S’mores Cake

Do you love s’mores? If so, you will love this poke cake recipe! It has all the goodness of traditional s’mores packed into a yummy cake. It’s the perfect summer dessert! Your family will love it and guests will rave about it. If you need something new to take to potlucks and BBQ’s, try this delicious cake!

S’mores and cake two of my things combined together making the best dessert. Easy ingredients and simple process to make this Poke Cake Recipe. If you love this poke cake, you may also love Chocolate Poke Cake and Jello Poke Cake.

What is Poke Cake?

A poke cake is typically a cake made in a 9×13 baking dish. After it is baked, you poke holes all over the cake. Then a rich sauce is poured all over so that it can soak into all of the holes.

This allows it to get into every inch of the cake. The cake is refrigerated overnight and the next day the topping goes on. You will get chocolate in every bite.

The results taste incredible and the process is very simple and fun. It takes less than 30 minutes of preparation to make a poke cake so it is very easy. The recipes are easy to adapt to what you have on hand and prefer the best.

Why We Love This Cake

• Dream cake – There are so many different ways to incorporate our love for s’mores. This is the ultimate s’mores cake and it is easy to make, moist and amazing textures.
• Budget Friendly – Ingredients are simple and can usually find on sale. We try to keep most of these supplies on hand as they are staple ingredients for a lot of our desserts.
• This recipe is easy and fun. You don’t need any special supplies or gadgets to make this. It is really simple and tons of fun to poke holes all over. It is even made with toasted marshmallows.

Ingredients

• White Cake Mix – Prepared as directed on the box with eggs and oil
• Marshmallows – We used Large Marshmallows
• Milk Chocolate Chips – Use different flavors of chocolate chips such as dark chocolate chips
• Butter – We like using unsalted butter in this recipe
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – Learn How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk or you can use the store bought canned version
• Cream Cheese – We recommend using softened cream cheese

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Poke Cake Variations

• Change the Cake – You can use a chocolate cake instead of a white cake mix.
• Add in different Toppings – You can change the topping by adding in dark chocolate chips or peanut butter chocolate chips. A Chocolate Ganache is also a decadent choice on this poke cake.
• Graham Crackers – Instead of using pieces of graham crackers, you can get graham cracker crumb or any cookie crumble to coat the cake.
• Change the Frosting – A chocolate buttercream frosting would taste amazing on this cake.
• Make Bars – This recipe would be great as bars. Start with graham cracker crust to make the ultimate bars.
• Marshmallow Fluff – Use Marshmallow fluff for your topping instead of using mini marshmallows.

How to Make S’mores Cake

• Step 1 – Make the Cake – Mix cake batter according to instructions in a large bowl. Bake in cake pans according to package instructions.
• Step 2 – Make sure cake is done – Use a toothpick inserted to make sure it is fully cooked.  Take out of prepared pans and set aside on wire racks to cool completely and to room temperature.
• Step 3 – Poke the Holes – Poke holes with a wooden skewer or end of a wooden spoon. For this cake, the bigger the holes the better.
• Step 4 – Melt the Marshmallow Mixture – Melt chocolate chips together with marshmallows, and tablespoon of melted butter on the stove top over low heat, stirring continuously.
• Step 5 – Add the Condensed Milk – Stir in ¾ cup of condensed milk.
• Step 6 – Pour onto Cake – Pour over the top of the cake, spreading around with a spoon to push the chocolate marshmallow mix into the holes.
• Step 7 – Make the Next layer – For the next layer, cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and cocoa powder with a hand mixer or in a bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment or whisk attachment on medium speed until smooth and stiff peaks appear.
• Step 8 – Add the Milk and Cream – Add in remaining sweetened condensed milk and heavy whipping cream. Mix together.
• Step 9 – Frost the Cake – Spread the chocolate cheesecake layer on the chocolate marshmallow creme layer with offset spatula.
• Step 10 – Refrigerate – Refrigerate for at least an hour prior to serving.
• Step 11 – Add the Topping – Decorate with graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows before serving.

Tips for the Best S’mores Poke Cake

• Poking the Cake – When you are poking the cake the bigger the holes the better. Also make sure that you are poking the entire cake even close to the edge. You also don’t want the holes to far a part.
• Buy the right milk – Make sure to buy sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk. There is a difference
• Marshmallows – We recommend buy the mini size marshmallows. The larger marshmallows don’t work well with this recipe.
• Buy Cakes on Sale – Stock up on cakes when they are on sale. So when the craving hits for a poke, you already have a cake.
• Cut the Cake – When you are cutting the cake, wipe the knife off after each slice. This will help ensure each slice is clean and looks pretty.
• Spread the Topping well – Make sure to pour the topping into the holes. I like to spread it around with a spatula and push it down into the holes. This makes the cake moist and flavorful so you want it all over the layer cake.

Cake Pan Recommendation

This recipe is perfect in a 9×13 pan. The ones with the lid are really handy if you are taking this dish somewhere.

I even use the disposable pans to make it even easier if I’m taking this to a cookout. It also helps with clean up on those busy nights.

How to Store Leftover S’mores Cake

We usually store this poke cake in the refrigerator. It will last up to 5 days. We recommend covering with plastic wrap.

If you prefer you can leave out at room temperature.