The 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!
 
 Ultimate S'mores Cake - Get ready for THE PERFECT summer cake! My dark chocolate cake layers are baked on a graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate ganache toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate buttercream and a toasted homemade marshmallow fluff. It doesn't get more ultimate than this! #cakebycourtney #ultimatesmorescake #chocolatecake #smores #smorescake #smorescakerecipe #smoresdessert #summerdessert #chocolate buttercream #summerrecipes #bestchocolatecakerecipe #bestchocolatecake #thebestchocolatebuttercream

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 - Get ready for THE PERFECT summer cake! My dark chocolate cake layers are baked on a graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate ganache toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate buttercream and a toasted homemade marshmallow fluff. It doesn't get more ultimate than this! #cakebycourtney #ultimatesmorescake #chocolatecake #smores #smorescake #smorescakerecipe #smoresdessert #summerdessert #chocolate buttercream #summerrecipes #bestchocolatecakerecipe #bestchocolatecake #thebestchocolatebuttercream

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

Ultimate S'mores Cake - Get ready for THE PERFECT summer cake! My dark chocolate cake layers are baked on a graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate ganache toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate buttercream and a toasted homemade marshmallow fluff. It doesn't get more ultimate than this! #cakebycourtney #ultimatesmorescake #chocolatecake #smores #smorescake #smorescakerecipe #smoresdessert #summerdessert #chocolate buttercream #summerrecipes #bestchocolatecakerecipe #bestchocolatecake #thebestchocolatebuttercream

 

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
 
Ultimate S'mores Cake - Get ready for THE PERFECT summer cake! My dark chocolate cake layers are baked on a graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate ganache toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate buttercream and a toasted homemade marshmallow fluff. It doesn't get more ultimate than this! #cakebycourtney #ultimatesmorescake #chocolatecake #smores #smorescake #smorescakerecipe #smoresdessert #summerdessert #chocolate buttercream #summerrecipes #bestchocolatecakerecipe #bestchocolatecake #thebestchocolatebuttercream
 
 

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

 

Other Cakes You May Like

 
Ultimate S'mores Cake - Get ready for THE PERFECT summer cake! My dark chocolate cake layers are baked on a graham cracker crust, topped with chocolate ganache toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate buttercream and a toasted homemade marshmallow fluff. It doesn't get more ultimate than this! #cakebycourtney #ultimatesmorescake #chocolatecake #smores #smorescake #smorescakerecipe #smoresdessert #summerdessert #chocolate buttercream #summerrecipes #bestchocolatecakerecipe #bestchocolatecake #thebestchocolatebuttercream

Ultimate S’mores Cake

4.98 from 134 votes
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.
Cuisine Cake
Course Dessert
Keyword Advanced, Smores Cake, Ultimate S’mores Cake

Courtney Rich

I’m a self-taught baker, obsessed with cake.

I long ago ditched box mixes in pursuit of melt-in-your-mouth, to-die-for flavor combinations, fillings and textures. I believe cake must be decadent, life-changing and worthy of celebration! And I believe anyone should be able to bake that kind of cake – and I’m here to teach you just that!

Get my free cake decorating guide
Everything you need to know about decorating a cake like a pro!

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Comments

  1. Hi Courtney! Just curious. If I make this cake today, but plan to eat it tomorrow, will it still taste fresh? And should I leave at room temperature? I’m not a big fan of cakes that are cold so I didn’t know if I could leave it out or not. Thanks and keep caking!!!

    1. You can definitely make it today. The only thing I would hold off making until tomorrow and adding right before you serve is the marshmallow fluff that goes on top. I don’t like my cake cold either, but I would still put it in the fridge, covered, tonight because there’s cream in the frosting. Then tomorrow morning you can put it at room temperature and let it sit out until you’re ready to serve.

  2. Hi Courtney, this cake looks fabulous! Would I be able to substitute a Swiss meringue buttercream or would it not hold up as well? And any hacks to warm the marshmallow topping without a kitchen torch? Thanks!!

    1. I haven’t tried SMB with this cake but I think you’d be able to use it, no problem. You could do the marshmallow topping without toasting it. I’m not sure there’s another option to toast it.

