Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Valentine's Day Treats: Mini Bundt Cakes are Big on Flavor

Love is in the air! Your sweethearts will adore you even more after you make them mini Bundt cakes for Valentine's Day. These little cakes are adorable and the perfect size for little hands and for big ones too!



To make the cakes, I recently purchased a Mini Bundt Maker by Dash at Target. The small appliance costs less than $20 and comes with recipes for different cakes as well as glaze options for them. For my cakes, I chose to make simple vanilla cakes drizzled with vanilla glaze. I also made red velvet cakes topped with a rich cream cheese glaze.





If you decide to make these cakes, I have a few suggestions. Back off on the suggested cooking time or your cakes may be a little dry. For example, the vanilla cakes were done in about 6 minutes rather than 9 and the red velvet cakes took about 9 minutes instead of 12.





I also filled the well with a bit more than the 1/3 cup batter that is suggested. I ended up with one less cake per recipe; however, I was able to get a prettier design on the top of the cakes with this modification. Lastly, I did not coat the appliance with cooking spray each time I added batter. The spray seemed to build up after the first few cakes were baked. I did, however, reapply the spray when I started to make the second batch of cakes.

I hope you have fun creating these mini cakes and a very sweet Valentine’s Day.





Vanilla Bundt Cakes with Vanilla Glaze
Makes 5 cakes
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ cup sugar
1 large egg
½ cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Glaze
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons whole milk, room temperature

Plug in Mini Bundt Maker and preheat for 10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a handheld mixer on medium until they are fluffy and light. Add egg, milk and vanilla, and blend until mixed. Using slow speed, mix dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Small lumps are okay.

Brush Mini Bundt Maker and removal tool lightly with butter or baking  spray. Add batter until Bundt maker is ¾ full.

Bake for 9 minutes (see above note) or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the cake.

Lift out cake using removal tool. Cool cake completely on a baking rack before glazing.

For the glaze: In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together until well combined.





Red Velvet Bundt Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze
Makes 6 cakes
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup buttermilk, full or reduced fat
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons red food color
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup sugar

Cream Cheese Glaze
½ cup cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons whole milk, room temperature

Plug in Mini Bundt Maker and preheat for 10 minutes.

In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a measuring cup, whisk together buttermilk, egg, vinegar, vanilla and red food color.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar with handheld mixer on medium until fluffy and light. Add 1/3 of dry ingredients, blend, then ½ wet ingredients. Repeat until combined.

Brush Mini Bundt Maker and removal tool lightly with butter or baking spray. Fill the well ¾ full .

Bake for 12 minutes (see above note) or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the cake.

Lift out cake using removal tool. Cool cake completely on a baking rack before glazing.

For the glaze: Place cream cheese in mixing bowl. Sift in the sugar. Add the milk and stir vigorously until the glaze is smooth and creamy.

(Recipes adapted from Dash)