Sweetheart Cupcakes

Anyone can make this fun Valentine’s Sweetheart cupcakes recipe. It uses a standard muffin pan. Add a small marble to bake them into a heart shape. They’re perfect for making with your kids, gifting friends and family, or bringing to your Valentine’s Day Party! The perfect filled cupcakes treat

I’m known to show my love through baking. These Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Strawberries, and Heart Cookies make delicious Valentine’s Day treats!

Why I love these cupcakes:

• Festive – These Valentine’s Day cupcakes are so fun to make! Grab a bag of marbles from the Dollar Store and whip these Sweetheart cupcakes up in no time! Let your kids help!
• Delicious – What’s not to love about a moist cupcake with cream cheese frosting? These will capture the heart of everyone you give them to.
• Fun—I love making this Valentine’s Day cupcake recipe. They’re a fun and easy activity for the family or kids. Use different colors of frosting and fun Valentine’s sprinkles.

How to make Sweetheart cupcakes:

Make Cupcake Batter: Make cupcakes according to recipe directions. You can doctor up a cake mix by using milk instead of water. Add one extra egg to the batter. Alternatively, use my homemade chocolate cupcake recipe! Fill cupcake liners in a muffin tin ½ full (be careful not to overfill)

Place Marble: Place a marble between the liner and the pan after filling the liners. The Sweetheart cupcakes will take the shape of a heart!

Bake cupcakes according to recipe directions. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frost and Enjoy: Decorate these heart-shaped cupcakes how you’d like, then enjoy!

More Valentine’s Day Recipes:

• Peanut Butter Heart Cookies
• Super Soft Sugar Cookies
• Valentine Sugar Cookies
• Oreo Cheesecake Bites
• German Chocolate Cake

Sweetheart Cupcakes

Nichole Sheley

Anyone can make this fun Valentine's Cupcake recipe using a standard muffin pan and a small marble to bake them into a heart shape. Perfect for making with your kids, gifting friends and family, or bringing to your Valentine's Day Party!

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Cooling and Decorating 10 minutes mins

Total Time 48 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 cupcakes

Calories 442 kcal

Equipment

• Muffin tin (standard 12-cup size)
• Cupcake liners (because we’re not about that sticking life)
• Electric mixer (because hand-whipping butter is a no-no)
• Large mixing bowl (for all the good stuff)
• Piping bag and tip (for that Instagram-worthy swirl)
• Cooling rack (patience is key here)

Ingredients

  

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Cupcakes

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour the backbone of every good cupcake
• 1 tsp baking powder we need lift, people
• ¼ tsp baking soda the secret to perfect texture
• ¼ tsp kosher salt because sweet needs balance
• ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature and creamy
• ¾ cup granulated sugar sweet but not too sweet
• 2 large eggs room temperature, so they incorporate beautifully
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract only the real stuff here
• ½ cup whole milk because the rich batter is life

Filling

• ½ cup strawberry jam or Nutella your choice—you’re in control here

Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter room temp and ready to whip
• 3 cups powdered sugar the fluffy stuff
• 2 tbsp heavy cream silkiness at its finest
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: pink food coloring because it’s cute, obviously

Optional Toppings

• Sprinkles edible glitter, or fresh strawberries (to win them over)

Instructions

 

Step 1: Whisk It Like You Mean It

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt in a medium bowl. This is your dry base; getting it well-mixed now will ensure your cupcakes rise evenly. Set that aside for later—we’ll come back to it.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar Like a Pro

• In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, looking like it could float away. This should take 3-4 minutes with a medium-speed electric mixer. The goal is incorporating as much air as possible to achieve those light, airy cupcakes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in that glorious vanilla extract. At this point, the mixture should be creamy and smooth, smelling like sweet heaven.

Step 3: Bring It All Together

• Grab your flour mixture from earlier and add it to the butter-sugar-egg party, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the flour mixture until everything is combined. Don’t overmix until the batter is smooth. Overmixing makes dense cupcakes, and no one’s here for that.

Step 4: Fill the Cupcake Liners

• Line your muffin tin with cupcake liners and evenly distribute the batter between the 12 cups, filling each about ¾ full. You want to leave enough space for the muffins to rise without spilling over the sides. Tap the tin lightly on the counter to even out the batter and release any hidden air bubbles.

Step 5: Bake Like a Boss

• Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The tops should spring back when lightly touched. Don’t overbake these beauties, or they’ll be dry. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely before proceeding to the fun part: filling and frosting.

Step 6: Get Creative with the Filling

• Once your cupcakes have cooled (seriously, don’t skip the cooling—warm cupcakes + filling = mess), use a small knife to cut a little hole in the center of each one. Don’t go too deep; you want to remove a little piece of the cupcake to make space for the filling. Spoon about a teaspoon of strawberry jam or Nutella into each hole, then replace the cupcake “lid” you just cut out. It’s like a little hidden surprise waiting to be discovered.

Step 7: Make That Buttercream Sing

• While the cupcakes rest, let’s make the buttercream frosting. In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature butter on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until it’s creamy and pale. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating slowly after each addition. This keeps things smooth and fluffy. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract once the powdered sugar is fully incorporated. Beat at medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is light, airy, and perfect for piping. If you want that Valentine’s Day vibe, add a few drops of pink food coloring and mix until combined.

Step 8: Pipe and Decorate Like a Pro

• Transfer your buttercream to a piping bag with a star tip (or any tip you prefer). Pipe beautiful swirls onto each cupcake, starting from the outside and working your way to the center. The goal is to make these look as good as they taste. Once frosted, top them with your optional toppings—sprinkles, edible glitter, fresh strawberries—whatever makes you smile.

Step 9: Serve and Win Hearts

• Now comes the best part: serve these Sweetheart Cupcakes to your loved ones (or keep them for yourself, I won’t judge). Watch their faces light up when they discover the sweet surprise filling inside. You’ve officially won Valentine’s Day—or any day.

Notes

• Fillings Are Your Playground: Don’t like strawberry jam or Nutella? Try lemon curd, raspberry preserves, or even salted caramel. The options are endless, and every choice is delicious.
• Buttercream Too Sweet?: If you prefer a less sweet buttercream, reduce the powdered sugar slightly and add a pinch of salt. This will balance out the sweetness while still being deliciously creamy.
• Storage Tip: These cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you need to make them ahead of time, store the unfrosted cupcakes in the fridge and frost them just before serving.
• Want to Go Gluten-Free?: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend. Your cupcakes will still be soft, fluffy, and full of love.

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 2gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 115mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 762IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg

Keyword buttercream frosting, filled cupcakes, homemade cupcakes, sweetheart cupcakes, Valentine’s Day cupcakes

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