  3. I noticed you only used one cake acrylic disc when you frosted this cake. Is there a reason? I find that when I use my discs the part I hate the most is taking it off the bottom board. It’s just so much easier when the cake is already on the drum! Does using one disc make a difference? Also I noticed you weren’t using parchment under your top disc? It’s not hard to get the top disc off without out?!? Thanks for everything! You’re an inspiration!

    1. I sometimes just use one board too, but I don’t have a problem getting the cake off the bottom disk because the cake is also on a cake board so I just slide a knife under the cake board. I do add frosting on top of my cake before the top disk goes on. In my videos, you’ll see I actually put the top disk on right after the crumb coat has been set. I just haven’t had good luck with the parchment on top and trying to take it off.

  4. Hello! I have a couple of questions. I am fairly new to your site/instagram, so I don’t know if these things are questions you have been asked before. 1) You have two methods for making the chocolate frosting in the instructions. Is there one you prefer?? 2) I have 3 9″ cake pans and 3 7″ pans. I notice that most of your recipes are for 8″ pans. Do you recommend using 9″ pans and reducing cook time or using 7″ and reducing the amount used or increasing cook time? Thanks!!!

    1. So it’s actually a chocolate ganache and a chocolate buttercream – a filling and a frosting. You’ll want to use both in this cake. As for size of pans, that will just depend on how you want the layers to look. They’ll be thinner if you use the 9″ and thicker if you use the 7″. That will just be up to your preference.

      1. Sorry, just to clarify, in the instructions I see it goes: for the graham cracker crust, for the chocolate cake, for the toasted marshmallow filling, for the chocolate ganache, for the chocolate frosting, for the marshmallow fluff, for the chocolate frosting (again). I’m making the cake for my dad’s birthday and I want to make sure I’m doing it right!

  5. hi, this looks amazing.
    for the end, you don’t specify when/how to get the chocolate drips – is that leftover ganache?
    also, you said you had tried a bunch of recipes. did you try the banana smores sweetapolita one? wondering if you loved that one too??

    1. No, I’m sorry I didn’t specify. It’s 1/2 cup dark chocolate to 1/2 cup heavy cream. I haven’t tried the banana s’mores cake. I didn’t even know about that one and I’m actually posting a banana nutella s’mores cake soon!

  6. I absolutely love your cakes! I am making the smore cake and wanted to find out if the toasted marshmallow filling can be made ahead of time and if it should be stored in the fridge and brought to room temperature for use?

    1. Yes, it can definitely be made ahead of time. I store mine in an airtight container in the fridge, and then yes, bring it to room temp before using.

  7. Hi!
    I know you freeze your cakes and the separate elements regularly, but I’m specifically concerned about the freezing and thawing of the cake layers causing the precious graham cracker crust to get soggy. Any thoughts? I want to bake the cake layers, freeze them in your double plastic wrap/foil method and then assemble at a later date. Will I ruin the crunchy crust? 😐

    1. The graham cracker crust with the baked cake on it won’t get soggy because you bake the crust by itself first. I’ve done it a ton with this cake.

  8. Hey Courtney,

    I am making this cake right now and I have used all of my ganache in between the layers. Do you make more ganache to do the chocolate drizzle?
    Thanks!

  9. Hi Courtney! What size cake boards did you use for the cake assembly? What size disk is your cake safe acrylic disk?

  10. First off, this looks fantastic! But with so many things (marshmallow fluff and so much chocolate), does the cake end up being sickly sweet?

    1. It’s definitely on the rich side, but the dark chocolate cake and some salty-ness in the graham cracker crumbs help to balance that a bit.

  11. I made your Chocolate Cherry Pie Cake last week for my sister’s birthday and it was, no exaggeration, the best cake I have ever tasted. And beautiful! So I am making this one this weekend for my son’s birthday. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the recipes!

  12. Doing the chocolate drip isn’t in the instructions – do you use the chocolate ganache for this, too?

  13. Made this cake a few weeks ago. Halved the recipe and made a 3 layer 6in cake. The halved recipe is perfect for the size. It was fantastic. Many compliments from coworkers. My only “issue” is that it’s too chocolate-laden for my personal taste. I did forget the marshmallow fluff on top, which I know would have helped balance everything. The toasted marshmallow filling is LIFE. Will absolutely make again, just maybe without some of the chocolate for myself.

