This Walmart Dessert Is Going Viral for Looking (and Tasting) Just as Good as a $200 Bakery Treat

Lately, Walmart’s bakery has been cranking out the hits, with cake after cake after delicious cake. Those favorites, however, are all pre-made, grab-and-go treats, and according to the savviest of Walmart shoppers, we’ve all been sleeping on the bakery’s best offering: custom cakes.

Grocery store cakes have come a long way. Costco and Sam’s Club cakes are wedding-worthy. And I’m still not over the gorgeous fever dream that was Publix’s solution for anyone with a December birthday. But there’s another fantastical design at Walmart that’s been trending on Instagram and TikTok for months, with shoppers claiming it looks and tastes as good as a fancy bakery cakes.

It’s available year-round, but you’ll definitely want to order one for Valentine’s Day.

Walmart’s Viral Heart-Shaped Cake

Walmart’s bakery is massive compared to other grocery chains, and the superstore’s custom cake possibilities are near infinite. Most of the designs (and there are dozens) are geared toward kids’ birthday parties, but there are some serious gems in that mix that look incredibly chic. The most famous of all Walmart cakes, however, is the Heart Cake.

It’s become such a trend that there are now several varieties—as well as seasonal iterations—of the Hearts Cake. Love disco? They’ve got a cake for you. Succulents? That’s covered, too. Rococo plasterwork vibes? Yep. There’s a Heart Cake for everyone. Last year, Heart Cakes in the style of conversation heart candies went viral. But this year, there’s a moody, monochrome, cherry red Heart Cake going viral, and the most impressive part? It costs less than $25.

Instagram creator @thedecor411 recently shared their Walmart Heart Cake, and it stopped me mid-scroll. They topped the burgundy cake with matching black cherries to create an incredibly chic design that you would never know came from Walmart.

Another creator, @thebeccaflores, shared the same dark red customization as a birthday cake with the words “twenty five” piped on top in elegant cursive. “Please tell me you are not sleeping on Walmart’s bakery. They make such good custom cakes at an affordable price,” the creator said.

And fans in the comments agree. “If only more people knew!” someone exclaimed. “And the taste was 10/10.”

For flavors, you can choose from either white or chocolate cake, or you have the option to mix-and-match for the various layers. There’s an optional filling (for an additional $3 fee) of either strawberry or Bavarian cream, and there are two choices for icing: “whipped” or “Buttercreme style.” Fans have praised multiple flavor and icing combos, but what’s getting the most hype is the price.

Walmart’s 8-inch Heart Cake serves 16 people for just $24.98, while a similar cake from a small business or independent bakery would cost a lot more. “A local baker wanted $110 for the same size,” someone shared. “OMG! $25?!” another chimed in. “The bakeries want to charge me about $200!”

We ordered one for our test kitchen, and were seriously impressed. We opted for a pink heart cake with chocolate cake on the inside, “Allrecipes” on top in script, and disco ball cake toppers. Even with customizations, the cake cost $24.98.

“I would never guess that this was from Walmart,” said video producer Natalie Gravois. “Every detail on it looks perfect.”

And as for the taste? “This is really good,” gushed Gravois, adding that it’s not as dense or rich as the chocolate cake you’d get in a local bakery, but that it’s perfect for kids’ parties, showers, or even Galentine’s Day.

Right now, the default Heart Cake online features Barbie pink icing, and requires at least 48 hours for the bakery to prepare. So, if you want a custom cherry red Heart Cake for Valentine’s Day, you’ll need to order that in person—and likely factor in a couple more days for the bakery to prepare. Not all Walmart locations have the same exact custom cake catalogue or availability, so it’s a good idea to call your local Walmart before you go.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be a Valentine’s Day or birthday cake. Last year, foodie insider @morganchomps showed off the custom Walmart Heart Cake she ordered for her mom: a divorce anniversary cake. Again, there’s a Heart Cake for everyone!