.................. Cooking with Barry & Meta: One, two, three, four . . .Tastes Like S’mores Cake

One, two, three, four . . .Tastes Like S’mores Cake

One, two, three, four . . . just four steps to Tastes Like S’mores Cake! It is a bit complicated but it is “oh, so” worth it!

· 1^st layer – a traditional graham cracker crust that goes in a cake pan rather than a pie plate.

· 2^nd layer – my mom’s eggless chocolate cake with a shot of espresso added for good measure.

· 3^rd layer – a traditional ganache that is allowed to cool (to somewhat thicken) and then smoothed on the cake as both a filling and frosting.

· 4^th layer – homemade marshmallow fluff frosting. Need I say more? But, actually I’m not done; skewered and toasted marshmallows are the final addition.

Tastes Like S’mores Cake Makes one 2-layer cake

Graham Cracker Layer

1½ cups graham crackers, ground

¼ cup granulated sugar

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Spray or grease two 9″ cake pans.

2. Mix graham crackers crumbs with sugar and melted butter. Divide and press into the bottoms of the two prepared cake pans. Set aside.

Chocolate Cake Layer

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder, optional

2/3 cup canola oil

2 cups water

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Combine sugar and cocoa in a large mixing bowl; whisk to thoroughly mix. Add flour, salt, baking soda, and instant espresso powder and blend all dry ingredients thoroughly.

3. Add the liquids and mix until completely blended.

4. Pour batter into two graham cracker crust lined cake pans. Gently raise and drop cake pans to release air bubble.

5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes – toothpick inserted in center of cake should come out clean

6. Transfer cakes to cooling rack. When cool, run a knife along the sides of pan and turn upside down to release.

To assemble:

1. Place a layer without graham cracker on plate (graham cracker crust should be up). If top of cake is too rounded, it can be trimmed. Truthfully – at this point I couldn’t decide whether to put the graham cracker crust up or down; either way would work.

2. Spread layer of somewhat cooled and thickened ganache on top of cake.

I arranged strips of waxed paper under the cake. Once the cake is frosted, these were pulled out -- leaving a clean cake plate underneath.

3. Place second cake, graham cracker side down on ganache. (Trim if needed before
putting in place.)

4. Frost side and top.

5. Pile marshmallow frosting on top of cake, creating patterns and peaks with an off-set
spatula.

6. Use a long stemmed lighter, or torch to toast the marshmallow fluff frosting.

7. Garnish – skewer marshmallows on wooden sticks and toast. Insert, at varying
heights, onto the top of the cake.

Chocolate Ganache

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup heavy cream

½ teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder, optional

1. Cook the chocolate chips, heavy cream, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.

2. Cool enough to slightly thicken and use to fill and frost cake.

Marshmallow Fluff Frosting
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Whisk egg white, sugar and cream of tartar lightly in the top of a double boiler.

2. Heat over simmering water, mixing continuously to avoid cooking the egg.

3. Bring to 160° (in order to kill possible salmonella); remove from heat immediately and beat starting at low speed and working up to high, until stiff peaks form and resembles marshmallow fluff. (I transferred the mixture to my stand mixer at this point.)

It took 5 to 10 minutes to achieve the 160° temperature. The mixture was then beaten until it reached a marshmallow fluff consistency.

4. Fold in vanilla and spread onto cake.

Recipe without photos . . .

Scrumptious S’mores Cake Makes one 2-layer cake