  14. This seems silly, do you sift the flour before measuring or after? I had read years ago to always sift first but there seems to be some recipes now that don’t sift the flour.

    1. If you’re waiting longer than a few hours to serve it, yes, but make sure to keep it covered.

  15. Would this be good with vanilla frosting on the outside? Want to decorate it for the 4th (red/white)

  16. Hello,
    I was wondering how I could adjust the recipe and bake time for either two 9inch layers? or I was thinking I would try three 6inch layers?

  17. Hi Courtney, this cake looks unbelievable and I can’t wait to try it! How could I adapt this recipe for 6” pans? Would half the recipe be enough for 3 6” layers? Or would the recipe as written give me 4 6” layers? How high do you fill your cake pans? Would the bake time change? And is the bake temp of 360 correct? Sorry for all the questions but I don’t want to mess up what I’m sure is an amazing cake!

    1. The recipe is made for 4 6inch pans or 3 8inch so use the recipe as written! Use a food scale to measure how many ounces go in each pan so they are all the same. Bake time and temp will be the same, just keep an eye on it!

  18. Sorry but one more question. I want to decorate this cake for a Christmas party and need the frosting to be white. What flavor frosting (besides chocolate)would compliment the cake and filling flavors without making it all taste too sweet? Vanilla American buttercream? Marshmallow buttercream? Vanilla Swiss Meringue?

    1. 5 stars
      Great cake! Baked it for my own birthday 😉
      Only issue was that after adding the marshmallow fluff to the marshmallow filling mix, the filling became extremely liquid-y and runny. What reason could this have been?

  19. This cake is by far the best cake I have made and I have been baking for years. Brought it to a family Xmas party and said it was the best cake they have ever had and there were a lot of family to please. So thank you!!!

  20. I was wondering what kind of cocoa powder you use-dutch processed or just unsweetened? Since the recipe calls for baking soda I was thinking dutch, but you hadn’t specifically mentioned it so maybe it’s the other?

  21. Courtney, I’m new to your site and am so excited to start trying your reipes. (I just had a wedding cake made from a combination of your recipes – simply divine!) Part of what makes them so beautiful is the presentation. Where do I find acrylic cake discs? Thanks for the help!

  22. Hi Courtney, I plan on making this cake for my son’s birthday next week but I don’t need such a large cake. Any suggestions as to how I could modify the recipe to make a 3 layer 6″ cake? Would halving the ingredients work? Thank you for your wonderful recipes and tutorials. Wish I lived closer so I could take one of your classes!

  23. Can you bake any cake batter on a graham crust? Or would this only work with specific types of batter?!

    P.s Your cakes are to die for!!!

  24. I loved loved loved the texture of the crust in the cake. It was amazing. The cake was very rich, so a small piece was enough for me. I very much look forward to trying the Creme Brûlée one next!

  25. This is a life changer! I made it for our tenth anniversary (COVID 19 self isolating edition) and I can’t imagine that I’ll ever taste anything as amazing! Thank you!!!

  26. 4 stars
    I made this and it came out great! Thank you for the recipe, it’s a fun cake. In the cake batter itself, I had a bit of a problem getting my wet/dry ingredients to mix well with each other without over-mixing the batter, but the end result seemed fine regardless.

  27. This cake looks extraordinary, and I am planning on making it for my husband’s birthday this weekend. I do have a question regarding the graham cracker crust on the cake layers-does it make the cake difficult to cut/cause the fillings to squish out when cut? Or is it tender enough to cut through without squishing the cake? Thank you!

      1. 5 stars
        I made the cake this weekend, and we shared it with my husband’s family for his birthday. It was PHENOMENAL!!! Thank you for sharing!

  28. 5 stars
    I’ve made this cake 3 times and every time I serve it people say it is the best chocolate cake they have ever had! I was wondering if I used this chocolate cake recipe (without the graham crust) as cupcakes, what baking time would you suggest?

  29. This looks amazing! I plan on making this for a July 4th get together. What’s more American than s’mores! Should I torch the marshmallow fluff right before we eat it or can I do it ahead of time?

