S'mores Cake in a Jar: Oakville Cooks

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In many ways, we're in the middle of a throwback period-especially when it comes to cuisine. From the artisan butcher shops and slow food, to rich flavours and retro-cocktails, chefs are differentiating menus by trying new takes on the classic. Hence.. S'more cake in a jar.

Makes 4 16-ounce mason jar cakes

For the crust:

  • 1 1/2 cup of graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 stick of unsalted butter
  • pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the butter and mix in the graham cracker crumbs with a pinch of salt.  Mix until moistened. Spray the 4 mason jars with a non-stick spray and press the graham cracker crust into the jars. I begin by adding a tablespoon into each jar, and repeat the process until the mixture is completely used. They don't need to look perfect. I then press the crumbs down firmly with the flat bottom of a screwdriver.

For the filling:

  • 1 1/8th cups of all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup of dark cocoa powder
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 a teaspoon of salt
  • 3/4 of a cup of brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of milk
  • 1/2 a cup plus 1 tablespoon of heavy (whipping) cream
  • 1/2 a cup of unsalted melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons of  regular sour cream

In a large mixing bowl  whisk the eggs and sugar until the mixture is smooth with no lumps. Then add in the milk, cream, butter and vanilla and mix until the mixture is one colour. Stir in the sour cream. Combine all the dry ingredients and then sift together. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth. Using a 1/4 of a cup measuring spoon add the batter to the mason jars (one scoop at a time). You only want to fill up the jars half way, and the batter should work out evenly for 4 jars. Again, don't worry if it isn't perfect.

At this point place the mason jars into a  baking dish with high sides and add enough hot water to go 1/4 up the jars creating a bain-marie. Place in the oven for approximately 30 minutes or until the cake has set.

For the topping:

  • 1 bag of large marshmallows

Remove the cake from the oven and while it is still hot press large marshmallows down the on top of each cake. Be careful not to burn yourself. There is no set number of marshmallows to use, but I've found that 4 t0 5 large marshmallows into each jar works. Heat the broiler on your oven and pop the jars into the broiler. Watch them carefully (don't take your eyes off them), since you just want to brown the marshmallows. It can take about 1-2 minutes.

Serve as soon as you can after the s'more cakes have been removed from the broiler.

S'Mores are a serious business. If you follow the above steps you'll be the most popular person around..trust me.