Irresistible S’mores Cookie Bars: Your New Favorite No-Mess Treat!
Imagine all the glorious components of a classic s’more – the rich, melted chocolate, the perfectly toasted, gooey marshmallow, and the satisfying crunch of a graham cracker – but transformed into a delightfully convenient and utterly delicious cookie bar. S’mores cookie bars take everything you love about the traditional campfire treat and elevate it, wrapping those iconic flavors into a soft, chewy cookie. Instead of wrestling with a flaming marshmallow over an open fire, you’re creating a portable, shareable, and much less messy dessert right in your oven.
This innovative twist offers a whole new way to experience the beloved s’mores flavor profile. It might sound a little unconventional to trade the campfire for your kitchen, but once you bite into one of these bars, you’ll realize it’s an absolutely brilliant idea. The authentic s’mores taste is not only preserved but arguably enhanced within the comforting embrace of a cookie. Plus, the convenience of baking a whole tray of s’mores cookie bars at once means there’s plenty to go around, no individual toasting required!
For years, the idea of S’mores Cookies has lingered in my “must-make” recipe file, dating all the way back to 2011. That’s a decade of anticipation! It was definitely high time to bring these incredible treats to life. Whether you prefer to call them S’mores Cookies or S’mores Cookie Bars, one thing is for certain: they are undeniably delicious, no matter the name!
Quick and Easy S’mores Cookie Bars: Say Goodbye to Campfire Chaos!
Gone are the days of patiently waiting for a single marshmallow to achieve that perfect golden-brown melt, only for it to inevitably slide off your graham cracker. S’mores cookie bars eliminate all that fuss and mess. These bars are remarkably quick and straightforward to prepare, making them an ideal dessert for last-minute gatherings or when you’re craving something sweet without a lot of hassle. Furthermore, you can effortlessly bake a generous batch to satisfy a crowd, ensuring everyone gets a taste, with potential leftovers to enjoy later!
Just wait until you experience your first bite. It’s an extraordinary fusion – the best elements of a classic cookie, the decadent richness of a brownie, and the iconic flavors of a traditional s’more, all harmoniously combined into one irresistible bar. The soft, buttery cookie dough encases pockets of melted chocolate and gooey marshmallow, while a sturdy graham cracker base provides that essential crunch and earthy sweetness. This truly is a next-level dessert experience.
Are S’mores Cookie Bars Still Authentically S’mores?
Absolutely! Despite their innovative form, these cookie bars are undeniably legitimate s’mores. They incorporate all the fundamental ingredients that define a s’more: the iconic marshmallow, the rich chocolate, and the distinct flavor of graham crackers. S’mores themselves boast a long and cherished history, a staple of childhood and camping trips. Anyone who has participated in or chaperoned cub scouts, boy scouts, or girl scouts can attest to the magic of gathering around a crackling fire, eagerly anticipating a perfectly toasted marshmallow to sandwich between chocolate and graham crackers. It’s a timeless tradition that makes everyone forget about those pesky mosquitoes and the discomfort of sleeping on the ground!
With S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, you can still evoke that nostalgic campfire feeling. Picture enjoying these delightful treats around a backyard fire pit, without the actual challenges of building a perfect s’more or dealing with bugs and the necessity of camping. It’s the best of both worlds – the beloved taste and camaraderie, but with added comfort and convenience. You get all the flavor and fun, none of the fuss!
S’mores Cookie Bars: The Ultimate Portable Treat
One of the most remarkable aspects of this s’mores cookie recipe is its incredible portability. These bars are engineered for easy transport, making them the perfect companion for almost any occasion. Heading to a sporting event? Pack a batch! Planning a family picnic at the park? They’re ideal. Attending a potluck where you need a crowd-pleasing dessert? Look no further. Their robust structure means they stack neatly, pack tightly, and travel exceptionally well without falling apart. You can even enjoy them warm on the go; if you’re tailgating, they can be gently reheated on a grill over indirect heat, allowing the chocolate and marshmallow to become delightfully melty again.
Just peeking in the background is my sweet Theo! This dog truly comes running every single time he hears the mixer humming. I’ve honestly never encountered a pup with such an enthusiastic sweet tooth!
The Essential Ingredients for Delicious S’mores Cookie Bars
Crafting these magnificent s’mores cookie bars requires a selection of pantry staples, combined with the classic s’mores components. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- **Graham Crackers:** The foundational layer and key textural element. Choose your favorite brand for that unmistakable flavor.
- **Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar:** This combination provides the perfect balance of sweetness and moisture, contributing to the cookie’s soft and chewy texture.
- **Unsalted Butter:** Softened butter is crucial for creaming properly, ensuring a light and airy cookie dough.
- **Pure Vanilla Extract:** A touch of vanilla enhances all the other flavors, adding warmth and depth to the cookie dough.
- **Large Eggs:** Eggs bind the ingredients together and add richness and structure to the bars.
- **All-Purpose Flour:** The primary dry ingredient, providing the necessary bulk for the cookie dough.
- **Baking Soda:** The leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and become tender.
- **Salt:** A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors of the chocolate and marshmallow.
- **Hershey Bars:** While many recipes call for chocolate chips, using chopped Hershey’s chocolate bars delivers that authentic, melty s’mores chocolate experience. Their classic flavor is simply irreplaceable.
- **Miniature Marshmallows:** These tiny marshmallows melt beautifully into gooey pockets of sweetness within the cookie dough, capturing the essence of a traditional s’more.
How To Make Homemade S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Follow these simple steps to create a batch of delightful s’mores cookie bars that everyone will adore. Remember, precision in baking often leads to the best results!
**Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Environment**
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Line a large cookie sheet or a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides for easy lifting after baking. This step is crucial for preventing sticking and ensuring a clean removal of the bars.