    Can’t wait to eat this! S’mores are my favorite. 😋😋😋

  30. Hi Courtney!

    Would I be able to use cake flour instead of AP flour or will they cake get soggy because of how light cake flour is? Also how many days in advance can I assemble the cake without it getting soggy? I want to make it for my bf’s birthday this Friday but wanted to start early.

    1. You’ll want to use AP flour. I recommend only assembling it the day before or day of. But you can make all the elements in advance and just assemble day of!

  31. Hi, Courtney!! I L❤VE your site. So well designed. I was wondering if you thought that this cake technique (crumb layer baked first with biscoff instead of grahams) would also work for the Biscoff cake? Because EXTRA Biscoff cant be bad… keep up the fantastic work!!

  32. Hi Courtney,
    I follow you on IG and lots of questions there too. Sorry! I’m (@petitechefstation) I’ve read all the comments and your replies below so that’s helpful! So here’s 2 more questions about this cake. When you say to keep the cake covered in the fridge if making ahead, do I *really* have to? 😉 I don’t have a container that would fit the whole cake undisturbed after frosting it but before adding the marshmallow fluff topping. And speaking of the fluff, I’m inferring with these comments that it’s best to make it and decorate as close to serving as possible. Yes? When I’m ready to store, I think you replied below to cut up individual slices and store. If I store the cake as a whole, would the marshmallow fluff ‘bleed?’ Sorry for all the questions! I truly appreciate how you take the time to answer every one of mine on Instagram! Good day!

    1. You can leave it on the counter but try not to do it for more than a day before serving. Yes make and decorate as close to serving as possible!

  33. I was excited to make this cake for my 40th birthday. Unfortunately, each cake layer stuck HORRIBLY to the pans, despite also lining with parchment paper. I have never had a cake stick like this, and my guess is it had something to do with the graham cracker crust. Now I don’t have time to start another cake and I’m left without one. Any suggestions on what went wrong?

  34. Is the marshmallow filling supposed to have small pieces of toasted marshmallow? It wasn’t smooth after I added the toasted marshmallows. I was wondering if I toasted the marshmallows too much.

  35. 5 stars
    This is my absolute favorite cake everrrrrrr. I LOVE s’mores, so of course I would love this cake. But it’s the layers that send it over the top! That graham cracker crust on the bottom of each cake layer is incredible. And it all comes together so perfectly. I can’t rave about this one enough.

  36. 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!

  37. 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.

  38. 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?

  39. 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?

  40. 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.

  41. 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?

  42. 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!!!

  43. So excited to make this recipe for my daughter’s birthday this weekend! I was wondering – could you just use the homemade fluff recipe to use in the filling (make a double batch), instead of buying store bought? Just wondering if there’s a reason you make homemade for the topping but not for the filling…

    1. It’s not as stable with the filling as the store bought fluff that has to be added to butter and the marshmallows.

  44. Hi Courtney,
    I’m going to be making this cake for my almost 6 year old next week. I’ve been picking up all of the ingredients and I have a question about the ganache. I see that you have listed whipping cream. I have not been able to find it in my stores. All I have found is the heavy whipping cream. Can it be used for the ganache? Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes. I started making my own birthday cakes for my boys in 2017 using your recipes. They are a labor of love, but I feel so accomplished when I make them even if they don’t look as good as yours do. They taste amazing!!
    Blessings,
    Breanna

  45. 5 stars
    I love s’mores anything! I love s’mores everything! That said, I had to make this cake. Everything turned out just perfect, except for the marshmallow filling. It was so sticky and really hard to handle during the mixing process as well as the piping. Any suggestions on how to avoid this in the future? Should I have added a little liquid?

    1. Glad you loved it and so sorry you had issues with the filling. You could add a little more butter next time, and try cooking the marshmallows for a little less time so they don’t get too dark and crunchy.

  46. I’m going to attempt to make this recipe using my lamb molds for Easter. 😬 Do you think I could get away with not using the buttercream frosting but a chocolate ganache over the whole lamb with a toasted marshmallow “wool coat?” Would the buttercream be missed so you think?

