S’mores Cake (Poke Cake)
Ready to entertain? Serve up this delicious S’mores Cake to your guests and they may never leave. But they will want the recipe!
Summer makes me dream of hot days by the pool and campfire nights spent eating sticky s’mores and catching fireflies. S’mores and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly. There is nothing like the first s’more of summer. While I love s’mores, not every night can be a campfire night. Sure, I’ve made s’mores inside using various methods, but it’s not quite the same. Rather than trying to recreate “s’mores indoors” (I’m trademarking that if it isn’t already done), I wanted to try to bring that quintessential summer taste sensation to the table in a fresh and nearly as easy way. That’s when it hit me, S’mores Cake!
This is no ordinary dessert, ya’ll. This S’mores Cake has lots of flavor going on in every heavenly bite without much effort in the kitchen because it’s a poke cake made with a boxed cake mix! Like s’mores, poke cake is another well-loved dessert that is easy to make and totally devourable. Let me break it down for you: A perky white cake base layer infused with a chocolate and marshmallow middle layer rests beneath a fluffy, chocolate cheesecake top layer. As a nod of respect to the original s’more dessert, this cake is crowned with an arrangement of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows.
GET IN MY BELLY S’MORES CAKE!
What is poke cake and why does everyone love them?
- Ever get a bite full of dry cake? Bleck. With poke cakes, you are pretty much guaranteed that ain’t happenin’! Poke cakes get their name from poking holes in the cake top and then pouring something yummy over them that usually soaks into the cake through the holes making the whole business more moist and flavorful. So … the cake you’ve always dreamed of, basically.
- They are very easy to make and make well. While you can use a made-from-scratch cake recipe, most people use a boxed cake mix as the base, like I do for this S’more’s Cake recipe. It saves time and makes the cake baking part a no-brainer and the end result is sooooo satisfying.
- Poke cakes are typically baked and served from the same pan. This makes these cakes easy to frost, easy to decorate, and easy to take with you to potlucks and other gatherings – hallelujah!
- Poke cakes are incredibly versatile. This S’mores Cake is a summer crowd-pleaser for sure, but there are 85,000 different flavor combinations you can try that will delight your friends and family year-round!
S’mores Cake Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix, prepared as directed on package instructions
- 14 regular size marshmallows
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk, divided
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
You’ll also need graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows to garnish!
How to Make S’mores Cake
Step #1: Bake cake according to package instructions. Allow to partially cool on a wire rack.
Step #2: Poke holes with wooden skewer or end of a wooden spoon. For this cake, bigger holes are better so the chocolate-marshmallow mixture can sink in.
Step #3: Melt chocolate chips together with marshmallows, and a tablespoon of butter on stovetop over low heat stirring continuously. Stir in ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk.
Step #4: Pour over the top of the cake, spreading around with a spoon or spatula to push the chocolate marshmallow mix into the holes.
Step #5: For the next layer, cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and cocoa powder with a hand mixer until smooth. Add in the remaining sweetened condensed milk and heavy whipping cream and mix together to incorporate. Spread the chocolate cheesecake layer over the chocolate marshmallow layer.
Step #6: Refrigerate for at least an hour prior to serving.
Step #7: Decorate with graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows prior to serving.
Serves: 12 s’mores-loving people!
OTHER S’MORES RECIPES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:
S'mores Cake
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix prepared as directed on package instructions
- 14 regular size marshmallows
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, divided
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Graham crackers chocolate and marshmallows to garnish
Instructions
- Bake cake according to package instructions. Allow to partially cool on a wire rack.
- Poke holes with wooden skewer or end of a wooden spoon. For this cake, bigger holes are better so the chocolate-marshmallow mixture can sink in.
- Melt chocolate chips together with marshmallows, and a tablespoon of butter on stovetop over low heat stirring continuously. Stir in ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk.
- Pour over the top of the cake, spreading around with a spoon or spatula to push the chocolate marshmallow mix into the holes.
- For the next layer, cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and cocoa powder with a hand mixer until smooth. Add in the remaining sweetened condensed milk and heavy whipping cream and mix together to incorporate. Spread the chocolate cheesecake layer over the chocolate marshmallow layer.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour prior to serving.
- Decorate with graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows prior to serving.
