Celebrate love and sweetness with this adorable Easy Conversation Heart Shaped Cupcakes Recipe! Strawberry-flavored cupcakes with buttercream piped into a small heart on top. No special cake pan is needed.

Plus sprinkle letters spelling out cute, romantic, or playful messages like conversation heart candies. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries or any special occasion! Whimsical, festive, and irresistibly delicious, they’ll steal hearts at any gathering!
WHY I LOVE THIS Easy Conversation Heart Shaped Cupcakes Recipe
• Deliciously easy: The strawberry cake mix creates a moist, fruity cupcake that’s simple to make yet tastes amazing.
• Homemade touch: Creamy, rich buttercream frosting adds a personal, made-with-love feel that’s hard to beat.
• Perfectly festive: They’re playful, nostalgic, and ideal for Valentine’s Day or any occasion that calls for a little love.
• Irresistibly charming: If you love a heart-shaped cake as much as I do, then these small heart cupcakes are for you.
• Valentine's Day Treat: Give your sweetie a small conversation heart cake for Valentine's Day. And share them with your friends. Recipe makes 24.
What you need
INGREDIENT NOTES
• Strawberry Cake Mix: Prepare it according to the box cake package instructions. Any brand box mix will work. Or use your favorite cake recipe.
• Salted Butter: The salt enhances the sweetness without overpowering it, but you can use unsalted butter if you want to.
• Powdered Sugar: No need to sift, as the mixing process will smooth out any lumps.
• Heavy Cream: Adjust the amount to achieve your desired consistency.
• Food Coloring: Use gel or liquid food coloring to create vibrant pastel or bold shades.
• Sprinkle Letters: Use alphabet sprinkles to create custom messages, mimicking the look of classic conversation hearts. I found the ABC sprinkles online.
How to Make this Easy Conversation Heart Shaped Cupcakes Recipe
1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin cups with paper bake cups. In a large bowl, prepare cake mix according to package (adding eggs, water and vegetable oil).
2) Fill paper bake cups ½ full with cake batter. Ball up pieces of aluminum foil and place at the top of each bake cup, pressing down gently. This creates a heart shape. No heart-shaped pan is needed.
3) Baking time is 16 to 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Let cool. Trim off rounded tops of cupcakes with a serrated knife.
4) For the homemade frosting: In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. (Or in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.) Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in the ¼ cup cream and the vanilla. Divide in batches, and tint each with a different color of pastel food coloring, if desired. We made yellow, blue, purple, orange, green, and pink frosting.
5) Place a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on a cookie sheet; set aside. Use a large open tip (or coupler) to pipe frosting onto cupcakes in the shape of a heart filling in the center. Use an offset spatula to smooth the top of the heart.
6) Invert frosted cupcakes onto the parchment and press gently. Chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes. Use sprinkle letters to spell out sayings for conversation hearts and place on the cupcakes. Full recipe card below.
QUICK TIPS
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: Let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack to prevent the butter frosting from melting.
• Whip the Frosting Well: Beat the buttercream frosting for 3-5 minutes to make it extra light and fluffy.
• Pipe Like a Pro: Use a piping bag with a large round tip or coupler for a clean and professional look.
• Customize the Messages: Get creative! Write sweet, funny, or heartfelt phrases for an extra personal touch. Some examples are: LOVE YOU, BE MINE, HUGS, CALL ME, TEXT ME, KISSES, XOXO, BESTIE, TRUE LOVE, YOU'RE HOT, I LOVE YOU.
• Store Smartly: Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• Can I use a different flavor of cake mix? Absolutely! While strawberry adds a fruity Valentine’s Day vibe, vanilla cake, chocolate cake, or red velvet cake mix can also work beautifully. I think chocolate hearts would be delicious!
• Can I make this easy recipe ahead of time? Yes! Bake the cupcakes a day in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Frost them just before serving for the freshest look.
• How do I soften butter quickly for the frosting? Cut the butter into small cubes and let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
• What can I use instead of alphabet sprinkles? If you can’t find alphabet sprinkles, try writing messages directly on the frosting with a small piping tip.
• How do I keep the cupcakes from sticking to the liners? Use quality cupcake liners and ensure the cupcakes are fully cooled before removing them. A light spray of non-stick cooking spray inside the liners can also help.
• Can I make these cupcakes gluten-free? Yes, simply use a gluten-free cake mix and ensure all other ingredients are labeled gluten-free.
• How do I store the frosted cupcakes? For best results, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for longer storage. Bring them to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.
Related Recipes
Love this recipe? If you try it, be sure to tag me on Instagram! You can also find me on Pinterest, YouTube and Facebook.
Easy Conversation Heart Shaped Cupcakes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1 box strawberry cake mix, prepared according to package
For the buttercream frosting
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 pound unsifted powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring
- Sprinkle letters
Instructions
For the cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin cups with paper bake cups. Prepare cake mix according to package. Fill paper bake cups ½ full. Ball up pieces of aluminum foil and place at the top of each bake cup, pressing down gently. This creates a heart shape.
- Bake 16 to 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Let cool. Trim off rounded tops of cupcakes with a serrated knife.
For the frosting
- In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in the ¼ cup cream and the vanilla. Beat in additional cream if frosting is too thick. Divide in batches, and tint each with a different color of pastel food coloring, if desired.
For the decorating
- Place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet; set aside. Use a large open tip (or coupler which is what I used) to pipe frosting onto cupcakes in the shape of a heart, filling in the center. Use an offset spatula or your finger to create a smooth frosting surface.
- Invert the frosted cupcakes onto the parchment and press gently to make the frosting flat and smooth. Leave in place and chill in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes or until set. Gently remove cupcakes from parchment. Choose sprinkle letters to spell out sayings for conversation hearts and place on the cupcakes.
Leave a Reply