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White chocolate cream cheese naked heart cake

A plush vanilla cake with cheesecake frosting, shaped like a heart.
Prep 30 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Chill 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 8

Ingredients 
US | M

Cake
  • 4 large eggs divided into yolks and whites
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
Frosting
  • 10.5 oz white chocolate finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 10.5 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 250°F (175°C) and place a rack in the lower third of the oven. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch cake pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, lightly grease the parchment too and dust the sides of pan with flour. Set aside.
Make the cake
  • Place egg whites in a large bowl. Add lemon juice and beat egg whites on medium speed for a few minutes, until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup (50 g) of sugar and keep beating until hard peaks form. Set bowl aside.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, remaining sugar, vanilla, salt and water. Sift in the flour and baking powder. Mix, gently, until the batter comes together.The mixture will be thick, but if it’s so thick you’re having trouble whisking, add water by the tablespoon until it’s easier to handle.
  • Next, gently fold in the egg whites in 3-4 additions. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake cake for 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Leave the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then flip the pan upside down on a large plate. Remove the pan, peel parchment paper from the cake and let cake rest as you prepare the frosting.
    You can also wrap the cake in plastic wrap, once it's cool, and store it in the refrigerator overnight.
Make the frosting
  • Place chocolate in a large bowl. Heat whipping cream in the microwave (or on the stove) until it’s hot to the touch, but not boiling. Pour over the chocolate. Wait 1 minute, then begin gently whisking the chocolate and the cream, until the chocolate is completely melted and cream incorporated. Cool to room temperature.
  • Place cream cheese in a large bowl and beat until creamy, 30-60 seconds. Whisk in sugar and vanilla paste. Add the melted chocolate and cream. Beat on high speed until the chocolate is fully incorporated and the frosting smooth.
  • Cover mixture with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for an hour or overnight, until the frosting sets.
Assemble cake
  • First, split cake in two layers using a serrated knife. Then cut each layer into a heart. It can be hollow in the center or kept full.
  • Take frosting out of the refrigerator. Fit a pastry bag with a large tip, fill the bag with frosting and twist it at the end so it closes. Place first cake layer on a large plate. Pipe little dollops of frosting all over the cake in a single layer, using about half of the frosting. Cover with second layer and repeat.
  • If desired, decorate cake with strawberries, chocolate, candy and fresh flowers. Chill until serving time.

Notes

If your chocolate chunks are too big or cream not hot enough, sometimes not all of the chocolate will melt. This is perfectly okay. When this happens, set up a double boiler and place the bowl of chocolate over the simmering water. As the chocolate begins to melt, stir it with a spatula. Once it’s warm to the touch and looks almost completely melted, remove it from heat and keep whisking until it’s completely smooth.