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This past weekend, my friends and I went sort-of-camping.
So I decided the occasion called for some sort-of-s’mores.
And thus, these S’mores Bars were born.
What is sort-of-camping, you ask?
Well, it’s basically reaping the benefits of camping, minus actually having to pitch a tent and spend the night. With the bugs. (Did I mention the bugs?)
Basically, some friends who were actually going to be camping at Clinton Lake invited a bunch of others to come hang for the evening at the campsite. We made a fantastic gourmet dinner around the campfire, talked for hours and hours as we watched the sun set over the lake, and then once we started to get tired, we hopped in our car and headed home to sleep in our soft (bug-free) beds.
I have to admit…it was pretty wonderful.
Still, any sort of camping (or sort-of-camping) trip requires some s’mores. So for something different, I decided to experiment and create these S’mores Bars!!!
Actually, these would more accurately be called S’mores Brownie Bars, since I used one of my favorite homemade brownie recipes for the fudgy chocolate filling. But whatever you call them, these S’mores Bars were a hit.
Basically, I laid down a layer of graham crackers in a baking dish to make the crust. Then I layered on some brownie batter and cooked it up until it was almost done. But the magic was all in the topping — mini marshmallows, Hershey’s bars and Golden Grahams galore!!!
Yep. I initially was going to try and break up some graham crackers to layer on top. But I’m a sucker for pretty food, and those crumbly graham crackers just weren’t cutting it. So for the first time in about a decade, I bought one of my favorite cereals from childhood — Golden Grahams! These little guys worked perfectly for the topping, and stayed nice and crispy late into the night.
And then, just in case all of those melted Hershey’s bars weren’t enough, I melted down an additional Hershey’s bar and drizzled it all over the top.
And then drizzled some more.
Needless to say, I don’t think anyone missed toasting marshmallows around the hot campfire when we could just grab “s’more” of these bars to enjoy. My friends all gave the recipe a big thumbs up!!
And — shhhh, don’t tell — I might have saved one bar for later and made it into a little s’mores sundae which I also highly recommend. ;)
So cheers to sort-of-camping and sort-of-s’mores. I hope to have both experiences in my life again…um…immediately.
These S’mores Bars (a.k.a. S’mores Brownies) feature all of the classic ingredients in a simple and delicious bar!
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Ingredients:
8–10 whole graham crackers (enough to cover the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan)
10 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
S’mores Topping Ingredients:
Hershey’s bars (broken into small pieces)
Golden Grahams
mini marshmallows
(optional) melted chocolate for drizzling (**see instructions below**)
Instructions
To Make The Brownies:
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease with cooking spray. Then line the bottom of the pan with tightly-packed graham crackers in a single layer. Set aside.
Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for one minute intervals, stirring in between, until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set the mixture aside until it cools to room temperature. (You can pop it in the fridge to speed up this process.)
Stir in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Spread evenly in the baking pan on top of the graham crackers. (Since this is a thick batter, I found that it worked well to drop the dough in large tablespoons all over the graham crackers, and then smooth those out with a spoon to form an even layer of brownie batter.)
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove pan and sprinkle generously with mini marshmallows.
Turn oven to broil, then return the pan to the oven and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until the marshmallows poof up and JUST barely begin to turn golden. Please watch very carefully at this point, or else the marshmallows can burn or even catch fire.
Remove pan from oven and sprinkle with Hershey’s bar pieces and Golden Graham’s. Then drizzle with additional melted chocolate if desired. Let cool, then cut and serve.
Notes
**To make the melted chocolate, add a crumbled Hershey’s bar or some chocolate chips to a microwave-proof bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted. If the chocolate is too thick, add in a few teaspoons of shortening to thin it out. Drizzle with a fork over the s’mores bars.
Your sort of camping sounds like my kind of camping! Go for a few hours, but then come home maybe shower and go to sleep in a nice clean and warm bed. Yup, my kind of camping! And Ali, these bars are awesome! Quick and easy and insanely delicious! Love the shot with with ice cream on top!
Oh yum! I have a smores bar recipe, that is just like a rice krispy with chocolate and golden grahams. Your version looks even more delicious. I love smores!
yes, yes, 1000x yes! I’m so glad you enjoyed your camping weekend, Ali! I haven’t been camping in about 2 years. But I am no stranger to s’mores! Perfection!
These look absolutely heavenly!! I think sort of camping is my type of activity. I used to camp for real when I was younger, but I’m not sure I am up for it now!
So, so incredibly tasty looking, and gave me an immediate craving for s’mores. And, strangely- Golden Grahams, which I think I have never actually craved in my life, haha!
Ali they’re so pretty and eye-catching! Love golden grahams and smores! I have a recipe for GG Smores from a few years ago and have a new Smores recipe coming this weekend. Your bars are gorgeous and so photogenic :) Beautifulllll pics!
Love these, Ali! When Golden Grahams first came on the market, I made RKTs with them and added Cocoa Puffs and chocolate chips. This brings back those memories. Fabulous recipe, girl! Already pinned!
Just made these for the first time today. A new tray bake for Northern Ireland and went down a storm with my American work mates. A taste of home!!!! Will be made again I can tell you.
Hi Ali! I am making these today to bring up north but likely won’t be eating for a day or two. Would you recommend heating up or just eating from the pan “cold” ?!
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
Hi Ryan! We’d recommend heating these up if you can!
Hi there!
I am trying to simplify this recipe and I was wondering if I could just use brownie mix out of a box instead of making them myself? If so, would you use a whole box or half?!
Thanks so much!
