This started because I wanted to make something cute for Valentine’s Day that wasn’t chocolate-covered strawberries or store-bought cupcakes again. I saw one of those heart-shaped pull apart cupcake cakes online and thought, yeah… that’s the one. It looks fancy, but it’s literally just cupcakes stuck together with frosting. My kind of “showstopper.” So I went about making this Pull Apart Cupcake Recipe
If you want something that looks bakery-level but takes less effort than wrapping a gift, this one’s for you. Let’s bake…
Why You’ll Love This Pull Apart Cupcake Recipe
- It looks like a fancy cake, but it’s just cupcakes.
- The heart shape makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day parties or date night.
- You can use any cupcake flavor – chocolate, vanilla, or even red velvet.
- It’s easy to serve: everyone just pulls one off.
- No special tools, just a muffin tin, frosting, and sprinkles.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes (makes about 12 cupcakes)
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk (whole milk gives the best texture)
Optional Add-Ins:
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder (for a light chocolate flavor)
- A few drops of red or pink gel food coloring for that Valentine’s hue
For the Frosting
- 1 cup (230 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Red or pink gel food coloring
- Valentine’s sprinkles, candy hearts, or red sugar for decorating
How To Make It
1. Prep and Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. It’s okay if you use two tins – just bake one batch at a time.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together for about 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. The mixture should look creamy and smooth – kind of like thick frosting.
4. Combine Everything
Add half of the dry ingredients, mix gently, then pour in the milk. Add the rest of the flour mixture and stir until just combined. If you’re making them red or pink, this is when you add a few drops of gel food coloring. (Start small – it’s strong stuff!)
5. Fill and Bake
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
6. Make the Frosting
In a clean bowl, beat butter until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk or cream, then whip on high for about 2 more minutes until fluffy. Adjust consistency by adding a little more milk if needed. Tint with red or pink food coloring and mix until you get your perfect shade.
7. Arrange the Cupcakes
Once cooled, place the cupcakes on a large serving board or tray in a heart shape. You’ll need around 11–12 cupcakes for a classic heart, but play around with it until it looks right.
8. Frost and Decorate
Spoon or pipe frosting directly onto the tops, covering the gaps so it looks like one big cake. Swirl a little extra frosting around the edges for drama. Then write something fun like “Be Mine” or “Love You” on top with some leftover icing!
9. Serve
No knives, no mess – everyone just pulls a cupcake off. It’s sweet, soft, and perfectly Valentine’s-y.
Tips & FAQs For This Pull Apart Cupcake Recipe
Can I use a cake mix?
Totally. A boxed mix works great just follow the package directions and make the frosting from scratch to give it that homemade feel.
How long does it stay fresh?
They’ll stay soft for about 2–3 days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can I make them ahead?
You can bake the cupcakes the day before, then frost and decorate the next day.
Can I freeze them?
Yep. Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to a month. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.
Recipe Card
Pull Apart Cupcakes
Description
Soft vanilla cupcakes frosted together into a sweet heart-shaped pull apart cake. Perfect for Valentine’s Day parties, school treats, or an easy dessert that looks way fancier than it actually is.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
Buttercream Frosting
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
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In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then mix in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
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Add half the dry ingredients, mix it up gently, pour in the milk, then stir in the remaining dry ingredients until just combined.
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Divide the batter evenly into liners, filling each about two thirds full. Bake until lightly golden and springy on top, about 16 to 18 minutes. Cool completely.
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Beat butter for the frosting until creamy, then slowly mix in powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Tint with food coloring and whip until fluffy.
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Arrange cooled cupcakes into a heart shape, spread frosting evenly over the tops so they connect, and decorate with sprinkles.
Note
These cupcakes can be baked a day ahead, just store unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container.
Boxed cake mix works perfectly if you want a shortcut, just make the frosting from scratch.
Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 1 month, thaw at room temperature before decorating.
