S’mores Cake

My daughter’s friends beg me to make homemade marshmallows for her birthday each year. I created this cake as a way to honor the birthday cake tradition, while also adhering to their request.

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water (split into 1/2 cups)

3 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin (I like Perfect Supplements brand)

1 cup organic honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 chocolate bar Graham crackers Caramel sauce

Directions:

1. Cut out a circle of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the springform pan and up the side about an inch.

2. Chop the chocolate bar into bite size pieces and set aside.

3. Add the gelatin to the stand mixer bowl and pour 1/2 a cup of water over it. Set the bowl into the stand.

4. Place the 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the honey, salt, and vanilla. Bring the mixture to a boil.

5. Place a candy thermometer into the saucepan. Stir occasionally, while also keeping a close eye on the mixture, so it does not boil over. Remove from heat as soon as it hits the softball stage (240°F), about 10 minutes.

6. Turn the stand mixer on low. Slowly pour the honey mixture into the bowl. Turn up the speed a little at a time until you are able to run it on high. (Go slow, so the mixture does not splatter outside of the bowl.)

7. Continue beating on high for about 10 minutes, until fluffy with soft peaks.

8. Turn the mixer to low. Add the chocolate pieces, and then turn the mixer off, as soon as they are incorporated.

9. Pour the mixture into the parchment lined springform pan. Let it rest on the counter for several hours.

10. Remove the springform pan and place the marshmallow cake on a cake stand.

11. Use a culinary torch to brown the top of the cake. (If you don’t have a torch, carefully place the cake under your oven broiler. Not too close!)

12. For serving, place a graham cracker on each plate before adding a slice of the cake on top. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

The Fire

If you don’t plan on going camping anytime soon, or you don’t have a fire pit in your backyard, you can still get your s’mores fix easily at home by warming your marshmallows in the oven or on the grill. And if you need an excuse to buy another kitchen tool, a culinary torch (most often used for caramelizing crème brûlée) works great in a pinch. Better yet—jump on the bandwagon and get a tabletop fire pit, so you can easily roast marshmallows, inside or out. tf

A SENSE OF TRANQUILITY …

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