Jos Louis Cake a.k.a. Copycat Ding Dong Cake
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Jos Louis Cake a.k.a. Copycat Ding Dong Cake. Based upon the famous Canadian snack cake, this recipe has proven to be one of the most popular dessert cakes ever on Rock Recipes.
This Jos Louis, chocolate marshmallow cake, is a pretty simple dessert with three components, chocolate cake, a marshmallow-like filling and a chocolate covering.
I wanted to create a recipe that pays homage to the popular Jos Louis snack cake from Vachon here in Canada. South of the border, the closest thing you guys in the US would know to this snack cake is a Hostess Ding Dong.
I was tempted to use my Red Velvet Cake Recipe, as the base for this cake. That's because the cake in an actual Jos Louis, does resemble that flavour and texture of a red velvet cake.
Feel free to try that too though if you like. I always say any recipe is just a base to make a version that's all your own.
I wanted to keep it simple though, so I've used my super-easy, standard, one-bowl Chocolate Cake recipe instead. That recipe is simply add the ingredients to the bowl, mix until smooth, pour and bake.
The filling and finishing of a Jos Louis Cake (or Copycat Ding Dong Cake)
The marshmallow filling is a scaled down version of the recipe we have used hundreds of times in our Black & White Cake. That was our kid's favourite cake when they were growing up. I could practically make it in my sleep.
To finish the cake I covered the whole thing in a layer of chocolate ganache. The advantage of a softer ganache than straight melted chocolate is that it is softer and easier to cut.
No cracking of the chocolate as you cut, to ruin the presentation of your slices.
As I was finishing this cake off, my daughter arrived home with a bunch of 13 year-olds. They were working on a school film project so this one did not last long!
Each and every one of them said it was far better than its namesake. Try it and see if you agree.
For another Vachon favourite, take a look at these easy Homemade Flakies using store bought frozen puff pastry sheets!
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Chocolate Marshmallow Cake (Jos Louis Cake)
Chocolate Marshmallow Cake (Jos Louis Cake) Based upon the famous Canadian snack cake, this recipe has proven to be one of the most popular dessert cakes ever on Rock Recipes..
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoon . baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup soured milk
- 1 cup black coffee
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Marshmallow Frosting
- 2 egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tarter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoon corn syrup
- ⅓ cup water
For the Chocolate Ganache Glaze
- 2 cups semisweet or dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup whipping cream
Instructions
For the Chocolate Cake
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes.
- Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 inch cake pans or one large 10 -12 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The time will be longer for a larger pan. Cool completely.
For the Marshmallow Frosting
- In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer or when a teaspoonful of the mixture dropped into ice water forms a soft ball that holds its shape when cool.
- Whip the egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla extract to soft peaks in a large bowl. With the mixer on medium high speed, slowly begin to pour the sugar syrup down the side of the egg white bowl in a thin continuous stream. Continue to whip the frosting until it forms stiff peaks.
- Fill your cake immediately with this frosting while it is still slightly warm as it is easier to spread smoothly than if allowed to cool completely.
For the Chocolate Ganache Glaze
- Scald whipping cream almost to boiling and pour over the chocolate chips. Let stand for 3-4 minutes before stirring well until smooth.
- Split a single layer of the cake horizontally and fill the center with the marshmallow frosting. Finally spread the chocolate ganache over the cake and allow it to cool. Serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
16 servingsAmount Per Serving Calories 450Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 35mgSodium 247mgCarbohydrates 69gFiber 3gSugar 51gProtein 5g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
So this recipe makes 2 Joe Louis cakes?
No Mommabear, I make 1 large 10 inch cake but many people don't have that large a pan. The nine inch pans would make a higher cake but I suppose you could make two smaller ones by cutting the 9 inch cakes in half horizontally.
Thanks for the recipe! My husband is going to love the cake. We were both fans of Joe Louis and Mae West cakes while growing up, but they don't taste the same anymore.
They certainly don't taste the same. They are very chemically to my taste-buds. Not the same at all.
Plz reply weather sugar syrup
Corn syrup?
Hi Barry, I can't wait to make this cake. My family and friends got me drove making your homemade flakies! i enjoy your page immensely! Thanks for sharing your love of food with us, the not so talented ones :-).
I am a bit confused - the photo shows the marshmallow spread only in the middle, but the wording says "frost your cake immediately"
Sorry, meant to say fill not frost. Fixed now.
Made this cake for family dinner yesterday and it was a hit. Tasty and moist.
I made the cake and it turned out amazing!!! making another as requested by my nephew!! love it
Hi
I was wondering if this cake could be made on a large cookie sheet and then cut out with large cookie cutter to make cakes like the actual Jos Louis??
Isn't it a Ding DONG cake and not a Ding Done cake?
Jos Louis are older then Ding Dongs
The cake tasted fantastic but the top layer slid off! I’m assuming I didn’t whip the marshmallow frosting enough but hoping you can offer some advice. I put it under a cake dome as well but thought it had cooled.
Everything should be cold before adding the filling.
Can't wait to try this cake for my sons birthday. I love all your recipes. Thanks for all your hard work for bringing us such wonderful recipes.
If I make this cake ahead, do I need to refrigerate it? How is it stored?
If possible , refrigerate, but it should be fine for a few hours.
I have made this cake before. Italian Butter Cream Frosting Cake. It turned out beautifully. it was delicious. this is basically the same except for adding chocolate to the egg whites. I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing !