When I get home from the grocery store, I empty all of my bags and organize things into piles according to where they go (fridge, freezer, upstairs pantry, basement pantry). The upstairs pantry is just a tiny cabinet in our dining room where I try to store the stuff we’ll use in the next week along with the most frequently utilized staples (peanut butter and brown sugar, for example). That cabinet has been driving me crazy lately though because it also seems to be the place where half-empty jars of “stuff” accumulate. I could have banished them to the basement pantry (which is really just a few wire racks in the unfinished half of our basement) but the odds I’d remember to use them before they went bad were slim to none.
So, instead, I made it my mission to find ways to use these miscellaneous ingredients and clear some space asap. First up was a partial jar of fluff, leftover from the oatmeal creme pies project. I really had no idea what I was going to do with it until I also came across a package of Hershey Bars in the basement. I was convinced there had to be a way to turn them into some variation on s’mores, and I found one π
I have a ton of s’mores treats on the blog, but these are definitely the easiest! The only thing you have to make is the base, which is a simple cookie dough that incorporates graham cracker crumbs. This “crust” is covered with whole chocolate bars and then a layer of marshmallow creme, and finally some of the reserved crust mixture crumbled over the top. In the oven, the cookie base stays soft and chewy while the fluff puffs and becomes more marshmallow-like in texture. And surprisingly, the chocolate bars don’t melt into a giant puddle! I absolutely loved these, and I wasn’t alone – they were met with rave reviews at Shane’s office too. They’re the perfect little afternoon snack or late-night dessert, and luckily for me, a great way to use up half a jar of fluff. I’d never give up classic campfire s’mores but this portable, less messy version is a very nice substitute!
Super Simple S’mores Bars
adapted from Taste of Home
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (from about 5 whole crackers)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 oz each)
1 cup marshmallow creme
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out afterward. Spray the foil and pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients gradually, beating just until the dough comes together.
Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, reserving 1/2 cup to use for the topping. Gently press the dough into an even layer over the bottom of the pan. Top the crust with the candy bars (you’ll probably have to break them up and shingle them to create a single layer). Spread the marshmallow creme over the chocolate bars. Top with the reserved dough, crumbling over the marshmallow creme.
Bake the bars for about 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. Lift from the pan using the foil “handles” and cut into squares for serving (I found these cut easily if I refrigerated them for a little while first).
Makes 16 bars
Yumm! I love how many s’mores recipes you have on your blog- I LOVE s’mores. Definitely going to try this, it looks soo simple! Thanks for sharing π
yes you do have a ton of smores recipes and I want to make them all! Starting with these…gorgeous!
mmmm i’m a lover of all things s’more. i love that these are easy. sometimes you just want something fabulous NOW. π
Ha, I also have a partially used jar of fluff and had no idea what to do with it. This is a possibility! Looks yummy. π
They look great! I’m always forever trying to organize my pantry and use up half-bottles of things.
I love the thick layer of shortbread and the crumble on top!! These are really easy to make so I have nu excuses, and I have all the ingredients! i love your recipes, the one I have made turned out great!
these look like the perfect bars to have for a snack! i love how mess-free it is than regular s’mores..not bad of a cleanup for sticky hands and such!
These are too awesome, Tracey! I love the classic flavors. You just can’t go wrong with graham crackers, Hershey’s and marshmallows!
Yum! These sound like the perfect summer treat
Mal @ The Chic Geek
oh my gosh yum! These look delicious & easy – yay
These were a great treat, thanks for making them!
This rocks my world! I loooove the look of it.
I love every single s’mores recipe you post. Yum yum! I wish I had a pile of hershey’s bars lying around. Then again I do have a bunch of those Reese’s candy bars. O:-)
I love all kinds of S’mores!
I love how you added a bit more graham cracker crust on the top. It really makes it look like s’mores! Keep the s’mores recipes coming, please!
I can’t beleive it’s almost s’more season (aka SUMMER) but I’ve seen so many s’mores recipes already, it’s blowing my mind. These look awesome, especially the ghramcracker/cookie base. I love the taste of graham crackers π
Love this recipe. I’ve been making the version of this from the Hersheys website for years. So good.
if it has s’mores in it, i love it. and i love how easy these are!
I made a cookie recipe several years ago with graham cracker crumbs in the dough. Then you melted a marshmallow and stuck 2 cookies together. These seem like a similar idea, only easier in bar form. They look great!
I love how easy these are! Sometimes you just need easy in life (and in the kitchen). Definitely saving this one!
Totally making these! I love Smores!
We have a non-existent pantry situation, too, and I hear you on using up half-sies of ingredients. I’ve been on a big decluttering kick in the kitchen (and everywhere else) lately trying to use up a lot of my kitchen clutter. These s’mores bars look shamazing and I’m definitely pinning them so I remember to make them!!!
Could you use marshmallows instead of the creme? I live in Australia and we don’t have things like fluff.
I hate the leftover half jars or boxes of stuff. Great use of the marshmallow fluff. Wish I had some in my pantry right now1
The layer of chocolate looks so good!
I’m in serious need of a pantry cleaning, too. I don’t think the results of my cleaning would be so delicious looking, though. My guess is that it would be some kind of fried chow mein noodle/granola/powdered milk/lasagna. Mmmmm.
These are so perfect for summer! I think I’m going to make them for the kid’s next soccer game.
I have a cabinet like that too but mine is full of bags with 4 1/2 pecans or 2 tablespoons of coconut. It’s like, why did I save that?! Not like I can make anything but I can’t bring myself to throw it away either.
Hi Tracey! I’d like to make these for a friend, only I’d like to incorporate peanut butter. If I add PB to the dough, will I have to adjust the dough recipe elsewhere?
@Colleen – I like the way you think π I was thinking these would be really good with pb too! I’m honestly not 100% sure what changes would need to be made to incorporate the pb into the crust though. I *might* be tempted to google around and see if I could find another pb cookie crust recipe and compare then decide what steps to take. Let me know if you give it a go!
@Lauren – Usually you only want to add marshmallows to the top of something for the last few minutes of baking, so I’m not sure how they’d fare here with 25 minutes of baking. The problem is, I worry if you wait to add them until the end, the chocolate bars are going to melt without anything on top to protect them. Wish I had some advice, but I’m not sure what else you could sub…