These S'mores Cookie Bars have all the classic elements of s'mores, but are incredibly easy to make in your oven at home, no matter what time of year!
(This recipe for S'mores Cookie Bars was originally published in July 2011, but was updated with new photos and content in 2018).
Once upon a time, I made s'mores cookies. They were everything I dreamed they would be. But I still wanted more. Needed more.
So, I made s'mores pancakes. Again, they knocked my socks off. But you can only eat so many chocolate and marshmallow drenched pancakes before you start craving plain old classic s'mores again. It's a loop that goes around and around.
These s'mores cookie bars are a little more unique than the average s'more and are so perfect for when you're really craving s'mores, but don't have a campfire and are in the mood to make cookies.
They're my "cookie" of the summer and they've become one of the most requested things I make when it comes to parties and BBQs. Of course, they're a classic summer dessert, but since you don't need a campfire, they're a great winter treat, as well!
S'mores Cookie Bars Recipe
These cookies aren't actually so different from a typical s'mores cookie, aside from one thing. One very important thing. The base of the cookie is made from graham crackers.
It sounds so simple, but it makes for an amazing difference. You'll need to make the chocolate chip marshmallow-packed cookie dough and then line a baking pan with graham cracker squares.
Then place a scoop of cookie dough on top of each graham cracker square.
Pop them in the oven and then when they're partially baked, take them out and press down the Hershey's chocolate pieces.
Remember those little chocolate pieces are called "pips"? Hershey's made a commercial promoting this fact a while back, but I feel like it never took off. I had to Google what they were called and when I saw "pip," the commercial came back to me.
Anyway, then you'll put the cookies back in the oven for 5-7 more minutes. In any normal cookie baking experience, seeing cookies start baking together would be grounds for disaster... You never want your cookies to bake into each other, right??
Except for these s'mores cookie bars. In this case, it's A-OK because you can just split the cookies apart by their individual graham cracker squares.
Hello, s'mores I didn't even need to start a campfire for. Let's be friends.
These are the kind of cookies you'll find yourself craving in the middle of the winter. So, you'll shut your shades and turn the heat up high. You'll put your fuzzy socks on (what? Just me?) and close your eyes as you warm your hands over the flame of your stove (be careful).
Take a bite of your freshly baked s'mores cookie bar and you'll almost, almost feel like you're back in the heat of the summer, sitting with your friends and family around a campfire. Summer all year round.
And that's the magic of food. And a really good heating system. Possibly a gas fireplace, as well.
Oh, and one of my favorite things about these cookies? The cookie is just a tad bit undercooked. It's incredibly soft and has the perfect contrast to the slight crunch of the graham cracker. The marshmallow is gooey and the chocolate is melty. All my favorite things.
If I had more time on my hands, I might just have to start an all s'mores desserts, all the time blog. In the meantime, I'll keep on making these s'mores cookie bars for every single summer BBQ and party I go to. And I don't think I'll be hearing any complaints!
What typically summer food could you eat all year round?
If you like these s'mores cooke bars, be sure to check out my S'mores Pancakes and my S'mores Ice Cream! I'm also in love with these No Bake Mini S'mores Cheesecakes from Sugar Salt Magic!
📖 Recipe
S'mores Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 11 Tbsp (1 stick + 3 Tbsp) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 28 graham cracker squares
- 28 Hershey bar pieces (from about 2.5 1.55-ounce Hershey Bars)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- In the bowl of a mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until blended.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, with the mixer on low speed, until it’s just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows until just combined. Chill the dough in the fridge for at least an hour and up to overnight.
- When ready to bake, pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay graham cracker squares side-by-side. You may need two baking sheets if one is not large enough
- Place a scoop (a little more than 1 Tbsp) of cookie dough in the middle of each graham cracker and press down lightly with your finger. Put them in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and gently place a Hershey’s chocolate piece on top of each cookie.
- Put the cookies back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes, until cookies are just turning golden brown at edges.
- Let cool in pan a about 5 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from Always With Butter
Emily @ A Cambridge Story says
Amazing!! I was going to make smores bars in Maine last weekend but opted for a slightly different twist. These look INSANELY good.
