Believe it or not, that is actually a cupcake. Red velvet. Mmmmm. Red velvet heart.
Choose your favorite red velvet cake recipe, or a boxed one, as we did, and bake cupcakes according to the directions. We made six extra large cupcakes in order to get a bigger heart, closer to that of a horse.
As the cupcakes are cooling on a rack, roll out enough fondant to completely cover a cupcake. This amount will vary, depending on your cupcake size. Once the cupcakes are completely cooled (this is important), place a cupcake on its side on the rolled out fondant, and bring up the edges of the fondant to the top of the cupcake and mold the edges together. Use the top edge of one or two of the sides to create the arteries, and press the fold of the fondant together to create the appearance of the arteries and veins.
Mix black and red food coloring with piping gel to create the colors to paint the heart with. Work in layers to create depth and realism. The piping gel will stay shiny, even when dried.
Serve with a cherry compote. You can also fill the cupcakes with compote or jam before wrapping in the fondant for some fun when cutting into them!
Happy Valentine’s Day!