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.
I’m going to make this Ultimate S’mores Cake in the next few days. Looks so delicious! I need to know; How can I best store it, considering trying to preserve the marshmallow fluff topping?
Thank you!
I always cut my slices and double wrap them in saran and store in the freezer!
Hello there! I’m going to make this lovely S’mores cake this weekend and wanted to know if the cake would stay over night in the fridge or will the marshmallow topping lose it’s firmness and melt? Thank you.
I wouldn’t do the topping until you are ready to serve!
I made these cake layers today, planning to assemble tomorrow. My graham cracker crust was so crumbly while wrapping the layers to put in the freezer. I had the same problem with the cookies and milk cake. I followed the instructions exactly. Any tips? Longer bake time maybe?
Maybe a little more butter too!
Is it possible to freeze the whole cake (minus the marshmallow fluff on top) if I make it a week or two ahead? Will the marshmallow filling between layers hold its texture? And then just add the marshmallow fluff on top after thawing the cake?
Yes you can!
When referring to the ingredients for the toasted Marshmallow Filling, it says “1 jar (200 g) marshmallow fluff”. Is this just the store bought marshmallow cream, or do I use part of the marshmallow fluff that we make for the top of the cake?
Thanks. Can’t wait to make.
Yes, store bought.
Can you just use store bought marshmallow fluff for the topping?
Of course!
I’m planning on making a half-recipe – can I make the whole recipe for the filling and use that as the topping fluff as well? Will it toast up as nicely? Or is there a reason you have separate recipes?
It will not toast up as well.
Hi Courtney! I’m in the middle of making this cake and when I flipped the toasted marshmallows they sort it collapsed and just melted. Any ideas? Is that what is supposed to happen? Love your cakes!!!
It’s ok!! no worries at all.
This cake is a favorite at our house!! Every element is SO good!!! You won’t be disappointed!
Thank you so much!