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Broken Heart Chocolate Cake

Broken Heart Chocolate Cake for Valentine's Day
Food Network Kitchen’s Broken Heart Chocolate Cake, as seen on Food Network.
Prep Time
1h 45 min
Cook Time
45 min
Yields
8 - 10 servings

For that person who feels nothing but daggers towards Valentine’s Day, we gift you a chocolate cake that will crack you up. It’s pretty cathartic to make, and it’s delicious too.

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ingredients

Cake

Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing the pan
All-purpose flour, for dusting the pan
1
box (15.25-oz) chocolate cake mix (plus required ingredients)

Sugar Glass

cup granulated sugar
¼
cup light corn syrup
¼
tsp cream of tartar

Frosting

1
box (12-oz) assorted mixed nuts and chews chocolates (about 24 pieces), such as Russell Stover
¼
cup heavy cream

Whipped Cream & Cake Assembly

1 ½
cups heavy cream
¼
cup granulated sugar
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directions

Notes

Special equipment: a 9-inch heart-shaped cake pan

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9-inch heart-shaped cake pan with cooking spray and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.

Step 2

Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions and pour into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Invert the cake pan onto a plate to remove the cake from the pan, then invert back onto the rack to let cool completely.

Step 3

Line a baking sheet with parchment. Stir together the sugar, corn syrup and cream of tartar in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave in 2-minute intervals, stirring in between each, until the sugar starts to dissolve and the mixture turns a very light golden, about 4 minutes. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth with an offset spatula into a thin rectangle about 9 inches by 7 inches. Refrigerate until hardened completely, about 15 minutes. Use a meat mallet to break the sugar so that it resembles broken glass.

Step 4

Melt the chocolates and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

Step 5

For the whipped cream: Whip the heavy cream and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form.

Step 6

Assemble the cake: Once the cake has cooled, use a serrated knife to shave off the top to make it flat (it domes as it bakes). Cut the cake in half horizontally to make two even layers, then, keeping the layers stacked, use a paring knife to cut jagged edges in a zigzag formation down the middle of the cake so that you have two halves of a broken heart.

Step 7

Place the two bottom halves on a cake stand or plate so they are separated a little. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the bottom halves. Top with the two top halves and drizzle the melted frosting over the top so that it covers the top and drips down the sides of the cake. Decorate with the broken sugar glass and refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened, about 15 minutes. Slice and serve.

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