  47. 5 stars
    I just finished my cake tonight and had a tiny slice.. oh my gosh! So good! The graham crackers add such a nice crunch to each bite. There’s really nothing to improve upon here. <3 thank you for sharing this recipe!

  48. This sounds so fun and looks amazing. I am going to make a trial run this weekend, but would it hold up for a few hours on a countertop? I am considering this for a dessert auction at an event. Thanks!

  49. Hey Courtney, while I dont make cake a lot i do a lot of other baking and i see that this is an “advanced” level cake. Am I shooting too high? I love these flavours and really want to make it haha! Any tips for making this specific cake turn out A+?

  50. can you put under broiler for a few minutes to toast instead of torch? or would it melt everything.. I don’t have a torch.. thanx

  51. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious cake. Love the combination of s’mores and peanut butter! Will definitely make again

  52. 5 stars
    Oh my holy wow!!! This cake was AMAZING. Everything worked together to be epic. It was a huge hit at my birthday today! If you are even a little tempted to eat/make this cake, DO IT. You won’t regret it!

  53. Can you use a jar of jet puffed marshmallow creme in place of the marshmallow fluff for the filling?

  54. Hey Courtney!
    Any chance you have a cupcake version of this recipe? Or can this one be used for cupcakes? Thanks!!

  55. 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).

    1. I usually like to store cakes in the freezer to retain freshness, but the for one night, the fridge will be ok 🙂

  56. 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?

  57. 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!

  58. 5 stars
    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!

  59. 5 stars
    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

  60. 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!

  61. I’m excited to make this cake for my son’s 9th birthday – he’s obsessed with s’mores :-). Any chance you can just use extra marshmallows instead of the marshmallow fluff?

  62. I baked this in 8 inch pans, but the layers were thin especially after I leveled the cake. Would you recommend doubling the cake recipe or one and a half times to create thicker layers?

  63. 5 stars
    I have a gluten-free family member. Has anyone tried cake recipe with a gluten-free flour substitute? and the graham cracker gluten-free as well? Thoughts?

    1. Yes Cup4Cup GF flour or Bob’s Red Mill one for one baking flour are great subs for the cake.

  64. This looks amazing. I just made the cake layers and put them in the freezer. Do you bring these to room temperature before assembling the cake or do you keep them frozen?

  65. 5 stars
    Absolutely the best cake I’ve ever eaten! I took this to a 4th of July party and everyone loved it. So many delicious flavors and textures that are a delight to the palate. Thank you for sharing your recipe!

  66. 5 stars
    This cake was soooooo amazing. I followed the recipe exactly. I do bake a lot but haven’t baked many cakes. I didn’t find this complicated, but it definitely takes a lot of time. I took 3 days to make it so it was much more doable. It was totally worth it!!!! My family and friends loved it.

  67. I just finished this gorgeous cake for my Grand daughter’s birthday. Can’t wait to dig in to it.

  68. Hi! I want to make a 4 layer cake. I have 3 inch deep cake pans. Can I bake 2 thick 6 inch cakes and then torte? I imagine they will take longer to bake.

  69. 5 stars
    I recently made this. Getting ready to make it for the 2nd time. Yes, there are a lot of layers, & steps to this cake. Well worth it. Excellent cake.

  70. 5 stars
    I think this was the BEST cake I have ever made! That toasted marshmallow filling is incredible, and the chocolate cake recipe will be my go-to!

  71. 5 stars
    Can you pleeeeaasseee create a video tutorial or do a live to show how you make the marshmallow filling? Or if you already have one, can you link it? 🙂 seriously awesome cake- even with doubting my marshmallow filling!

  72. If I made these into cup cakes would you suggest scooping some of the cupcake out and using the marshmallow filling? Maybe skipping the fluff topping part and just icing with the buttercream.

  73. 5 stars
    I haven’t made this cake altogether but the chocolate cake recipe is absolutely delicious and my go-to whenever I need chocolate cake!

  74. I can’t find regular whipping cream, only heavy. Are they interchangeable? Hoping to make this for my 1 year olds “one happy camper” birthday this weekend!

