A few years ago, to celebrate a Disney-loving friend's birthday, I recreated these adorable "Hidden Mickey" cupcakes that you could find at Walt Disney World's Main Street Bakery. What is so fun is that no matter how you slice, or bite, into the cupcake you will find a hidden Mickey! After learning the "how" I began to wonder what other "hidden" cupcakes I could create and a "Hidden Heart" seemed like a great choice, especially with Valentine's Day on the horizon.
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I should start off by letting everyone know that I am not a whiz in the kitchen and these are truly easy to make for any level of experience. If you can follow the instructions on a boxed cake or brownie mix and have played with play dough ever - then you are ready to make your own "Hidden Heart" cupcakes. I promise!
First, gather what you will need:
- Two packages of cake mix, or a one package of cake mix and one package of brownie mix. For the Mickey's above I used a yellow cake mix and brownie mix. For my first attempt at the Hidden Hearts I used a package of yellow and one of red velvet. If you want your hearts a fun color, then use a white mix and food coloring. This part is all about preference.
- Oil, egg and water - you will prepare the mixes per the instructions on the package
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Hand mixer or whisk, something to stir your cake mixes
- Large cake pan
- Cupcake pan
- Cupcake liners
- Frosting
- Helpers are optional
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Let's Get Baking!
- The first thing you will want to do is prepare the mix you are using for the Hidden Hearts per the instructions on the package. Pour the batter into (preferably) a larger cake pan, 9x11, but truly any pan will work. Make sure you follow the instructions on the package to bake according to pan type. Metal or glass pans will require different baking times and you want to try to not over-bake the batter. When you can insert a butter or table knife into the cake and it comes out clean it is ready to come out of the oven.
- While the cake for the hearts is cooling, go ahead and prepare the other package of cake mix per the instructions. Once fully mixed pour about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the batter into a separate bowl and set aside. You will use that in a few steps.
- Prepare your cupcake pan with liners and then pour a little batter into the bottom of each cupcake liner. I don't have a precise measurement for this because a precise measurement isn't needed, but approximately a half an inch.
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At this point you should have:
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Next Let's Make our Hearts:
- This part is a favorite of my kids - take the cake for your hearts that has been cooling in the pan and use your hands to crumble it up. Yes, destruction can be fun and yes, sampling a bite is perfectly acceptable! You should be left with a crumbled cake. If you weren't able to use a large cake pan, then you can definitely transfer it to a clean bowl for this part.
- Next add about 1/4 cup of the batter you had set aside and 1/4 cup of water and use your hands and a large spoon to thoroughly mix it all up until you have a lump of paste or dough. This is where all of those hours you have logged playing with play dough will come in handy! If the mixture is a bit too dry, you can always add a little more of the extra batter and water.
- Using your hands, pull off a couple of tablespoons worth of the mix and form it into a cone shape and make a "dimple" in the rounded top part. Since cupcake pans can vary in size there is no exact measurement for how big to make your hearts. A little trial and error may be needed.
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Now to finish them up!
- Place each heart into a cupcake mold and fill with remaining batter. Feel free to give the heart a gentle press if it doesn't stand on its own in the mold after the batter is covering it.
- Bake cupcakes according to the package, let cool and then decorate with a frosting and sprinkles of your choice!
I love how the three dimensional heart will allow you to cut a cupcake in half and find a Hidden Heart. I have tried other methods and if you don't slice it from just the right direction you won't get that "SURPRISE" in the middle.
If you make these, please share how they turned out! Tag me on Instagram @macaroni_kid_chicago or just drop me a note!
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WAIT! Did you think I was going to not tell you how to make the "Hidden Mickey" cupcakes too? That would have just been mean to all of those "Mouse" fans out there! The only difference is in the shapes you need to create. Instead of a cone with a dimple, you need to make a ball and then roll out a "snake" or log shape to form a little "halo" to rest on top of the ball. Let me know how they turn out, or if you have any questions you can reach me on Instagram, or via email at sarayaniga@macaronikid.com
