I’m skipping the pink and red treats this Valentine’s Day and going straight for the chocolate… who’s with me? Rich marble chocolate heart cakes are a no-fail way to win hearts and quite easy to make too – I simply scooped my one-bowl batter into a mini heart pan and added a cream cheese swirl for a marble effect.
Initially I left the cakes unfrosted (as you see here), but when I happened upon a bowl of leftover fudge frosting, I couldn’t resist sampling a frosted heart. My final verdict? You will not regret a flourish of fudge frosting, especially when it’s this simple (whisked together in under a minute) and straight up delicious.
Marble Chocolate Hearts
Yield: 10 heart cakes
Ingredients
Cakes
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 6 Tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup milk, at room temperature
- 2 Tbsp plain fat-free Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp instant espresso
- 1/4 cup boiling water
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 4 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbsp plain fat-free Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
- 1 1/2 Tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a mini heart pan generously with nonstick spray and dust with flour. For the cakes, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; make a well in the center of the mixture. Add sugars, egg, milk, yogurt, oil, and vanilla to flour mixture; whisk in just until incorporated. Dissolve instant espresso in boiling water; add to batter and whisk in until smooth. Fill each heart mold just over half full of batter.
- For the cream cheese swirl, combine cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Dollop mixture by teaspoons over chocolate batter and swirl together with a toothpick or wooden skewer; gently tap pan once to remove air bubbles. Bake cakes for 16 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached. Cool cakes in pan on a wire rack for two minutes, then remove from pan to cool completely.
- For the frosting, combine melted butter, vanilla, salt, powdered sugar, cocoa, and milk in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined. Whisk frosting one more minute, until smooth and glossy. Use an offset spatula to spread frosting over cakes. Store leftover cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before serving.
Notes
Baking pan: I used this Mini Heart Pan.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 215 Carbohydrates: 33
Beautiful Laura! They look super moist and very mouthwatering!
SO PRETTY! That swirl of chocolate is gorgeous and YES to some fudge frosting! 🙂
These look absolutely divine. YES YES to the marble swirl through the centre! My husband is a massive chocolate fan, also a massive lemon fan, so I’m trying to toss up which one to make this Valentines Day. Your recipe and the photos are pretty persuasive though! x
Now aren’t you ready for Valentines day already 🙂 Loving those swirls!
I saw these on Insta and literally ran to my computer! Absolutely gorgeous Laura! <3
I am completely with you (it’s all about the chocolate, lol)! These are so pretty, Laura…that marbling takes them over the top!
Gorgeously decadent <3
Super cute and with enough chocolate to keep my Mr very happy! Just scrumptious!
Sweeeeeeet! xxx
I’m definitely with you on the chocolate all the way! These are perfect and I’ll have a dozen, ok? 🙂
Who’d say no to these chocolate beauties! I think my family would prefer these over anything red or pink as well 🙂
Laura, I LOVE these heart shaped marble cakes!!!! so pretty! and I was going to ask which Mini Heart Pan you used so thank you for including the link!
Oh, these cakes are PERFECTION, Laura! I agree… when it comes to Valentines Day, Chocolate > anything pink or red. ADORE. <3
I’ve never been a fan of the color pink, so I’m 100% with you on the chocolate! These cakes are adorable, without trying too hard to do so. 😀
Aww they’re so sweet! Perfect for Valentines Day 😀
The perfect chocolate-y and fudgy treat for Valentine’s Day and so cute in heart shapes! I love the added cream cheese swirl. So sweet with stunning and inviting photography as always, Laura. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
How cute are these. They look so moist and tasty too!