Monday munchies: S'mores cake

I've been dying to post this recipe since I made the cake on Friday for my friend Jen's birthday - it went down quite well I think and since you lot always love naughty, chocolatey recipes, I'm sure you'll love it too! For those of you who don't know, s'mores are an American campfire favourite - marshmallow and chocolate melted together between two graham crackers.  Jen's husband asked me to make a s'mores themed cake for her since she became hooked on s'mores whilst travelling across America - it seemed like a great excuse to make a gooey, indulgent cake so I jumped at the chance!

S'mores cake
Serves 12-14

50g cocoa powder
6 tbsp boiling water
3 large eggs
50ml milk
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
160g butter
275g caster sugar
300g dark chocolate
240ml whipping cream
1 tbsp honey
marshmallow fluff
marshmallows
graham crackers (if you're in the UK, use digestive biscuits)
dark chocolate chips
chocolate sauce

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/160 degrees fan.  Sieve the cocoa powder, mix in the boiling water and stir until combined into a thick paste.

Add the eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, 100g butter and caster sugar and mix into a thick batter.

Split the mixture between two greased 20cm sandwich tins, making sure the mixture is spread evenly, and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

Remove the cakes from the oven, allow to cool for a couple of minutes and then turn onto wire racks until completely cool.  Make the chocolate ganache by adding the cream and honey to a saucepan and bringing to the boil.  Break the dark chocolate into pieces and pour the cream over, stirring continuously until smooth.  Add the remaining 60g butter and whisk until blended completely.

Allow the ganache to cool.  Spread the marshmallow fluff over one of the cakes, completely covering the surface.

Spread some of the ganache over the other cake, again completely covering the surface.  Sandwich the two cakes together with the marshmallow and chocolate in the centre of the cake.

Pour the remaining ganache over the top of the cake and allow to set.  Decorate with marshmallows, biscuit pieces, chocolate chips and chocolate sauce.

When I made this, I piled some chocolate matchmakers in the middle of the cake to resemble a bonfire and added some toasted marshmallows over the bonfire with wire.  You don't need to do this step though - it works just as well without!

I'd love to know if you try this recipe - I spent a lot of time browsing s'mores cake recipes online before deciding to come up with my own, so if you try it please let me know :)