🍰 Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup (120ml) milk

• Optional: pink gel food coloring

For the Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened

• 3 cups (375g) powdered sugar

• 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Pink food coloring (gel-based)

For Decoration:

• Pink decorative cherries (can be glittery fake or candy-coated real cherries)

• Sugar pearls or edible pearl beads

• Pink satin ribbons (optional, not edible)

• Heart-shaped cake mold

• Piping tips (e.g., open star, French star, and petal tip)

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🧁 Instructions:

1. Bake the Cake Layers:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two heart-shaped cake pans.

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

• In another large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Mix in vanilla.

• Gradually add flour mixture to wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix just until combined.

• Add a few drops of pink gel food coloring if desired.

• Divide batter between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

• Let cool completely before decorating.

2. Make the Buttercream Frosting:

• Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar.

• Add vanilla and cream, beating until light and fluffy.

• Tint with pink food coloring.

3. Decorate:

• Level the cake layers. Place one layer on a cake board.

• Fill and frost the cake with buttercream. Smooth with a spatula.

• Use piping bags with different tips to create ruffled and shell patterns around the sides and top.

• Attach pearl decorations in rings and strings.

• Add decorative cherries on top and optional ribbon bows around the cake.

4. Final Touches:

• Pipe a heart outline on top and write a message (like “twenty seven”) inside using a small piping tip.

• Chill for 15–20 minutes before serving to set the design.

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💗 Tips:

• For a glossy cherry look, dip cherries in sugar syrup or edible glitter.

• Always use gel food coloring for pastel tones without altering texture.

• Beads and ribbons are decorative; remind guests not to eat them unless marked edible.