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Conversation Heart Cupcakes Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 95 reviews
  • Author: Isabella
  • Total Time: Approximately 2 days (including overnight fondant drying) for full preparation; Active time about 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Conversation Heart Cupcakes are a delightful treat inspired by classic conversation heart candies. Featuring a moist vanilla cupcake infused with a unique conversation heart milk and topped with colorful swirled buttercream frosting and fondant hearts with cute sayings, these cupcakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any romantic occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Fondant Hearts

  • White Fondant (approximately 6 golf ball sized pieces)
  • Gel icing colors: pink, orange, yellow, blue, green, violet
  • Small Heart Cookie Cutter
  • Food writer pen

Conversation Heart Milk

  • 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk
  • 2/3 cup conversation hearts (preferably white, pink, and purple)

Cupcakes

  • 1 1/4 cups (163 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp (84 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (155 g) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (58 g) sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp (150 ml) conversation heart milk
  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature

Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 1/4 cups (280 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 5 cups (575 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3–4 tbsp (30–45 ml) conversation heart milk
  • Salt, to taste
  • Gel icing colors: pink, orange, yellow, blue, green, violet

Tools and Extras

  • 5 ziplock bags
  • Clear wrap
  • Piping bag
  • Ateco 847 piping tip (or similar)
  • Cupcake liners

Instructions

  1. Make the Fondant Hearts: Break off 6 pieces of fondant about the size of a golf ball. Leave one piece white, and color the others yellow, pink, orange, purple, and green (mixing green and blue gel colors). Roll out each color one at a time and use the heart-shaped cutter to cut out hearts. Set aside to dry for 1-2 days until firm. Once dry, use a food writer pen to inscribe conversation heart messages onto the hearts.
  2. Prepare Conversation Heart Milk: In a large jar or measuring cup, combine warm milk with conversation hearts and stir. Let the mixture sit, stirring occasionally, until candies dissolve completely, which may take about an hour. Refrigerate if made ahead.
  3. Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  5. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Proper creaming is essential for texture.
  6. Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  7. Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Milk: Add half the dry ingredients to the batter and mix gently. Slowly add conversation heart milk and mix until combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until smooth, scraping the bowl sides to incorporate all ingredients without overmixing.
  8. Whip Egg Whites: In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form.
  9. Fold Egg Whites into Batter: Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the batter in two additions until no egg white streaks remain.
  10. Fill Cupcake Liners and Bake: Fill liners slightly more than halfway with batter. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  11. Cool Cupcakes: Remove cupcakes from oven and let cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  12. Make Buttercream Frosting: Beat the butter in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually add half of the powdered sugar, beating until combined. Add vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of conversation heart milk, mixing until smooth. Add the remaining powdered sugar and continue mixing. Add remaining conversation heart milk as needed along with a pinch of salt to achieve desired consistency and taste.
  13. Color the Frosting: Divide buttercream into five bowls and color each portion yellow, pink, orange, purple, and green (mixing green and blue gel colors) to reflect traditional conversation heart colors.
  14. Prepare Multi-Color Frosting Log: Spoon each colored buttercream into separate ziplock bags. Lay a piece of clear wrap on a surface and pipe a thick row of each color side-by-side onto the wrap. Fold the wrap around the rows to create a long frosting log, twist the ends, and trim one end for piping.
  15. Pipe Frosting on Cupcakes: Place the frosting log into a piping bag fitted with an Ateco 847 tip. Pipe swirls of frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
  16. Decorate Cupcakes: Top each frosted cupcake with a fondant conversation heart or actual conversation heart candy for a charming finish.

Notes

  • The fondant hearts should be made 1-2 days ahead to allow drying and firming.
  • Ensure the milk is warm enough to dissolve conversation hearts properly but not hot enough to curdle.
  • Do not overmix the batter after adding dry ingredients to avoid tough cupcakes.
  • Whipping egg whites separately and folding them in gently helps create a lighter cupcake texture.
  • Adjust conversation heart milk quantity in frosting to achieve desired piping consistency.
  • Use gel icing colors sparingly; a little goes a long way in achieving vibrant colors.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1-2 days for fondant hearts and 1 hour for conversation heart milk preparation)
  • Cook Time: 15-17 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: conversation heart cupcakes, Valentine's Day cupcakes, fondant hearts, colorful buttercream, conversation heart milk, festive cupcakes

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Find it online: https://isabellavance.com/conversation-heart-cupcakes-recipe/