Delicious! Chocolate Birthday Cake filled with Fluffy Marshmallow Frosting

Hello again!  We celebrated another child's birthday over the weekend! We threw our son a fun all-boy birthday party to celebrate 6 whole years of wonderful life! 

He invited some of his best buddies over for grilled hot dogs, cake and ice cream, and lots of playing!  This originally was going to be an outside campfire type party, and we were going to have a tent set up for the boys to play in. I had big ideas to be roast the hot dogs over the fire, have all the eating and playing outside the whole time, but it rained the night and morning of the party and a cold snap had come through... so we brought the party inside. 

Moms learn to roll with the punches, am I not right?!!!

That being said I simply decorated in colorful bandanas and my favorite birthday décor--balloons!  It was fun and just right for boys who honestly probably didn't care as much as I did.  I found some boxes of Avengers stickers and scattered them on the table along with chocolates.  No party bags to take home here, but the boys could have what they wanted of those fun little table tokens!

Our son requested a chocolate cake (his favorite), like he does every year, and I decided to make it myself instead of ordering a cute character cake this year.  It saved us a lot of money which made up for the time of making it, but really it just took me about 3 hours from start to finish. 

This may surprise you but I don't consider myself a super cake baker or decorator! So listen up Moms and Dads out there, give yourself a break and a little grace in the kitchen! 

Don't be intimidated by baking cakes!  If you want to make a birthday cake yourself, you can do it, and it doesn't have to look Pinterest perfect for it to be incredibly delicious!! I'm cheering you on!  It's easier to make a sheet cake, so if that's what you do--awesome!! The love that goes into a homemade cake goes a long way.

Since I enjoy baking and being creative in the kitchen, I decided to give his birthday cake a little twist by adding a delicious marshmallow frosting on the inside. That marshmallow frosting really made it special! The cake is semi-homemade as I used a box mix to help me out. Instead of going by the box recipe exactly I substituted melted butter for oil and used extra large eggs.  Extra large eggs are key when baking cake. 

I made our very favorite homemade fluffy chocolate buttercream and topped it with a mound of cheerful M&Ms!  What's not to love about a candy topped cake filled with marshmallow frosting?  I made it the day before frosting and all, and I wrapped and stored in the fridge for the day of the party.  I got it out about 2 hours prior to the party beginning so it could come to room temperature again.  Needless to say, it was a hit!!!  A couple moms wanted the recipe, because it came out so moist and the taste was outstanding! I will definitely be making this very cake again, so I thought I had to share the easy recipe with you!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Butter cream Icing and Marshmallow Filling

This makes a 3 layer cake. Serves 15-20 people.

For the Cake:

2 boxes of Chocolate-Fudge cake mix (I think I used Duncan Hines)

Follow the box's directions in making these with just a couple alterations.  Use extra large eggs and substitute melted real butter for oil. The proportions will be the exact same of butter for oil.  This will make the cake taste incredible. 

Carefully pour the batter evenly into 3- 8 in. round pans.  (You may have extra batter, and if you do simply make a few cupcakes!) Bake according to the box directions until a toothpick comes out almost entirely clean. Cool a few minutes before turning the cakes out carefully.  Allow them to cool completely!

At this point, if they look a little lopsided and you want a professionally even looking cake, use a bread knife and gingerly cut off the tops to make them more flat and even. They don't have to be perfect because the filling and icing covers a multitude of cake sins! Once this is done, you're ready to add the marshmallow filling evenly between the layers and then frost the cake.  When frosting I usually work from the top of the cake down.

For the Marshmallow Frosting (filling):

1 jar Marshmallow fluff

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened

2-3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 c. heavy cream (you may not need all that)

1/2 tsp. real vanilla extract

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and marshmallow fluff together well.  Add the vanilla extract and then begin adding the cream and sugar alternately ending with the powdered sugar. Only use as much cream to keep it creamy but not too thin.  This is a filling so we don't want it to be runny or oozing out the sides too much, but don't over think it!  Beat it all well and set aside until you're ready to frost.

For the Chocolate Icing, click here for the link to the delicious recipe that I have shared with you all a couple years ago.

Me and the birthday boy!!!