**Step 2: Assemble the Graham Cracker Base**
Carefully arrange your graham cracker squares on the prepared baking sheet. Ensure that they touch each other, forming a continuous layer that will serve as the delicious, crunchy base for your cookie bars. If you’re using full graham cracker sheets, break them in half to create squares. Set the pan aside while you prepare the cookie dough.
**Step 3: Cream Wet Ingredients**
In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes. Next, beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next, followed by the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well combined.
**Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Add-ins**
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough bars. Roughly chop two of your Hershey bars into small pieces. Gently fold the chopped chocolate and the miniature marshmallows into the cookie dough until they are evenly distributed. This ensures every bite is packed with s’mores goodness.
**Step 5: Chill the Dough**
For best results and to prevent the cookie dough from spreading too much during baking, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour. Chilling allows the butter to firm up and the flavors to meld, resulting in a more structured and flavorful bar.
**Step 6: Form and Bake the Bars**
Once chilled, divide the cookie dough into 24 equal-sized balls. A cookie scoop can be very helpful for this step to ensure consistency. Place one dough ball atop each of the graham cracker squares on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes. After this initial bake, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Gently press one square of the remaining Hershey’s chocolate onto the top of each partially baked cookie. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for another 5-8 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and appear set. The marshmallows will be gooey, and the chocolate will be perfectly melted.
**Step 7: Cool and Cut**
Allow the s’mores cookie bars to cool completely in the pan before attempting to cut them. This is crucial for clean, neat slices and to allow the chocolate and marshmallow to set slightly. Cooling can take an hour or more. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab of bars from the pan. For easy and efficient cutting, I found a pizza cutter worked wonderfully, creating perfect individual bars!
These bars are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature before serving.
Loved This Recipe? Pin it for Later!
Don’t let this incredible s’mores cookie bar recipe slip away! Make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you leave. You’ll want to revisit this recipe again and again, especially when that s’mores craving hits!
Creative Variations for Your S’mores Cookie Bars
While these s’mores cookie bars are perfectly delightful as is, there are plenty of ways to customize them and make them even more special. Feel free to get creative and experiment with these fancy tricks:
- **Add Texture:** Fold in a handful of shredded coconut to the cookie dough for a tropical twist, or add some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for an extra layer of crunch.
- **Nutty Indulgence:** Swirl a few spoonfuls of creamy or crunchy peanut butter into the dough mixture before baking for a rich, savory complement to the chocolate.
- **A Splash of Color:** Decorate the tops of your freshly baked bars with colorful M&Ms, sprinkles, or other small candies for a festive and fun appearance, especially if you’re making them for a party.
- **Caramel Dream:** For an extra layer of chewy decadence, place a single caramel candy underneath each cookie dough ball before baking. As it bakes, the caramel will melt into a luscious, gooey layer.
- **Different Chocolates:** Experiment with milk chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, or even white chocolate for varied flavor profiles.
- **Flavored Marshmallows:** Try using flavored marshmallows (like strawberry or chocolate) if you can find them for an unexpected twist.
The possibilities are endless to make these s’mores cookie bars uniquely yours!
More S’mores Inspired Recipes to Satisfy Your Cravings
If you’re as passionate about s’mores as we are, you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic s’mores-inspired recipes:
- S’mores Brownies (pictured above) – A fudgy, chocolatey delight topped with toasted marshmallows and graham cracker crumbles.
- S’mores Yogurt Two Ways – A lighter, yet equally delicious, take on the classic.
- Another creative approach to S’mores Treats – Discover even more ways to enjoy these beloved flavors.
- You will adore this S’mores Cream Pie – A decadent pie that captures all the s’mores magic in every slice.
More Delicious Bar Recipes to Check Out Too!
Beyond s’mores, our collection of bar recipes is perfect for any sweet craving or gathering. Explore these other fantastic options:
- Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting – A moist and flavorful classic.
- Rhubarb Crumble Bars – A perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a delightful crumble topping.
- Lemon Cheesecake Bars – Bright, tangy, and creamy, a refreshing dessert.
- Strawberry Sour Cream Bars – Fruity, creamy, and wonderfully satisfying.
- Mint Brookies – The best of both worlds: brownie and cookie, with a refreshing mint twist.
Ready to experience the joy of S’mores Cookie Bars? Let’s get baking and create these unforgettable treats that bring all the fun of a campfire indoors! 
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Print Recipe
S’Mores Cookie Bars
Equipment
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Reynolds Kitchens Non-Stick Parchment Paper
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Wilton Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop
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Rubber Spatulas
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Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
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KitchenAid Hand Mixer
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13×18 Half Sheet Pan
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KitchenAid Classic Pizza Wheel
Ingredients
- 12 graham cracker sheets broken in two to make 24 squares
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 11 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 Hershey’s chocolate bars (standard size, divided: 2 chopped for dough, 2 broken into squares for topping)
- 1 heaping cup miniature marshmallows
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190°C). Line a large cookie sheet or 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
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Place graham cracker squares on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they touch to form a continuous base. Set the pan aside.
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In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
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Beat in the eggs one at a time, incorporating each fully before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
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In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
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Roughly chop two of the Hershey bars. Gently fold the chopped chocolate and the miniature marshmallows into the cookie dough until evenly distributed.
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Cover the bowl and refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 1 hour. This helps prevent excessive spreading during baking.
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Divide the chilled dough into 24 equal-sized balls (a cookie scoop works well) and place one dough ball atop each graham cracker square on the baking sheet.
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Bake for 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully press one square of the remaining two Hershey’s chocolate bars into the top of each cookie.
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Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for another 5-8 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and set. The marshmallows will be gooey and slightly toasted.
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Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper. Cut into individual bars. A pizza cutter works great for clean slices!
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Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
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