The beginning of the year is when all the heart-shaped baking accessories start to get released in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. I always enjoy the cute cake pans and tools that are released this time of year, partly because the designs are so sweet to begin with and partly because hearts, unlike some other holiday-specific shapes, can be used all year round. Nordic Ware Scallop Heart Bundt Pan is certainly perfect for Valentine’s Day baking, but I like the design so much that I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for any other occasion.
The pan makes a lovely three-tiered cake that has a distinctly different look than your average bundt cake. The tiers aren’t large enough that you could decorate them elaborately, as you might do for a layered wedding or birthday cake, but they are wide enough to balance some berries or other small goodies on (depending on what flavor your cake is) if you want to dress this up with more than a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. The detailing on this pan means that there are plenty of opportunities for cake to become stuck when you are unmolding your creation, even though the heavy duty cast aluminum pan has a nonstick interior. With a pan like this one, I recommend brushing all those nooks and crannies with melted butter and dusting the pan well with flour or cocoa powder before pouring in your batter.
What do you think?