Best Crowd Pleasing Ultimate S’mores Cake
Ultimate S’mores Cake – Layers of graham cracker crust, chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate frosting and marshmallow fluff truly make this the Ultimate S’mores Cake!
S’mores Cake
One of the first cakes I wanted to create on my own was a S’mores Cake. Early on in my cake-making days, I tried several s’mores cake recipes, some with chocolate cake layers, some with vanilla cake layers, and some with graham cracker cake layers. I also tried some with a marshmallow element, some without; some with chocolate buttercream, some with vanilla buttercream; some with graham cracker crumbs, some without. So many delicious cakes, but none of them were the ultimate s’mores cake.
Ultimate S’mores Cake
Since I hadn’t found a single s’mores cake that rocked my world, I decided to create my own, inspired by some of my favorite elements from the cakes I had tried. What you’ll get in my Ultimate S’mores Cake:
- Graham cracker crust
- Dark chocolate cake
- Chocolate ganache
- Toasted marshmallow filling
- Chocolate buttercream
- Chocolate drip
- Toasted marshmallow fluff
How to Schedule Baking the Ultimate S’mores Cake
Don’t let all the elements of this cake scare you away! Every minute in the kitchen is worth every bite you take. Promise!
Here’s how I schedule baking the Ultimate S’mores Cake:
- Day 1: make the crust and cake layers (once cooled to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and freeze)
- Day 2: make the marshmallow filling and chocolate buttercream (store each in airtight containers in the refrigerator and bring back to room temperature before assembly)
- Day 3: make ganache and fluff and then assemble
How to Apply the Drip
The drip should be a consistency that slowly and easily falls over and down the edge of your cake. To make the drip, I use ½ cup dark chocolate chips and 1/3-½ cup heavy whipping cream. To test the consistency, use the the bottom of a tumbler and apply the drip, just like you would with a cake (see below.) If the drip is too thick, add a little more warm cream.
It’s okay to apply the drip while it’s slightly warm. Just make sure your cake is chilled before you start.
Using a Kitchen Torch
When you’re ready to add the marshmallow fluff, make sure you have a kitchen torch handy. Torching the fluff not only ensures a fabulous flavor, it also helps hold the fluff in place.
How to Assemble the Ultimate S’mores Cake
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Ultimate S’mores Cake
Layers of graham cracker crust, chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate frosting and marshmallow fluff.
Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST
- 2 cups (240 g) graham cracker crumbs, about 18 rectangular crackers (this is best done in a food processor or blender, but can be done by placing the graham crackers in a zip-lock bag and rolling over the crackers with a rolling pin)
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter melted
- 1/3 cup (70 g) granulated sugar
FOR THE CAKE
- 2 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups (350 g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cups (88.5 g) dark cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon (3 g) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (5.6 g) salt
- 1 cup (240 g) buttermilk at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (109 g) vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon (4.2 g) pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (236.6 g) hot water
FOR THE MARSHMALLOW FILLING
- 24 large white marshmallows
- 1 cup (125 g) powdered sugar measured and then sifted
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.1 g) pure vanilla extract
- 1 jar (200 g) marshmallow fluff
FOR THE GANACHE
- 1 cup (150 g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (115.5 g) whipping cream
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
- 1/3 cup ( 77 g) heavy whipping cream
- 10 oz. dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups (452 g) unsalted butter slightly chilled
- 5 cups (625 g) powdered sugar measured then sifted
- 1 tablespoon (4.2 g) pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- *This buttercream recipe makes enough to fill and cover your cake. If you want to add additional piping you’ll want to make an extra ½ batch.
FOR THE MARSHMALLOW FLUFF
- 3 egg whites room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.4 g) salt
- 1/3 cup (66.6 g) sugar
- 1 cup (300 g) light karo syrup
- 2 tablespoons (29.6 g) water
- 1 tablespoon (12 g) vanilla bean paste or clear vanilla extract
Instructions
FOR THE CRUST
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Spray three 8-inch or four 6-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and then line with parchment. Spray again. Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar. Stir until all the graham cracker crumbs are damped by the melted butter.
- Divide evenly between the three pans and press down firmly with your hand or the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 5 minutes. Let cool while you make the chocolate cake batter.
FOR THE CAKE
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined.
