Recipe

These S'mores Bars Are the Treat That Will Get You Through Midterms

By Anna Zarov at Washington University in St. Louis

Over the past few years, s'mores bars (any combo of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker) have skyrocketed in popularity. They've been featured everywhere from cooking shows to bakery windows—and even on fancy restaurants' dessert menus. The most exciting part about them, though, is that no two s'mores bars are exactly the same. Some use chocolate bars, while others use brownies; some are layered, while others are a conglomeration of all the ingredients in one.

Recently, I have perfected my own take on the s'mores bar (complete with three tasty layers), so I thought I'd share the wealth. This recipe is easy enough to make in a dorm kitchen, and provides you with enough servings to feed all your neighbors.

S'mores Bars

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 32 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 2 mins
  • Servings: 24
Ingredients
  • 12 graham crackers
  • 2 1/4 sticks salted butter
  • 2 cups + 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 12-oz bag semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 10-oz bag mini marshmallows

Gabrielle Altman

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9-in x 13-in pan with Pam or another cooking spray.

#SpoonTip: Use a disposable pan, or line your pan with non-stick tin foil. Otherwise, the marshmallows will create a sticky mess.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 2

In a medium bowl, crush graham crackers into fine crumbs.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 3

Completely melt 6 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. Add the melted butter, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt to the graham cracker crumbs.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 4

Mix the bowl contents evenly, so that the crust sticks to itself. Pack the crust into the bottom of the pan.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 5

Melt the chocolate chips and the remaining 12 ounces of butter on the stovetop at a very low heat. Be patient, and stir constantly to avoid burning the chocolate.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 6

Once the chocolate-butter mixture is fully melted, remove it from the heat of the stove. Add eggs, remaining sugar, and vanilla, and stir.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 7

Add the flour, stirring gently to make sure all flour is mixed in.

#SpoonTip: Too much mixing will make the batter very tough, so go easy.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 8

Pour brownie batter over the crust in the pan, making sure to spread evenly.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 9

Put the pan in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until brownies are fully cooked.

#SpoonTip: To test if they're cooked, insert the tip of a fork into the brownies. If it comes out clean, you're good to go.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 10

Allow the crust and brownies to fully cool. This may take about 20 minutes.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 11

Spread the marshmallows evenly over the brownies. Set the oven to broil at 500ºF.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 12

Put the pan in the oven on broil for about one minute. Carefully watch as the marshmallows brown because it does not take long for them to burn.

Gabrielle Altman

Step 13

That's it! Remove the pan from the oven, and let your bars cool before cutting into them. Enjoy!

Gabrielle Altman

With just a few ingredients and access to a stovetop and oven, you can make these foolproof, delicious s'mores bars that will satisfy everyone in your squad. If you're feeling creative, try out your own variation on this trendy treat—maybe by adding in some caramel, peanut butter, or Nutella. Regardless, these bars will be the perfect sweet treat for getting you and your friends through the seemingly endless midterms period.