  75. 5 stars
    This recipe is FANTASTIC! The results were amazing – I made the entire thing in one day (yesterday) and it was a lot of parts… but it was well worth it!! I had some issue with the marshmallow filling (it was thicker and not easily pipeable/spreadable, but I think that was user error. (Courtney – do you have any tips on what could have went wrong?)

    Other than that it was MARVELOUS. I was hesitant about graham crackers in a cake, but every piece of this thing was delicious. The cake itself was wonderfully moist too!- I look forward to trying other recipes!!

    1. I had this same issue with the marshmallow filling when I made this. I tried to make the whole cake in one day and figured I had missed something. I did not see that we were supposed to pipe buttercream around the layer to keep the ganache in place either! It wasn’t until I was having issues that I watched the video and realized. I plan on trying again so if I have better success I will let you know!

  76. 5 stars
    I made this for Thanksgiving and was surprised how easy each step was. It took a while because there are a lot of steps but everything came together well and the instructions were great. I only used two cups of sugar in my buttercream because I know my family tends to think buttercream is too sweet but I will definitely use this recipe again!

  77. Hi! I’m making this one for Christmas Day and was wondering if it’s absolutely necessary for clear vanilla extract or can I just use the regular brown one? Thanks!

  78. 5 stars
    Does this cake freeze well with all the ingredients on it? It’s my husbands birthday and I made one big cake that i will just take to a couple of events over 3 days. Wondering how best to pull this off!

  79. 5 stars
    I made this for a friends 40th and oh my gosh it was incredible!
    I was a bit worried as the filling and fluff were so sweet, but all the layers combined were perfect!

    Just wondering if I did anything wrong, the marshmallow filling is that meant to go extremely firm? Almost chewy like a soft candy?

  80. 5 stars
    I made this for my son’s birthday. It was the only thing he wanted. It was delicious and beautiful! There are a lot of steps but it was not difficult.

    I changed one thing though: instead of the runny marshmallow cream topping (which would be perfect for a crowd to eat all in one sitting), I made Italian meringue and torched it. That way we could save it longer, and ate it over several days, stored in fridge.

  81. 5 stars
    This cake was incredible! The layers and textures were perfect. Looking forward to making more cakes from Courtney.

  82. Cake related: I need to make this!

    Totally not cake related: where on earth did you get the black jumper/overalls in your pictures on this page! It is so cute!

  83. 5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe! I did this for my husband’s 40th birthday and it was one of the best cakes I have ever made in my life. It took 3 days (hats off to anyone who can do this cake in a day!) but it was worth it. The taste was AMAZING, like something from a specialty bake shop. I received so many compliments on this cake.

  84. 5 stars
    Made this for my daughter’s birthday as she requested a chocolate s’more cake & recipe got great reviews. Was a bit of work, was good idea to make cake the day before has a lot of steps!
    I didn’t have a third 8” pan so used a 8” casserole dish for 3rd layer. I felt there was too much work to make the buttercream icing too so I bought 2 readymade milk chocolate icings that worked perfectly. I also always use a ziplock bag with corner snipped off for piping so no cleanup especially for the marshmallow layer. I saved some of the ganache & used for outside drip. My daughter had no whisk for her mixer so I didn’t get the height in my top, added a few drops of leftover ganache & swirled with toothpick. Tried to leave pictures but unfortunately site not taking my pastes.

    1. For sure! You’ll do the crust, then the cake (baking it about 10 minutes longer), then layer on your toppings- I would do the marshmallow filling, the ganache, the frosting, then the homemade fluff.

    1. Keep in freezer, wrapped in saran if its going to be a few days. If its same day, it can be on the counter.

      1. Ok, so I just made the crust and cake layers. Mine were very thin. Is that ok? I used 8in pans and weighed everything out. The only thing was that my 8g of baking soda was only 1 tsp for me. I was afraid to add more since I went with weight with everything else. Did I mess up or will it be ok? Thanks

  85. Could you make extra marshmallow topping and use that between the layers instead of the marshmallow filling?

  86. Hi I want to make this cake a week in advance. Can I freeze the cake once it’s constructed and add the marshmallow on top after I defrost it?
    If not how do u recommend I prepare the cake in advance?

