This past weekend, my eldest daughter turned 14 years old. 14! Oh, how time flies. I can still remember the first time she was handed to me, a tiny little bundle in my arms. And the tears of joy that flowed down my face. And as she turned 14, I still had tears running down my cheeks. A different set of tears with a different meaning. Proud tears. Proud at what a lovely young lady she is turning into. And a feeling of overwhelming happiness at how much joy she has brought into my life. Happy Birthday my sweet Charlotte!
We were at the cottage celebrating her birthday. Instead of a birthday cake, she just wanted to make S’mores over a campfire down by the beach. Because of high winds and high water levels, our beach was pretty much non-existent. A campfire wasn’t going to happen. I needed a quick fix and this S’mores cake couldn’t be any easier. You could bake your favourite chocolate cake from scratch, make your own marshmallow fluff, even your own graham crackers. But if you can get it all from a box, ready in no time, why not?
S’Mores Cake
1 2-layer chocolate cake
Marshmallow Fluff
Graham crackers, crushed into bits with your hands
Dark chocolate ganache (recipe follows)
Dark Chocolate Ganache
4 oz. of dark chocolate
½ cup of 35% cream
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Add all of the ganache ingredients into a heat-proof bowl. Using a bain-marie style to melt the chocolate, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Melt, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted. Allow the bowl to sit on the counter and cool for about an hour.
Cut each cake layer in two so you end up with 4 chocolate cake layers. Beginning with a bottom cake layer, spread some marshmallow fluff over it and sprinkle with graham cracker bits. Add a second layer and repeat the process. Do the same with the third layer. Add the last layer and pour the dark chocolate ganache over the top, sprinkling with graham cracker bits. And voila! A gorgeous and oh-so-yummy S’Mores Birthday Cake!
Elaine @ foodbod said:
Happy birthday gorgeous Charlotte xx
ohlidia said:
Gorgeous Charlotte is smiling! xox
Elaine @ foodbod said:
Lovely :))) xx
tinywhitecottage said:
This is a wonderful birthday cake! My son loves s’mores and I would never in my wildest dream think of a s’more cake. Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter Lidia! I know what you mean about tears of proudness.
ohlidia said:
Thanks Seana. It was indeed a very yummy birthday cake!
Nancy said:
Lovely cake, Lydia! Looks like a delicious plate of ooey gooey goodness. 🙂
Happy Birthday to Charlotte!
ohlidia said:
Ooey gooey is the perfect description Nancy! And Charlotte thanks you.
Ngan R. said:
A very happy birthday to Charlotte! I’m sure this cake was a hit just by looking at those layers of chocolatey, fluffy deliciousness.
ohlidia said:
It definitely was a hit amongst the teens. And thank you for your birthday wishes to Charlotte.
Mama's Gotta Bake said:
What a beautiful young lady Charlotte is, and very deserving of that cake I’m sure. Happy birthday to her, and I will have to give that cake a try!
ohlidia said:
Oh, she is definitely a beautiful young lady! Thank you Sheryl.
nowathome said:
Happy birthday to Charlotte! The cake looks delicious!!!
ohlidia said:
Charlotte says thank you!
flippenblog said:
Quick thinking! If they only knew how we love them.
ohlidia said:
I know…
Conor Bofin said:
Happy birthday Charlotte. Lovely to see you weeping for joy. They will do that to you. Lovely cake too.
ohlidia said:
Thanks Conor!
apuginthekitchen said:
A very Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter, and what a lovely cake.
ohlidia said:
Thanks Suzanne!
ladyredspecs said:
Charlotte’s cake looks like a great compromise idea! Happy birthday to her
ohlidia said:
Thanks Sandra!
Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward said:
Happy birthday, Charlotte. I loved the warm, tender motherhood memories you shared. It makes the cake even more special. I’m glad to hear the birthday girl had her campfire cake away from the winds and with her family. 🙂 Beautiful dessert, Lidia.
ohlidia said:
So nice to hear from you Shanna! It’s been a while. Thank you for your kind words.
Leah said:
great looking cake, very ingenious to satisfy the birthday wishes. Happy Birthday to Charlotte. 🙂
ohlidia said:
Oh, what I wouldn’t do to satisfy their wishes…
lapetitepaniere said:
So delicious and so yummy Lydia 🙂 Happy Birthday to Charlotte !
ohlidia said:
Merci!
Gather and Graze said:
How beautiful – Happy Birthday to your sweet Charlotte! A lovely cake to celebrate being 14!
ohlidia said:
Sweet Charlotte thanks you Margot!
Karen said:
A big “Happy Birthday” to your lovely daughter. I’m sure she loved the cake…I know I would. 😀
ohlidia said:
Thank you Karen!
Gina iacampo said:
Happy belated birthday my dear Charlotte! Ur mom is quite the lady…always thinking of her girls! Hope u had an amazing 14th birthday!
ohlidia said:
Oh, G! Love you!
