This is the most amazing easy smores poke cake recipe ever! If you know how to make a poke cake but want to make one with chocolate sauce seeping inside and marshmallows and graham crackers on top, this is the classic dessert with no campfire required.
Ok, so my four favorite c’s are chocolate, cake, coffee, and my children. 😉 I love being in the kitchen with my kids and one of our favorite desserts is this easy cake that tastes like smores but we don’t need a fire to make it!
It’s part of my childhood. Sitting at the beach after a long day in the waves. A marshmallow on my skewer, legs covered in sand. Smooshing chocolate between two graham crackers was the best. I remember the friends I was with, the messes we made, and have lots of pictures of us like this.
This is my middle child. Love her! Like me she loves chocolate and baking too so we try to think outside of the box often and come up with new yummy ideas to try. First we used kisses to make our blossom cookies, then it was time to go for the whole shebang!
Ingredient Notes
1 box chocolate cake mix (& ingredients to make cake batter) is the start to this this chocolate poke cake recipe. I love the Devil’s Food flavor and the ones that say there is pudding incorporated are the moistest.
Then you are going to want really big straws like the ones you get for boba or you can use the back of a spoon to make holes in the top. You want something sweet like chocolate sauce is what we poured on top but sweetened condensed milk works too.
For the top you want some broken up chocolate bars, marshmallow creme (or could use Cool Whip instead), mini marshmallows, crushed graham cracker crumbs in a 9×13 cake pan size.
What can you use instead of graham crackers for Smores?
There are several other options including crushed Golden Grahams cereal or Nilla wafers work great as well. If you are baking Smores in the Oven you might want something larger like Chips AHoy to hold the fillings though.
Tips
When you poke holes in the top you want to move it around to really make decent size holes in the cake that the milk chocolate syrup can drain into. Melt before pouring chocolate sauce on top of this warm cake to allow it to sink in nicely and creates a little slice of heaven I tell you.
I saved 1 of the bars to break up and put pieces on the top of the smores poke cake when it was done. (chocolate chips would work instead too). Just to add to the “prettiness” of it all. It really doesn’t matter what it looks like though…it’s all about the taste!
Smores Poke Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix, (and ingredients to make it as directed)
- 24 oz chocolate sauce
- 2 bars Chocolate Bars, HERSHEY’S
- 1 jar marshmallow creme, 14 oz
- 2 cup mini marshmallows
- 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
Instructions
- Make cake as directed on box, pour mix into a 9×13 cake pan and bake as directed, just long enough so middle springs back when touched lightly (25 min. in the oven is perfect for us so it isn't overdone).
- When done set on a cooling rack for about 15 min.
- When cake is still warm poke holes all over so the holes go all the way thru to the bottom of the pan. Pour 24 oz of liquid chocolate sauce all over the sauce so it seeps in all the way to the bottom.
- OR if you don't want to use chocolate sauce you can: In a bowl break up 6 HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate bars into smaller pieces and microwave for 30 seconds, stir, microwave for 30 seconds, stir. It should be warm and nice and smooth without any chunks now.
- Pour over your cake making sure the melted chocolate is poured directly over the holes so it can seep thru.
- Put into the fridge for at least an hour, or until it is cooled.
- Take out and spread your marshmallow fluff on top evenly.
- Sprinkle your mini marshmallows on top of that.
- Sprinkle your graham cracker crumbs.
- Break up the remaining chocolate bar and push the pieces into the top layer of marshmallow gently so each piece that will be cut will include a HERSHEY’S square. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you’re hosting a Christmas cookie exchange, but want to offer something different on the side, this and our Pumpkin Poke Cake are great ones. The whole idea for how to make one of these cakes is to start with cake mix. It is the base to so many desserts that you can literally make taste “homemade” but really they aren’t (but I will keep your secret sacred, nobody needs to know that).
FAQ
Chocolate cake is commonly used for S’mores Poke Cake to mimic the flavor of a traditional s’more, you can experiment with different cake flavors if you prefer. Vanilla or graham cracker-flavored cakes can also work well and enhance the s’mores-inspired taste.
Yes, you can make a S’mores Poke Cake ahead of time. You can prepare and assemble the cake a day in advance, but it’s generally recommended to add the marshmallow topping and toast it just before serving for the best texture and appearance.
Anything that can be melted and sweet is best. With that said I typically will use something like chocolate sauce or condensed milk because it is already liquified and it is easier to make. Another common choice would be jam. You just need to warm it a bit so pour into the holes, best for fruit cakes like lemon or strawberry.
Now that you know how to make a smores poke cake, get creative! Try our no bake eclair cake next and we have other s’mores dessert recipes too, most take less than 30 minutes and some are even no bake without any fire at all.
I have three daughters of my own and I want them to have those same memories, friends, and photos. I also want to share the memories I had with them as a child, and create memories of our own in the kitchen. Yes we still love traditional S’Mores when we are camping.
If you love baking with your kids, this smores dessert is a great dessert to make with them. It is sure to bring up a memory or two of your own, when you too were enjoying this sweet classic treat as a child. I mean not to say that other flavors aren’t amazing too but……
Can I make this a day ahead and do steps 7+ on the day of my party? Or do the whole thing ahead nd put in the fridge? What do you recommend?
If you have to make ahead of time I might make the cake, pour in the condensed milk and refrigerate. Then do the other steps the day of the party so the cake looks fresh on top with toppings.
Hello, The first thing (memory) that comes to my mind about s’more’s is, Girl Scout camp. 🙂 That is the first time I ever had them and it is a good memory! I’m now 75yrs old and have 5 wonderful grandchildren and they love “smore’s” . Thank you for this wonderful find for a “smore’s” cake and all the other variations of it. The best to you and family too.
Loved Girl Scouts!!