- In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, water and vanilla.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pans (about 12 ounces in each 6-inch pan or 15 ounces in each 8-inch pan), over the cooked graham cracker crusts and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumsb on it.
- Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to use.
FOR THE MARSHMALLOW FILLING
- Place the marshmallows on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Place on the middle rack of the oven, and broil the marshmallows until golden brown on top, about 30-60 seconds. Keep your eye on them!
- Remove the pan from the oven and gently turn the marshmallows over and broil them again until they are golden brown on the other side.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and powdered sugar and beat on low until blended. Add the vanilla and mix on medium speed for about three minutes
- With the mixer on low speed, add the marshmallow cream and (cooled) toasted marshmallows, and mix for about one minute.
FOR THE GANACHE
- In a microwave safe bowl, pour the cream over the chocolate chips and heat for about 45-60 seconds. Stir, and if needed, heat for another 30 seconds to melt the chocolate chips completely. Let cool to room temperature before using.
FOR THE FLUFF
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk the eggs and salt until fluffy and frothy.
- Meanwhile, heat the sugar, corn syrup, water and vanilla paste. Heat over medium flame until the sugar is dissolved and just simmering, about 5 minutes.
- With the mixer on medium speed, add a tiny bit of the hot sugar mixture to the egg whites at a time. (Temper the eggs – don’t scramble the them)
- Eventually, all of the sugar will be added and then turn the mixer up to high. Beat the mixture on high for about 5 minutes or until very stiff and shiny.
- Best used right away.
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
- Heat the cream until nearly boiling in a microwave safe bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and stir until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter for about 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the ganache. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and then mix on medium-high speed for about a minute, until the mixture is smooth.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, followed by the vanilla and salt.
- Buttercream can be store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week.
- When you’re ready to frost the cake, bring the frosting back to room temperature and mix by hand with a wooden spoon to push out all of the air pockets.
ASSEMBLY
- Level each chocolate cake layer, if needed, and then place the first cake layer, graham cracker side down, on a cake board.
- Spread half of the chocolate ganache on the cake layer and then freeze for 5 to 10 minutes to set the ganache a little.
- Carefully spread half of the toasted marshmallow filling over the chocolate ganache and repeat step 2 and 3 for the second cake layer.
- Place the final cake layer, graham cracker side down, on top and cover with a crumb coat layer of the chocolate frosting. Freeze the cake for 10 to 15 minutes to set the crumb coat.
- Finish frosting the cake with the chocolate frosting and then decorate the top of the cake with the marshmallow fluff, toasting with a kitchen torch, if desired.
This cake is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. It was a lot of work, but worth it!!!
I’m so glad!
Hey Courtney!
Any chance you have a cupcake version of this recipe? Or can this one be used for cupcakes? Thanks!!
Yes it can. 18-20 mins at 325
Can this cake be made, assembled and placed in the fridge a day before it is needed? (Obviously allowing time for it to come to room temperature before serving).
I usually like to store cakes in the freezer to retain freshness, but the for one night, the fridge will be ok 🙂
Making the cake this weekend for my sons birthday! I read that it’s best to slice and freeze individual slices. If we are planning on eating the cake within 2 days would it be ok storing leftovers covered in the fridge to snack on throughout a couple of days? Or is freezing right away the only option with the marshmallow topping?
Hope you loved the cake! You can keep it in the fridge for just a day or two and be ok!
I’m so exited to try making this cake for my husband’s birthday! Question for you – I live in Arizona, and the temps are ridiculously high (like going to be over 110 this weekend). I made the Lemon Bar cake last weekend for my birthday (which was freaking amazing), and the frosting started to melt off the cake very quickly. Do you have any tips for stabilizing the frosting for higher temperatures? For reference, my house/kitchen probably gets up to 80 degrees. Thank you!
I would keep it in your fridge the day of until it’s ready to serve!
This recipe is to die for. I am not the biggest fan of marshmallows, but this is too good!
Any advice if I forget to bake the graham cracker crust into my cake layers? Any way to save it or should I just start over? Thanks!
Just crumble some crackers in between layers!
This is not only the best cake I’ve ever had, but best dessert in general. Seriously perfect in every way. Everyone was in love
Hi Courtney, my husband’s birthday is gonna be these weekend. I live in Germany and I don’t know if I can find here the Caro sirop. Can I substitute it with something else? Thank you in advance! Have a lovely week!
Honey!