You will need:
*3/4 cups butter, softened (Approx. 1&1/2 sticks)
*1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
*3 eggs
*1/2 tbs vanilla extract
*1/2 tsp baking soda
*2 tsp baking powder
*1/4 tsp salt
*2 1/2 cups flour
*1 1/3 cups milk

Step 1: Mix Batter

In a large mixing bowl beat together the sugar and butter until it is light and fluffy.
Next beat in the eggs, one at a time.
Add in the vanilla, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Finally mix in flour and milk gradually and beat until well combined.
The batter should have a light and fluffy texture.

Step 2: Separate Batter

Take 1/3 of the batter (about a cup and a half) and separate it into a small bowl.
Add 4 drops of red food coloring, and mix well.
Pour into a small pan and bake for around 20 minutes at 350 degrees, or until golden brown around the edges.

Step 3: Make Hearts

Take your pink cake out of the oven, and let cool for 15 minutes.
If the top is bigger in the middle, take a knife and cut the top off so it's even across the entire cake.
Take your heart cookie cutter, and cut heart shapes out of the cake.

Step 4: Make Cupcakes

(Make sure your pan is lined at this time!)
Place a small amount of batter inside each cup, just enough to fill the bottom of the liner.
Put your heart in the batter, standing up- your batter should be thick enough that they stand up on their own.
Once they are standing up, add more batter around the heart (You can choose to put batter on top of the heart or not, it won't matter if you're frosting them), and put then in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Step 5: Decorate Your Cupcakes

Let your cupcakes cool, and then take them out of the pan.
***At this point you may want to use a toothpick to mark where you will be cutting the cupcake so that the heart shape with appear in the middle.***
Frost the cupcakes however you want, and add decorations/sugar on top for extra flair.

Step 6: Enjoy!

We hope you liked this cute and easy way to make cupcakes with a special surprise! Remember, you can use any shape cookie cutter as long as the cut out piece will fit in the liner. Thank you for reading! :)

~Les Chefs