Smores Cookie Bars

I have made a couple of different recipes containing the flavors of smores, and they are always a favorite. I have made a couple of different cookie recipes, a pie, and a cake. It’s really amazing how many variations there are with three simple ingredients of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. I don’t have a fire pit at home, so these recipes are as close as I ever get to a smore, so I enjoy trying new recipes.

This recipe, in trying to keep with smaller batch baking, has been cut in half and I baked this is an 8” pan rather than a 9” x 13” pan. The volume is close enough to half of the original that it works with no problem. Perhaps the cookies bake for a minute or two less, but that always varies a little anyway. I had thought about using graham cracker crumbs rather than the actual graham crackers, but I didn’t have a good measurement and I had the crackers on hand, so I followed the original recipe.

This is a very quick and easy recipe. The dough is made quickly in the food processor, and then the chocolate and marshmallow toppings take just a few minutes to add. When I broiled the marshmallows, they tend to brown very quickly so it is critical to not look away! I broiled mine for 2 minutes and kept moving the pan around so that they would brown evenly. Regardless, they are very sticky and once they are cool it is best to cut them with a knife that has been heated. These bars are the most straightforward smores recipe I have made, and they are so good. The milk chocolate is perfect, and since I don’t have my own fire pit, these bars are a close second. 

Smores Cookie Bars
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2/3 cup flour
9 graham cracker squares
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5-1/2 tablespoons butter, cut in pieces
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 egg yolk
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
About 20 large marshmallows

Heat the oven to 359 degrees. Line an 8” square baking pan with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

In a food processor, combine the sugar, brown sugar, flour, graham crackers, baking powder and salt. Pulse until there are no pieces of graham crackers left in the mixture. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture looks sandy. Add the vanilla and egg yolk and pulse the food processor until the dough comes together. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 20-24 minutes, until golden brown. Prepare the remaining ingredients while the base is baking. Place the milk chocolate chips in a bowl and cut the marshmallows vertically into 40 pieces.

Once the cookie base comes out of the oven, turn the oven’s broiler on to high.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot cookie base and allow to set for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, smooth the chocolate into an even layer. Top with the halved marshmallows, placing the marshmallows cut side down on top of the chocolate layer.

To brown the top of the marshmallows, place the pan on the middle rack under the broiler. This takes about 2 minutes and it is best to leave the oven door open so that you can watch the marshmallows and ensure that they don’t brown too much.

Once the marshmallows are toasted, allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. The bars cut best with a hot knife.

Recipe from Simple and Sweet Food