S’mores Cookie Bars

I first saw this recipe around Christmas time at Lovin’ from the Oven.  They looked so gooey and delicious that I knew I’d be trying them myself.  I took this picture as soon as they came out of the oven, because I was totally enamored at how the marshmallow fluff puffed up so much in the oven.  The only thing missing when you bite into one of these bars is the campfire.  It’s a good thing one batch only makes an 8×8″ baking pan, because these are hard to resist.   (Dani, you are going to dig these!)

I made really minor changes to the original recipe.  First, I didn’t measure the marshmallow fluff – I just used a 7 oz. jar.  I made it easier to spread in the pan by dusting my hands with powdered sugar and then patting it out onto the chocolate bars.  After all this, what’s a little more sugar??  I also substituted 1/2 c. of whole wheat flour for some of the all-purpose flour the recipe called for.  It made for a denser bar, I’m sure.  Totally delicious though.

Recipe:  S’mores Cookie Bars

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour  I used 1/2 c. whole wheat flour and 1/2 c. + 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 king-sized milk chocolate bars   Definitely giant Hershey bars – wouldn’t be a s’more w/o them!

1 1/2 cups marshmallow fluff (not melted marshmallows)  I used a 7 oz. jar of marshmallow fluff

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.  In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.

Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff.  **I dusted my hands and with powdered sugar and used my hands to spread the fluff onto he candy bars.  It was way easier than trying to use a spatula!** Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together).

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.  Makes 16 squares.