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A slice of picnic cake with chocolate chips and marshmallows sits on a dessert plate

Chocolate Chip-Marshmallow Picnic Cake

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This version of picnic cake features fluffy yellow cake, chocolate chips with a layer of toasted mini marshmallows on top.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, peanut butter marshmallows, picnic cake, yellow cake
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 15 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 347 grams
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 315 grams
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened (170 grams)
  • 1 cup whole buttermilk at room temperature (242 grams)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil 56 grams
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 heaping cup semi-sweet chocolate chips about 6-7 ounces or half a bag
  • 1/2 to 2/3 bag of mini marshmallows 5-7 ounces

Instructions

  • Grease a 9x13x2-inch pan with butter or baking spray and preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt. Add the butter and run on medium-low speed until the butter is well incorporated and the mixture looks sandy. There should be no lumps of butter. (You could also do this with a hand mixer it will just take longer.)
  • In a large glass measuring cup or small mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla and eggs.
  • Switch the mixer to the paddle attachment. With the mixer on running on low, gently stream in the liquid ingredients. Once all the liquid has been added, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl and return to mix on low for a few more seconds.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared tin and spread it out evenly with a rubber spatula, offset spatula or the back of a spoon.
  • Scatter the chocolate chips evenly over top. You should still be able to see plenty of batter underneath.
  • Place on the center rack and slide a half sheet tray on a rack underneath to catch any marshmallow spillage. Bake for 28 minutes and then very gently pull out the oven rack the cake is on and top the cake with the mini marshmallows, just enough to barely cover the surface. This doesn’t have to be perfect (they will melt and spread out anyway) but you do want to get it back in the oven very quickly to prevent it from deflating any further.
  • Bake for 7 more minutes. A wooden skewer poked into the center of the cake should come out with very moist crumbs.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • I use a 9x13 pan that’s a little over 2 inches deep. I know some of the glass Pyrex ones are more shallow, so be sure to only fill the pan about halfway or you could have some overflowing marshmallows. (We put a tray underneath just in case to catch any spillage.)