  87. 5 stars
    I have only one word to describe this cake – INDULGENT! It was an indulgence to take the time (over a few days) to make, an indulgence to look at (both outside and in), and definitely indulgent to eat!! It was a lot of fun and a huge hit with my husband’s family – I feel like they will be talking about this one for years to come! It is by far the most complex cake I’ve made, and I’ve always been intimidated by all the layers in some of Courtney’s cakes, but I followed the instructions closely and every element turned out great.
    I know some people had questions about storage between assembly and serving, so I wanted to share what I did. I assembled up to and including the drip on a Friday, then stored it in the freezer for ~24hrs in an airtight cake carrier. I brought it out to the counter on Saturday evening, and that night I made the marshmallow topping and toasted it. I left it in a cupboard, uncovered, until my son’s birthday party on Sunday (lunchtime). The topping held up nicely for that time period. Unfortunately the overall aesthetic took a bit of a hit because the cake sweated so much after I removed it from the freezer, and my in-laws house (where we had the party) was very warm so the buttercream started to melt. I was afraid storing it in the fridge would affect the topping, but maybe it wouldn’t have.
    A couple other notes I made to myself after reading comments below and baking the cake: I used weight for everything except baking soda – with that I went with the full 2 tsp even though it was almost double the weight she recommended (I always have trouble with my all-in-one cakes sinking so didn’t want to risk under-leavening). For the drip, I used ~1 1/4 c chocolate chips and 1 c cream – consistency was perfect but this left me with WAY too much ganache left over. Next time I think I’ll try ~1/2 c chocolate and ~1/3 c cream for my drip. The marshmallow topping was great for the look, but I don’t know that it added much to the flavor I would maybe just use store bought marshmallow cream and toast, or consider skipping the fluff topping next time.

    Thanks, Courtney, for sharing this unbelievable cake!

    1. Thank you so much for telling me all about your journey with this cake!! I’m so glad it was worth the time! It’s one of my favorites too!

    1. yes! Just split the recipe in half and use two 6-inch round cake pans. Baking time will be about 5-10 minutes less so keep your eye on the layers.

  88. If I wanted the marshmallow fluff in the filling to be homemade also would I just double the recipe for the fluff to have enough?

  89. 5 stars
    This cake sounds delicious and I can’t wait to try. My question is…..Does the graham cracker on the bottom of each cake layer m cake the finished cake hard to cut through? Talking about a 4 layer 6″ cake…Thanks so much.

  90. I plan to try this recipe for Christmas so I won’t rate it yet, but I have a question: For the marshmallow filling, I saw once recipe that spread out the marshmallow fluff on a sheet tray and put the under the broiler before adding to the mixer with the toasted marshmallows. Any thoughts on toasting the fluff also? Thanks!

    1. Yay! This will be such a fun dessert to make for Christmas. I have never tried toasting the fluff before. If you do it, let me know how it goes.

  91. I plan on making this cake for Christmas and I wondered what are your thoughts would be on spreading the marshmallow fluff used in the marshmallow filling onto a baking pan and toasting it under the broiler? Then you’d have both the marshmallows and the fluff toasted. Do you think that would work? Thanks!

    1. Sounds delicious but I haven’t tried toasting the fluff before so I’m not exactly sure how that turns out.

  92. 4 stars
    Putting this cake together now! Crumb coat is chilling in the fridge…
    A few tips if you’re going to make this. Plan it out over a few days! I made the cakes and buttercream 2 days ago, and let them both chill in the fridge (tightly wrapped). I only had 9-inch cake pans, and wasn’t about to buy new ones, so I doubled the cake recipe and made 4 9-inch cakes. It didn’t rise a ton (most likely due to my pan size), but just keep that in mind. I would also let the cakes cool more than 10 min before flipping them b/c they all cracked. The marshmallow filling didn’t taste as “toasted marshmallow” as I wanted – it seemed like butter was the strongest taste, but maybe it’ll change as it sits? If I make this again, and I’m sure I will, I might use less butter and MORE marshmallows.
    Other than that, the recipe is very straightforward and easy to follow! The last tip I have is to use a damp knife when it comes to spreading the marshmallow filling in b/w layers. It’s super sticky and will not spread easily!

  93. 5 stars
    This cake has become a family favorite! All the layers are amazing together! There is something about a graham cracker crust! Yummy!