Chocolate Smores Cake Recipes

S'MORES CAKE

Steps:

• Make the ganache: Heat the heavy cream, chocolate and salt in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water), stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts and the ganache is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Remove the bowl from the pan and set aside until the ganache is cool and thick but still pourable, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and salt in a bowl until combined. Spread out on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally, until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes; let cool. Assemble the cake as close to serving time as possible: Using a long serrated knife, carefully slice each cake layer in half horizontally. Place 1 cake half on a platter. Using a lightly oiled offset spatula or spoon, spread one-third of the marshmallow cream on top, stopping about 1 inch from the edge (if the marshmallow cream is difficult to spread, microwave 10 to 15 seconds to soften). Sprinkle one-third of the graham cracker mixture over the marshmallow cream. Repeat to make 4 layers, ending with cake; reserve a few tablespoons of the graham cracker mixture for topping. Pour the ganache over the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Sprinkle with the reserved graham cracker mixture. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk the cocoa powder and 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a medium bowl until smooth; set aside. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in a steady stream until just combined, then finish mixing with a rubber spatula. (The batter will be thin.)
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and tap the pans against the counter to help the batter settle. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pans and turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment. Trim the tops of the cakes with a long serrated knife to make them level, if desired.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE S'MORES CAMP CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening or spray with cooking spray.
• Make cake batter using cake mix, water, oil and eggs as directed on box. Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Remove cakes from pans to cooling racks; cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Measure 1 cup frosting from 1 container into medium bowl. Stir in marshmallow creme. Place 1 cake layer on cake stand, cake plate or serving platter. Coat top of cake with half of the frosting mixture. Break 3 graham crackers into pieces; place on top of frosting. Cover graham crackers with remaining frosting mixture. Top with second cake layer. To remaining frosting in first container, stir in baking cocoa until well blended. Spread cocoa frosting over top of cake.
• Into large bowl, spoon frosting from second container. Add green food color a little at a time, stirring well until desired green color is achieved. Frost sides of cake with half of the green frosting. Break 6 of the remaining graham crackers in half to make 12 pieces. Line sides of cake with upright graham cracker halves; press into frosting to adhere. Use one-third of the bottle of green sugar to sprinkle around top edge of cake. Refrigerate cake 1 hour to firm up frosting.
• Pour remaining green sugar into shallow dish. To make trees, frost each ice cream cone with some of the remaining green frosting; roll in green sugar. Place cones towards back of cake; press cones into frosting with fingertip on pointed ends.
• To make tent, break remaining graham cracker in half at perforation; place 2 to 3 inches apart on top of cake, allowing cracker halves to prop against each other.
• To make flag, cut red gum drop in half; trim away sides of 1 half to make a triangle. Skewer triangle flag onto toothpick; press into cake at front of tent.
• To make campfire, cut each jelly bean lengthwise into quarters. Press pieces upright into cake to create flames. Crumble a bit of graham cracker; sprinkle over flames to resemble ashes. Break pretzel stick evenly in half; place halves crossed in front of flames.
• For cot, place chocolate bar on cake in front of tent. To make pillow, flatten marshmallow between thumb and forefinger; place at end of chocolate bar closest to tent.
• Serve cake at room temperature.

S'MORES CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan. In large bowl, beat cake mix, cracker crumbs, water, sour cream, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
• Reserve 1/4 cup hot fudge topping. Drop remaining hot fudge topping by generous tablespoonfuls randomly in 12 to 14 mounds onto batter in pan.
• Bake 40 to 46 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium bowl, stir together marshmallow creme and frosting. Frost cake with marshmallow frosting. Drop small dollops of reserved hot fudge topping randomly over frosting. Swirl topping through frosting with knife for marbled design. Store loosely covered.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE S'MORES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Mix until evenly moistened, then press into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is lightly browned and smells toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. When the cream has come to a boil, remove from the heat immediately and pour over the chocolate chips; whisk until smooth. Stir in the optional rum. Pour evenly over the graham cracker layer.
• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Place an even layer of marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Broil until the marshmallows are lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Refrigerate until chocolate has hardened, about 45 minutes. Cut into bars using a pizza cutter sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.