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smores cake recipe_card

Smores Cake Recipe with Graham Cracker Cake, Ganache, and Toasted Marshmallow Buttercream

Plush graham cracker cake with blended chocolate ganache, toasted marshmallow Swiss meringue inside, and a thin torched marshmallow veil with graham crunch.
Prep Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 1163kcal

Equipment

  • 3 8" cake pans
  • stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Instant read thermometer
  • kitchen torch
  • Digital scale

Ingredients

Graham cracker cake layers

  • 270 g all purpose flour
  • 225 g very fine graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 195 g unsalted butter 157g browned butter cooled to a soft paste
  • 90 g neutral oil I used refined avocado oil
  • 150 g light brown sugar
  • 120 g granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs room temp
  • 360 g buttermilk room temp
  • 45 g honey
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Optional honey milk soak

  • 180 g whole milk warmed
  • 1 tbsp honey

Blended chocolate ganache

  • 300 g milk chocolate
  • 150 g dark chocolate
  • 250 g heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt

Toasted marshmallow Swiss meringue buttercream

  • 300 g egg whites
  • 400 g granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 600 g unsalted butter room temp, cubed
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Toasted marshmallow paste

  • 300 g mini marshmallows broiled to deep golden brown
  • 60 g heavy cream warmed

Marshmallow meringue for torching

  • 120 g egg whites
  • 180 g granulated sugar
  • 1 pinch cream of tartar
  • 5 g powdered gelatin bloomed in 25 g cold water

Graham crunch

  • 150 g graham cracker crumbs
  • 45 g granulated sugar
  • 60 g unsalted butter melted
  • 1 pinch fine seas salt

Instructions

Graham cracker cake layers

  • Heat oven to 325 F. Line three 8 inch pans with parchment and lightly butter the sides.
  • Whisk all dry ingredients in a large bowl until even.
  • In another large bowl whisk browned butter, oil, and both sugars until glossy.
  • Whisk in eggs one at a time, then honey and vanilla.
  • Add dry mix in two additions alternating with buttermilk. Mix just to smooth.
  • Divide evenly between pans. Bake until centers spring back and a tester is clean. Start checking at 22 minutes. Most ovens land around 22 to 28 minutes.
  • Cool 10 minutes in the pans, then turn out to cool completely on racks.

Honey Milk Soak

  • Stir warm milk, honey, and salt until dissolved.
  • Lightly brush a thin coat on each cooled cake layer just before assembly.

Blended chocolate ganache

  • Heat cream to steaming. Pour over the chopped chocolates in a heatproof bowl.
  • Rest 2 minutes, then whisk smooth.
  • Whisk in butter and salt until glossy.
  • Cool to a thick spreadable state. For a lighter texture whip briefly once cool.
  • Target use about 325 to 350 g per filling layer. Reserve any extra for touch up.

Toasted marshmallow Swiss meringue buttercream

  • In a clean bowl set over barely simmering water, warm egg whites, sugar, and salt while whisking until 160 F and no grit between your fingers.
  • Transfer to a mixer and whip to stiff glossy peaks and room temperature.
  • With the mixer on medium add butter a few cubes at a time until silky.
  • Beat in vanilla.
  • Fold in the fully cooled toasted marshmallow paste.

Toasted marshmallow paste

  • Broil mini marshmallows on a lined tray until deep golden.
  • Scrape into a bowl, add warm cream, and stir until smooth. Cool completely before folding into the buttercream.

Marshmallow meringue for torching

  • In a clean bowl over barely simmering water, warm egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar while whisking until 160 F.
  • Whip to stiff peaks.
  • Gently melt the bloomed gelatin until fluid and just warm. Stream it into the meringue while mixing on low, then increase speed for 10 to 15 seconds to combine.
  • Use right away.

Graham crunch

  • Heat oven to 300 F.
  • Mix graham crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and salt until evenly moistened.
  • Bake on a lined tray about 10 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool fully. Keep the layer thin in the cake so it stays crisp.

Assembly

  • Level cakes. Lightly brush the honey milk soak if using.
  • Pipe a high buttercream dam around the edge of the first layer.
  • Spread a generous layer of ganache inside the dam. Sprinkle a thin even coat of graham crunch.
  • Add the second cake layer and repeat.
  • Crumb coat the entire cake with buttercream. Chill until firm.
  • Apply a smooth buttercream finish. Chill again until set.
  • Swipe on a very thin coat of marshmallow meringue, make swoops and peaks, and torch to deep golden with a few darker kisses.
  • Garnish with milk chocolate chunks, extra graham crunch shards, and a few toasted marshmallows on top.

Notes

Make ahead timeline
• Two days out brown the butter and make ganache and graham crunch. Cover ganache and hold at room temp overnight or chill then bring back to spreadable. Store crunch airtight.
• One day out bake cake layers then cool and wrap. Room temp storage is fine. Make the toasted marshmallow buttercream and use the same day or refrigerate then bring back to silky with a quick rewhip.
• Day of assembly level, soak, fill, crumb coat, and finish with buttercream. Mix the marshmallow meringue last and torch just before serving or a few hours before.
Storage
• Hold the finished cake lightly covered at cool room temp up to 6 hours. Refrigerate for longer storage. For clean slices chill 20 to 30 minutes, wipe the knife between cuts, and serve at cool room temp.
Ingredient tips
• Keep salt present in every component so the cake reads balanced rather than sweet.
• If you want a stronger graham note replace another 20 g of flour with graham crumbs and keep the bake at 325 F.
• Neutral oil use a refined avocado oil for a healthier choice that stays flavor neutral.
• For a smoky campfire note steep a little lapsang tea in the hot cream for the ganache for 5 minutes then strain.
Texture insurance
• Do not overbake. Graham crumbs brown fast so pull as soon as centers spring back.
• If crumbs for the batter feel soft spread on a pan and re dry at 300 F for 5 to 8 minutes then cool before using.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 1163kcal | Carbohydrates: 124g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 72g | Saturated Fat: 41g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 770mg | Potassium: 344mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 90g | Vitamin A: 1768IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 4mg
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