Copycat Little Debbie Strawberry Heart Cakes

For the cake:

• 1 box Duncan Hines strawberry cake mix

• 1 cup whole milk

• 3 large eggs

• ½ cup vegetable oil

For the filling:

• 1¼ cup marshmallow fluff

• ¼ cup premade cream cheese frosting

• ½ cup powdered sugar

For the coating:

• 3½ cups + ¼ cup vanilla flavored melting wafers

• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line a standard rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.

2. Make the cake: Combine all of the cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk to mix together until smooth. Pour the batter into the lined baking tray. Use a silicone spatula to evenly spread the batter over the tray. 

3. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 14-17 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto the counter and cool completely.

4. Make the filling: Combine all of the filling ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Use an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed to mix until smooth.

5. Use a 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many shapes from the cake as possible. Spoon some of the filling over half of the heart cakes and then top with a second cake.

6. Place the heart-cake sandwiches back onto a lined baking tray. Top the cakes with a second piece of parchment paper and place a second baking tray on top. Chill the heart-cake sandwiches in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

7. Make the coating: Melt 3½ cups of the vanilla melting wafers in a large bowl in the microwave at 30-second intervals until smooth. Add the shortening and mix until smooth.

8. One at a time, dip the heart-cake sandwiches into the coating. Use a fork to carefully flip the cakes over, coating the whole thing. Place the coated cakes back onto the lined baking tray and chill for 10-15 minutes, or until the coating has hardened.

9. Melt the remaining ¼ cup of vanilla melting wafers. Transfer to a piping bag and snip a small opening at the bottom. Drizzle the melted wafers over the cakes in a random, swirl pattern and chill for another 10-15 minutes, or until hardened. Enjoy!