakes with three heart shapes each. CHOCOLATE GANACHE: Pour 50ml of hot sweet cream over 150g of bittersweet chocolate and mix with two tablespoons of butter in a bowl NOT ON THE HEAT. If the sauce is too liquid, add more chocolate; if too solid, add cream. Pour it over the heart shapes and smooth it out, then refrigerate for an hour to let the chocolate set. POWDERED SUGAR GLAZE: I mixed about 350g of powdered sugar (store-bought, as it contains starch) with a tablespoon of lemon juice. I divided the glaze into three and colored one part pink, one red, and the rest remained white. I put it in a decorating cone and drizzled some on top. Enjoy your meal! The recipe for Heart-shaped sponge cake with walnuts was proposed by roxanav on the recipe forum.

 Ingredients: Dough: 9 eggs, 9 tablespoons flour, 4 tablespoons chopped walnuts, 6 tablespoons oil, 9 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, vanilla. Caramel sauce: 200 g milk caramels, 1 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoons milk. White cream: 3 egg yolks, 5 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons vanilla pudding, 60 ml milk, 100 g butter, rum essence. Chocolate ganache: 50 ml hot heavy cream, 50 g bittersweet chocolate. Powdered sugar glaze: 350 g powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, pink and red food coloring.

 Tags:  cake with cream cake recipes with pictures valentine's recipes sponge cake recipe