Maria
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
Hi Maria, you definitely could do that! We haven’t tried this, so we can’t say for sure, but we think one box should work. We hope you enjoy these! :)
The ultimate best recipe ever. I made it for my co-workers, and they all loved it! Like a brownie bought in a fancy bakery. I bake all the time, but this time..I surprised myself. I don’t even own a microwave.
Hey, I’m Ali!
My favorite thing in life is time spent around the table. And all the better with some seriously tasty food to bring us all together. more about me »
Oh my freaking goodness!! I’m all over this!
These bars look AWESOME! I want at least five, stat.
YUM-o! I love Golden Graham cereal–remember eating that when I was a kid. These smores bars look so ooey gooey and delicious.
Your sort of camping sounds like my kind of camping! Go for a few hours, but then come home maybe shower and go to sleep in a nice clean and warm bed. Yup, my kind of camping! And Ali, these bars are awesome! Quick and easy and insanely delicious! Love the shot with with ice cream on top!
That sounds like the best kind of camping. I’ll take my s’mores bar a la mode.
I will sort of camp all the way to Timbuktu if it means these bars. omgggg.
I like your style of camping girl! Um, also, those bars..BONKERS!
That sounds like my kind of camping, even though I would like to do the tent thing to try it out. I haven’t slept in a tent since I was in my teens.
Ali, I will go camping with you any day!! :) Love these bars!
As long as you bring these bars, I’m all set to go camping!!
I love to go camping and would love to have these treats while I am there.
That is totally my kind of camping! But these treats..oh my goodness, crazy insane deliciousness!
Oh yum! I have a smores bar recipe, that is just like a rice krispy with chocolate and golden grahams. Your version looks even more delicious. I love smores!
You’re “sort of” s’mores look better than regular s’mores! I just want to dive in.
Ohhh boy. Guess I’ll have to make smores bars now. Darn. ;)
I love Clinton lake!! I’m so glad you had a great weekend camping. And I heart you big time for making these. Seriously, drooling!!!
yes, yes, 1000x yes! I’m so glad you enjoyed your camping weekend, Ali! I haven’t been camping in about 2 years. But I am no stranger to s’mores! Perfection!
I might have to plan a camping (or sort-of camping :)) trip just to make and eat these bars! SO MUCH YUM.
These look absolutely heavenly!! I think sort of camping is my type of activity. I used to camp for real when I was younger, but I’m not sure I am up for it now!
Sort-of camping is my kind of camping. Love these bars!
I don’t camp and I hate eating messy food, so I LOVE the idea of a s’mores bar! yum.
I could go for a s’mores bar sundae right now! Love all of the chocolate you packed into these!
So, so incredibly tasty looking, and gave me an immediate craving for s’mores. And, strangely- Golden Grahams, which I think I have never actually craved in my life, haha!
These are just absolutely fantastic. A great spin to s’mores!
These are so pretty! Love the creativity!
The choco-holic in me is kind of freaking out right now! These look incredible, Ali!
Gimme Gimme Gimme!!!!
I need some sort-of-s’mores too! Like RIGHT sort-of-now!
These look so delicious and beautiful!! Home run Ali!
Gahhhhhh!!! These are incredible, Ali!
Ali they’re so pretty and eye-catching! Love golden grahams and smores! I have a recipe for GG Smores from a few years ago and have a new Smores recipe coming this weekend. Your bars are gorgeous and so photogenic :) Beautifulllll pics!
Wow Ali, these bars look just amazing. So totally wonderful and over the top!
Girlfriend you are speaking my language!!
Has anyone tried freezing these bars?
Not a camper at all… but this might just make me one… Yummy!!!! Will make these on Sunday for a BBQ so sort of like camping…
That sounds like the perfect sort-of camping trip, and I know my family would dig these sort-of s’mores.
Love these, Ali! When Golden Grahams first came on the market, I made RKTs with them and added Cocoa Puffs and chocolate chips. This brings back those memories. Fabulous recipe, girl! Already pinned!
These look lovely, Ali! NOM.
These look too good to be true! Perfect for camping, or pretend camping :)
Just made these for the first time today. A new tray bake for Northern Ireland and went down a storm with my American work mates. A taste of home!!!! Will be made again I can tell you.
I made these and they are so good, but for some reason my brownies crumble instead of…you know…stay solid. Did I perhaps cook them too long?
Thank you so much for sharing!!!
I think my heart just stopped…this is incredible!
What about the mini chocolate chips? I did not see when to add them.
Hi Maureen,
There are actually no mini chocolate chips in this recipe. Just the chocolate in the brownies and the drizzle and bars on top. :)
~Ali
I am salivating here! S’mores are good with or without a tent and campfire. Need to try this version!!
I am so going to make this for Easter dinner’s dessert!
The first I tried this, th marshmallow caught on fire
Just made them tonight. I need to store them for a day. What’s the best way?
Awesome Karen, we hope you enjoy them! You can store them in a container at room temp, or in your fridge if you prefer. Either would be fine!
Hi Ali! I am making these today to bring up north but likely won’t be eating for a day or two. Would you recommend heating up or just eating from the pan “cold” ?!
Hi Ryan! We’d recommend heating these up if you can!
Hi there!
I am trying to simplify this recipe and I was wondering if I could just use brownie mix out of a box instead of making them myself? If so, would you use a whole box or half?!
Thanks so much!
Maria
Hi Maria, you definitely could do that! We haven’t tried this, so we can’t say for sure, but we think one box should work. We hope you enjoy these! :)
The ultimate best recipe ever. I made it for my co-workers, and they all loved it! Like a brownie bought in a fancy bakery. I bake all the time, but this time..I surprised myself. I don’t even own a microwave.