Toasted S’mores Bars. Candy, gooey, and stacked with layers of chocolate and toasted marshmallows. These bars begin with a smooth cinnamon graham cracker cookie dough layered with thick Hershey’s XL chocolate bars, creamy peanut butter, and toasted, almost-burnt marshmallows. Wealthy, additional chocolatey, and undeniably scrumptious, they seize the whole lot you’re keen on a few traditional campfire s’extra. Get pleasure from all of them summer season lengthy, then preserve baking them straight into the chilly fall months too.

I used to be a really totally different type of child. Whereas I do know s’mores are a favourite for therefore many, I by no means discovered all of them that thrilling. My mother all the time baked the very best do-it-yourself desserts, from her well-known Particular Okay Bars to chocolate cake, do-it-yourself peanut butter cups, and nearly each chocolate deal with you can think about.

There was virtually all the time one thing do-it-yourself ready within the kitchen, and in the course of the summer season we’d head out for ice cream as a rule. Dairy Queen was an every-other-day prevalence, and at any time when we had the prospect, we’d make the journey to Mitchell’s, among the best ice cream outlets in Ohio. In comparison with all of that, s’mores simply by no means felt fairly as particular.

That stated, I definitely by no means turned one down. I’ve spent loads of summer season and early fall nights gathered round yard and seaside bonfires, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores with family and friends.

Ultimately, I found what makes a s’extra actually nice: do-it-yourself graham crackers, additional chocolate, and marshmallows roasted over an actual fireplace till they’re virtually burnt. The darker the marshmallow, the higher, in the event you ask me. After all, everybody has their very own excellent degree of toastiness, so, you do you!

Ever since discovering do-it-yourself graham crackers, I’ve had a lot enjoyable creating s’mores-inspired recipes. This time, I made a decision to show these flavors into cookie bars.

Retailer-bought graham crackers work completely properly, however you probably have the time to make do-it-yourself graham crackers, they actually do take these bars to the following degree.

The bottom is a smooth cinnamon graham cracker cookie dough layered with thick chocolate bars, a swipe of creamy peanut butter, and loads of toasted marshmallows. Each chunk is wealthy, gooey, melty, and full of that nostalgic campfire s’mores taste—solely even higher!

These are the main points

• salted butter
• brown sugar
• an egg
• vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour
• graham cracker flour/crumbs
• baking powder
• sea salt
• XL Hershey’s chocolate bars – you need to use small bars too, simply don’t be skimpy with them!
• creamy peanut butter – utterly optionally available. It’s good, however you don’t want it.
• marshmallows – ensure you use recent, not an opened bag. It makes a distinction!

Baking Instruments

For these bars, you’ll want a hand mixer or stand mixer to make the cookie dough, although a sturdy picket spoon works simply high quality too. An 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch sq. baking pan lined with parchment paper makes it straightforward to raise the bars out and slice them cleanly. I additionally wish to preserve a small offset spatula or rubber spatula close by for spreading the peanut butter, and you probably have one, a wire rack is nice for cooling the bars utterly earlier than slicing.

The Steps

Step 1: Make the Graham Cracker Cookie Dough

Preheat the broiler and line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a big mixing bowl, beat collectively the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar till gentle and fluffy. Combine within the egg and vanilla till clean. Add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and sea salt, mixing simply till a smooth dough kinds.

Tip: The dough can be smooth and a bit sticky, which is precisely what you need. If wanted, frivolously dampen your arms earlier than urgent it into the pan.

My Observe: If in case you have do-it-yourself graham crackers readily available, use them for the crumbs. They add an additional layer of taste that makes these bars much more particular.

Step 2: Layer the Chocolate and Marshmallows

Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the ready pan. Prepare the Hershey’s chocolate bars aspect by aspect over the dough. Unfold the peanut butter over the chocolate, if utilizing, then high with an excellent layer of marshmallows.

I all the time add the peanut butter. It melts into the chocolate and offers the bars a Reese’s-meets-s’mores taste that’s exhausting to beat.

Step 3: Toast the Marshmallows

Switch the pan to the oven and broil till the marshmallows are golden and toasted. Preserve an in depth eye on them—they’ll go from completely toasted to burnt in seconds. As soon as they’re toasted, take away the pan from the oven and scale back the oven temperature.

Tip: Rotate the pan as wanted in case your broiler has scorching spots so the marshmallows brown evenly.

I wish to take my marshmallows a bit additional than most individuals. These darker, deeply toasted edges add the very best taste.

Step 4: Add the Remaining Dough

Flatten items of the remaining dough between your arms and organize them over the toasted marshmallows. Don’t fear about protecting the whole lot. Leaving some marshmallows uncovered offers the bars that traditional s’mores look.

Tip: Press the remaining dough right into a tough sq. on a sheet of parchment paper. Then merely flip it over the toasted marshmallows and peel away the parchment. It’s the simplest technique to cowl the marshmallows with out making a sticky mess.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Bake till the highest is frivolously golden and the middle is simply set. Let the bars cool utterly within the pan earlier than slicing.

Tip: Cooling utterly is the important thing to scrub slices for the reason that chocolate wants time to set. However in the event you couldn’t care much less about excellent squares, seize a spoon, pour your self a tall glass of milk, and dig proper in whereas they’re nonetheless heat!

This publish was initially printed on June 26, 2026