Few desserts say nostalgia and fun quite like s’mores. The combination of crispy graham crackers, melty chocolate and toasty, gooey marshmallows is beloved by kids and adults alike and practically screams summer.
Though the summer season is winding down, there’s still time for a few more s’mores, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy the iconic combo without lighting the campfire. One great example? A s’mores poke cake, like the one I saw shared by content creator Steph Gigliotti.
In the caption, she said it’s the perfect summer dessert and as soon as I saw the video I knew she was right—and also knew I needed to give it a try. Here’s what happened when I made the fan-favorite recipe in my kitchen. Spoiler alert: You’re definitely going to want to give this one a try.
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@stephgigliotti28 The perfect summer dessert! S’mores Poke Cake https://www.stephreallife.com/smores-poke-cake/ #pokecake #smorespokecake #memorialdaydessert #4thofjulydessert #summerdesserts
♬ Positive background music such as play and games(1251730) – earbrojp
What Is a Poke Cake?
Known for being easy to make yet incredibly delicious, this retro treat first became popular in the 1970s when Jell-O promoted it as a way to jazz up boxed cake mixes. The concept of a poke cake is simple—just bake a cake, poke holes in it (ususally with something like the handle of a wooden spoon) then pour something delicious over the cake to infuse the dessert with flavor.
You can use pudding, sweetened condensed milk, Jell-O or even syrups for the soak. The technique ensures that every bite is moist and tasty. Over the decades, poke cakes became a go-to for home bakers who wanted an easy way to elevate a simple cake without much extra effort.
How to Make S’mores Poke Cake
This variation on a classi poke cake is super easy. Start by baking a boxed chocolate cake mix according to the package instructions. (I used a gluten-free mix, and it worked perfectly, but a standard cake mix will work well, too, of course.). Once the cake is out of the oven, you poke holes all over it using the handle of a wooden spoon.
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Once you’ve poked the holes, pour melted marshmallow fluff over the warm cake. It will seep into the cake, creating a a sticky, gooey layer that mimics melted campfire marshmallows. Be sure to put the fluff into a microwave-safe dish and don’t heat it in its original plastic container. This part will be sticky, but it’s so worth it!
While that sets, whip up the frosting by mixing chocolate pudding with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla extract until it reaches a Cool Whip–like consistency. Spread the frosting over the cake, then finish with marshmallows, chunks of chocolate and crushed graham crackers. It’s every bit as fun as it sounds!
This is a rich chocolate cake with marshmallow and graham cracker flavors. It’s like a s’mores treat without all the runny, sticky mess and no campfire to tend.
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How to Make This Recipe Your Own
One of the best parts about a poke cake is how customizable it is. In fact, there are tons of versions of this cake online, but this one seemed to be the simplest. Plus, I had all of the ingredients in my kitchen.
This recipe leaves plenty of room for creativity. Want more marshmallow flavor? Use toasted mini marshmallows on top for that smoky, campfire vibe. Want some extra crunch? Mix graham cracker crumbs into the frosting for texture. You could even drizzle the cake with chocolate syrup or caramel before adding the pudding layer for an extra gooey bite.
Beyond the classic, this idea can inspire other creative mash-ups. Swap the chocolate cake for vanilla or yellow cake to make a vanilla s’mores poke cake. Use white chocolate chips and cinnamon graham crackers for a new flavor twist or add some roughly crushed pretzels to the topping for a salty-sweet option. A poke cake is the perfect canvas for flavor experimentation. Just choose a cake, a soak, a frosting and a topping that works for you.
At the end of the day, poke cakes like this one prove why the trend has endured for decades: they’re simple, fun and guaranteed crowd-pleasers! My kids loved this cake, and so did I. It was devoured within 30 minutes!
Whether you stick with a gooey s’mores version or try a new twist, it’s the kind of dessert that brings smiles whenever you make it.
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