The pan heart-shaped Mamù It's a must-have in kitchens throughout Italy. A baking pan like this is not only perfect for periods like Valentine's Day, but it's also a useful tool to use throughout the year to give a unique shape to various recipes.
What if you don't have one, but you still have a sweetheart you want to please in the kitchen? Well, all is not lost! There are a few techniques that will allow you to try your hand at making a beautiful heart-shaped cake for your sweetheart. even without having the pan!
Heart-Shaped Cake Without a Pan: Three Tricks
As you may have guessed by reading the name of the paragraph, There are three tricks to making a heart-shaped cake without having our beloved pan . Which of the three should you use? You'll soon find out, also depending on the availability of pans in your pantry: know that preparing the sponge cake is the basis of the procedure. First of all, you need: at least one round pan and at least one square pan.
The three methods in brief:
With round pan and square pan: cutting the sponge cake round and using semicircles in the upper corners.
With a single round pan: Slice the bottom half of the sponge cake with two diagonal cuts, for the heart-shaped tip. Place the cut pieces on top.
With a round pan and lots of incisions: Divide the circle into four identical pieces, choose one of the four segments and cut it out. On the opposite side, do the same and cut until you obtain a triangle. Place it next to the rest: you will have the point and the rounded parts.
The first trick: round pan and square pan
The first trick involves using two baking pans, one square and one round. Both must be similar in size: with a tape measure in hand, measure the side of the square pan and the diameter of the round pan. If they are the same, you have the right pans for this job.
Now you can prepare the sponge cake. Divide the batter between the two pans, bake, and wait for it to cool. Remove the sponge cake from the square pan and rotate the shape in front of you, turning it into a diamond. Now, cut the round sponge cake into two equal parts and place the two semicircles in the upper corners of the diamond. You've just created your heart: sure, the pieces won't line up, but the decoration will take care of the rest (chocolate, right?).
The second trick: a single round pan
The second trick is a little more laborious, but if you're already reasonably skilled, you might get a more satisfying result. In this case, we can use a single round pan, inside which we'll then cut out the heart.
Once again, we need the sponge cake, baked and still cooled in the pan. Take a knife and slice the bottom half of the circle with two oblique cuts, creating the point of the heart. Place the cut edges on top, creating the rounded part of the heart. You'll just need to finish off a few details with a few cuts here and there, and then decorate the cake again to give it the desired shape.
The third trick: round pan and incisions
The third method is more geometric: always start with a round pan and its cooled sponge cake. Then, divide the circle into four identical parts with a shallow (not deep) incision. Now choose one of the four segments and cut it cleanly away, separating it from the rest. Transform it into a triangle by removing the round part, then the segment that mirrors the one you removed, and place the triangle next to it: this is the tip of the heart. The rest comes naturally: work with the knife to smooth and round the heart's domes, joining everything together with the final garnish.
The decoration
As for decoration, remember to make the surface of the sponge cake flat, keeping in mind that it could swell during baking and ruin the final shape. Also consider the hydration level of the batter and the filling: if the sponge cake is thick, you could fill it with cream, chocolate, or even jam. As for the topping, cream could certainly be the perfect solution, covering up any imperfections. If you feel like taking a risk, then use melted chocolate or fondant.
