Graham Slam Cake

When it comes to decadent desserts that leave a lasting impression, the Graham Slam Cake stands out as a true masterpiece. Imagine the comforting flavors of a graham cracker crust, a soft and flavorful cake, and a luscious, creamy frosting that brings everything together. This cake is perfect for gatherings, special occasions, or simply as a treat for yourself and loved ones. With its combination of rich flavors and textures, this cake is sure to be a crowd favorite.

What makes the Graham Slam Cake so special is the unique blend of flavors and the texture created by the graham cracker crust and the layers of delicious cake. It’s a little different from your average cake, but that’s what makes it so extraordinary! The layers of cake are perfectly moist, and the graham cracker buttercream adds a delightful crunch and a hint of cinnamon that complements the rest of the cake.

This cake is not only incredibly flavorful but also visually striking. Whether you’re serving it for a birthday, a celebration, or a simple family get-together, it will undoubtedly be a showstopper. The addition of graham crackers to both the cake layers and the frosting brings a layer of nostalgia, making it reminiscent of a classic graham cracker pie, but taken to the next level.

Why You’ll Love This Cake

Perfect Layers of Flavor: The combination of graham cracker crust, soft cake, and graham cracker buttercream offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures that make each bite so satisfying.
A Crowd Favorite: Whether it’s for a casual dinner or a celebration, this cake always impresses! Its unique blend of ingredients sets it apart from traditional cakes.
Easy to Make: While it looks fancy, this cake is relatively simple to make with just a few steps. It’s the perfect cake to prepare ahead of time for any occasion.

Equipment Needed

Stand Mixer (or Hand Mixer)
8-inch Round Cake Pans (3)
Food Processor or Blender (for grinding graham crackers)
Mixing Bowls
Spatula
Piping Bags (if decorating with buttercream)
Cake Scraper or Offset Spatula (for smooth frosting)

Ingredients for Graham Slam Cake

For the Graham Cracker Crust:

2 cups (240g) finely ground graham crackers (about 18 full rectangular crackers)
1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup (70g) granulated sugar

For the Cake:

2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (120g) finely ground graham crackers (about 8 full rectangular crackers)
1 3/4 teaspoons (7g) baking powder
1 teaspoon (2.6g) cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon (3g) baking soda
3/4 teaspoon (4.2g) salt
1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 2/3 cups (333.3g) granulated sugar
4 large or extra-large eggs, room temperature
2 cups (480g) buttermilk, room temperature

For the Graham Cracker Butter:

9 graham crackers (full rectangles)
1/2 teaspoon (2.1g) cinnamon
1/4 cup (59g) water, plus 1-2 tablespoons if needed
2 tablespoons (42g) honey
3 tablespoons (42.5g) unsalted butter, melted

For the Vanilla Buttercream:

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, slightly cold
3 cups (375g) powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (4.2g) vanilla extract
4 tablespoons (57.75g) heavy whipping cream
Pinch of salt

For the Graham Cracker Buttercream:

2 cups (452g) unsalted butter, slightly cold
5 1/2 cups (687.5g) powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup (60g) finely ground graham crackers (about 5 full graham crackers)
1/4 cup (57.75g) heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon (2.6g) cinnamon
1 teaspoon (4.6g) vanilla extract

Making the Graham Slam Cake

This Graham Slam Cake comes together in a series of deliciously simple steps. From creating the perfect graham cracker crust to layering and frosting the cake, every stage brings out a combination of flavors that will leave your taste buds wanting more. Let’s dive into how to bring this cake to life!

1. Prepare the Graham Cracker Crust

The first step in creating your Graham Slam Cake is to make the delicious graham cracker crust that will form the base of your cake. This crust not only adds texture but also gives the cake its signature graham flavor.

Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures your crust will bake evenly.
Prepare the Pans: Spray three 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper as well, and set the pans aside.
Crush the Graham Crackers: Place the graham crackers in a food processor or blender and pulse until you get fine crumbs that resemble sand. If you don’t have a food processor, you can also place the crackers in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
Mix the Crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar. Stir until all the crumbs are damp and well coated with butter.
Bake the Crust: Evenly divide the mixture between the pans and press it down firmly with your hand or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 5 minutes, just to set the crust. Let it cool while you work on the cake layers.

2. Make the Cake Layers

Now that the crust is ready, it’s time to make the moist, graham-flavored cake that will be the star of this recipe. With the graham cracker crumbs added into the batter, the cake will have a unique texture and flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy frosting.

Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream the Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. This will take about 3-5 minutes, and it’s important for achieving a light and airy cake texture.
Add the Eggs: Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Combine the Dry and Wet Ingredients: With the mixer on low, slowly add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, followed by half of the buttermilk. Mix just until combined, then add another 1/3 of the dry ingredients and the remaining buttermilk. Finish with the last third of the dry ingredients. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a dense cake.
Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans (about 20 ounces of batter per pan). Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.

3. Make the Graham Cracker Butter

While your cake layers are cooling, you can make the graham cracker butter that will add a deliciously sweet and slightly cinnamon-flavored spread for your cake.

Crush the Graham Crackers: In a food processor or blender, pulse the graham crackers with cinnamon until they resemble the texture of sand.
Mix the Butter: Add the water to the graham cracker crumbs and pulse again until the mixture becomes slightly wet. Stream in the melted butter and honey and continue to pulse until smooth and creamy. Set aside to use in the frosting.

Assembling and Decorating the Graham Slam Cake

Now that the cake layers and graham cracker butter are ready, it’s time to move on to the final steps of making your Graham Slam Cake. This part is all about assembly and frosting, which will bring everything together into a delicious masterpiece. Let’s get started!

1. Prepare the Vanilla Buttercream

The vanilla buttercream serves as the base frosting for this cake, providing a smooth, sweet foundation that complements the graham cracker flavor perfectly.

Cream the Butter: In a stand mixer, beat the slightly cold butter on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. This should take about 2 minutes.
Add the Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, a little at a time, mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar explosion. Once incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and beat for another 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add Vanilla and Cream: Add the vanilla extract and heavy whipping cream, then continue to beat the buttercream for an additional 2 minutes. This will help create a silky texture and improve the consistency.
Set Aside: Set the buttercream aside to use later for frosting the cake.

2. Make the Graham Cracker Buttercream

To create a fun twist on classic buttercream, you’ll need to mix the graham cracker butter into the vanilla buttercream. This adds a light graham flavor throughout the frosting, giving the cake its signature flavor.

Combine Graham Cracker Butter with Vanilla Buttercream: In your stand mixer with the vanilla buttercream, add the graham cracker butter. Turn the mixer to low and gently swirl it in to create ribbons of graham cracker flavor. Be careful not to overmix, as you want to preserve the swirled texture.
Final Mix: Once the graham cracker butter is incorporated, the buttercream is ready to be spread and piped onto the cake.

3. Assemble the Cake

Now for the fun part—assembling your Graham Slam Cake. This cake layers up beautifully, with the graham cracker crust on the bottom, the moist cake layers, and a generous amount of frosting in between.

Layer the First Cake: Place the first cooled cake layer onto a cake board or serving plate. Be sure that the graham cracker crust side is facing down.
Frost with Buttercream: Gently spread half of the graham cracker buttercream mixture over the first cake layer, making sure to cover it evenly.
Add the Second Layer: Place the second cake layer on top, again with the graham cracker crust facing down.
Add More Buttercream: Spread the remaining graham cracker buttercream over the second layer of cake. Be generous with your frosting, as this will give the cake a beautiful and delicious finish.
Finish with the Third Cake Layer: Place the final cake layer on top, making sure the crust is facing down. This ensures the graham cracker flavor is perfectly incorporated into each bite.

4. Crumb Coat and Chill

Before you finish frosting the entire cake, apply a thin layer of frosting around the entire cake. This is known as a crumb coat. It helps seal in any crumbs and gives you a smooth surface for the final layer of frosting.

Apply the Crumb Coat: Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
Chill the Cake: Place the cake in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes to set the crumb coat. This will ensure your final frosting layer is smooth and flawless.

5. Final Frosting and Decoration

After the crumb coat has set, it’s time to finish frosting the cake and give it some beautiful decorations.

Frost the Cake: Take the remaining graham cracker buttercream and apply a thick layer of frosting around the cake. Smooth it out with a spatula, making sure the top and sides are evenly covered.
Decorate with Graham Crackers: For an extra touch, crush some graham crackers and sprinkle them over the top of the cake or press them into the sides. This adds a nice crunch and enhances the graham flavor.
Add Piping Details: If you’d like, use the remaining buttercream to pipe swirls or other designs along the edges or on top of the cake. This adds a lovely visual appeal and a personalized touch.

Now that the cake is fully assembled and decorated, let it sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing into it, allowing everything to set just right. This Graham Slam Cake is the perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, and flavorful—an absolute showstopper for any occasion!