Liz @ IHeartVegetables says
Wow those look amazing! I have to try making these! What a perfect dessert to bring to a picnic 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I would devour these.
Erica says
The graham cracker base is genius. How yummy. I could eat all summer foods year round- especially the fruits!
Corey @ Learning Patience says
AWESOME -- geez i think there is a Smores revolution going on right now - yesterday I saw Smores brownies...I love marshmallows!! They look amazing! xoxo from Trinidad
Daisy says
these look incredible. smores in all forms are pretty amazing.
Emilie says
yea, I'm in love with this and may have to feature it on my own blog when I do the s'mores inspired recipe roundup that I'm planning in the near future. Thanks for sharing.
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
Ooooh the graham cracker base would definitely make a big, delicious difference! I could eat smores anything all year round too - and ice cream!
Wicked Domestic says
I need to make these asap! They sound amazing!!
Mal @ The Chic Geek says
Oh holy crap, these look so good.
Erica @ In and Around Town says
Those look great! I always aim to have my cookies just underdone - such an amazing consistency 🙂
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I've been wanting to make these and haven't had the chance. I don't think I can wait any longer, though!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
These look absolutely delicious! RecipeBoy made a very different version of them recently. I'm all for anything S'Mores!! Can't believe we didn't have a chance to chat at the conf the other day. I had to book out of there when all ended 🙁
Maria says
These look so tasty! What a fun treat!
Liz @ Blog is the New Black says
I obvi love anything s'mores! YUM!
Maggie says
These look delicious! And I love how you posted a picture of the finished recipe at the top of the post, I always hoped you would do that.
Michelle says
These look super creative! I love s'mores martinis too 🙂
Maureen says
This is so perfect! I trued to make S'Mores cookies and had no luck. They all stuck to everything and were a complete disaster! I can't wait to give these a shot.
Sues says
@Maggie- Thanks! We actually just learned it's good for SEO post the photo first... But we had been thinking about it anyway, so readers don't have to scroll all the way down to see the final product 🙂
Marissa Sertich says
These look like they taste incredible! I am always looking for reinterpretations of the classic s'more!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
some more s'mores, please!
emily @ the happy home says
oh my GOODNESS.
Kelly says
YUMM! These look amazing! I've been a s'more kick myself so, I'll have to make these at some point very soon!
Jenn's Food Journey says
Oh my goodness do those look so incredibly tasty!!! YUM!
Juliana says
Oh! These bars look fabulous, absolutely love it!
Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂
Cooking with Coley says
Wow those shouldn't even be legal.
Alicia@ eco friendly hmemaking says
Now this just look awesome!!
Samantha says
I'm drooling just looking at these.
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
these look sensational! I love that they all bake together into a delicious mass!
Kirsten Wideman says
These were amazing and perfect way to end our weekend barbecue, I used 60% dark chocolate instead of Hersey's and Reece's Peanut Butter Cup too. Both got rave reviews!!! Thanks 🙂
Diane says
OMG, I just made these cookies for a cookout tomorrow night and they are AWESOME!!!!! The recipe was very easy and could see how you could easily tweak the flavors. Thanks for this recipe!!!!
Rachel says
Just made a batch of these exactly according to your recipe. Haven't eaten a whole one yet, but the smell is incredible and they look AMAZING!!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!
Aly says
Clever idea! I like how they are each on a cracker. 🙂
Michele Hall says
You are brilliant! I totally agree that the cookie being slightly underbaked totally makes this melt in your mouth amazeballs! We LOVED this ... especially my 6 year old who had so much fun with doing it all by herself!
Jenn says
These are SO totally EPIC!!!! Love this super simple twist on S'mores!
KC says
How do the mallows melt like that? mine did not. great recipe!!!
Sues says
@KC- I'm not 100% sure why you had that issue, but I know marshmallows can be a bit finicky. It's odd they didn't melt but just burned... Did you chill the dough before baking? Maybe try baking these at 350 degrees instead of 375 for a couple more minutes? I've also seen some people say they freeze their marshmallows before adding to the batter, but since this dough is chilled, I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make. I usually use Kraft marshmallows; I know they can vary a bit brand to brand!