Mary Frances said:
It’s too bad s’mores on the beach didn’t work out, but this is a great solution!
ohlidia said:
Oh, but we’ll have plenty of occasions for campfire throughout the summer.
Bam's Kitchen said:
A very happy birthday to your daughter. This cake should be submitted to food porn. I am telling you you have me wanting to lick my computer screen. I bet she was a very happy birthday girl. Take Care, BAM
ohlidia said:
You’re too funny Bam! Charlotte was indeed a very happy girl.
ChgoJohn said:
A belated happy birthday to your dear Charlotte! I hope the year ahead is a wonderful one for her. That cake, Lidia, is every 14 year old’s dream! Nothing like a gooey chocolate cake! Yes, s’mores on the beach would have been fun but I daresay this cake trumped it — and there’s no sand in everything nor smoke-filled eyes when the wind shifts. You did good, Mom! 🙂
ohlidia said:
Awww… You are so sweet John! I really NEED to hear those words these days, know what I mean? Grazie mille! And yes, that S’mores cake is every teen’s dream, I agree! Only a couple of days for you and you’re off!!! Ciao, ciao! xox
Tandy | Lavender and Lime said:
birthday blessings! and what a stunning cake 🙂
ohlidia said:
Thanks Tandy for your kind words.
lapetitecasserole said:
Happy belated birthday to Charlotte! I hope you had great time, I’m already know that you had a great cake… it looks sooooo yummyyyyy!
ohlidia said:
Thanks Margherita. Charlotte had a lovely day!
Liz said:
Happy birthday to your eldest daughter, mine turned 15 in January. I have never made a s’Mores cake but this one looks absolutely delightful!
ohlidia said:
Every teen should have a S’Mores cake at least once!
love in the kitchen said:
Happy belated birthday to Charlotte! I’ll say it again and again – isn’t having two daughters the best thing that ever happened?! ♥
ohlidia said:
I can’t think of anything else! Charlotte is always elated when I relate everyone’s wishes to her. 🙂
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen said:
I’m not surprised she turned out so lovely.. just look at her beautiful mom:) Happy Birthday sweet Charlotte! You’re a lucky girl to have a S’mores Cake layered with fluff and chocolate!! I’ll have a pretend slice along with you:D
ohlidia said:
Oh Barbara, you are too sweet! Just like that pretend slice of S’mores cake you’re having. 🙂
Mary Frances said:
Holy cow! Now that’s what I call a birthday cake.
ohlidia said:
I agree Mary Frances. 🙂
Ines said:
Oh my, that cake looks stunning!
ohlidia said:
Stunning and oozy-gooey yummy! 🙂
Rosa de los Vientos said:
A bit late but Happy Birthday to your wonderful daughter with a lovely smile.
ohlidia said:
She does have a lovely smile, no? It’s so hard to get her to smile these days, I captured this while she was off-guard.
thehungrymum said:
big birthday wishes to your gal! This cake looks wonderful – all my fav things in one amazing dessert.
ohlidia said:
I know right? Makes me wish I was a teen again so that I could enjoy this mess as much as the teens did! 😉
Patty Nguyen said:
Happy Birthday to your daughter! What a fantastic cake you made her! I’d love a slice with extra marshmallow fluff, please! 😀
ohlidia said:
I know, that marshmallow fluff is amazing oozing out of that cake.
Tea with Erika said:
Happy belated bday to Charlotte! What a lovely cake! Can you believe I’ve never had s’mores?!
ohlidia said:
Erika! It’s been so long… You have got to try s’mores at least once. I will pass your sweet wishes on to Charlotte.
Fae's Twist & Tango said:
Very late… Happy Birthday Sweet Charlotte!!!
Hello Darling Lidia, I hope all is well and you are enjoying life with the girls and hubby.
Just checking-in to say Hi. I miss visiting you. ❤
ohlidia said:
Oh Fae! How I have missed you!! (heart) I wish I knew how to do that heart. 🙂
Fae's Twist & Tango said:
So good to hear from you, Love! The heart is made with: & l t ; 3 without spaces. ❤
ohlidia said:
Oh, you’re there! Thank you! I just sent you a private message…
ohlidia said:
&|t;3
It didn’t work!
Fae's Twist & Tango said:
Your second letter is not l (small L). ?
milkandbun said:
Happy birthday to your daughter! Amazing and delicious cake!
ohlidia said:
My daughter just loves it when wonderful people like you wish her a happy birthday!
Dimple@shivaaydelights said:
Happy birthday sweetheart x
ohlidia said:
Hi Dimple…I have forwarded your kind wishes to my lovely daughter. and she is smiling! 🙂
tableofcolors said:
What a gorgeous cake and a happy belated to your lovely Charlotte! My oldest just turned 13 🙂
ohlidia said:
Thank you! They grow up too quickly, no? xox