The Best S'mores Bars Recipe

Two weeks ago, Oliver came home from a sleepover absolutely raving about these s'mores bars his friend's mom made for their indoor camping night. "Mom, they taste just like real s'mores but you don't need a campfire!" he explained, practically bouncing with excitement. After listening to him describe them in detail for the third time, I knew I had to figure out how to make them. What started as trying to recreate a sleepover treat has become our new favorite dessert that brings all the nostalgia of summer camp right into our kitchen.

Indoor S’mores Bars bring the nostalgic flavors of campfire s’mores—graham crackers, melty chocolate, and toasted marshmallows—into your kitchen. They're less messy, easy to make, and perfect for parties, bake sales, or rainy day fun.

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Why You'll Love These S'mores Bars

Making s'mores bars has become our rainy day activity when Oliver's friends come over and we can't have a real campfire. There's something great about watching kids' faces light up when they realize they can have s'mores indoors without any of the fuss. These bars give you all that gooey, chocolatey goodness without having to worry about finding the right roasting stick or dealing with burnt marshmallows. Plus, they're way less messy than traditional s'mores - no sticky fingers or chocolate smeared on clothes.

What I love most is how these bring back so many childhood memories while creating new ones with Oliver. Every time we make them, he tells me about his latest camping adventures or asks me to share stories about the s'mores I made when I was his age. These bars are also great for parties because you can cut them into neat squares instead of trying to juggle graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows for a crowd. I've brought them to school bake sales, birthday parties, and family gatherings, and they always disappear first. The best part? You can make a whole pan in the time it would take to roast marshmallows for just a few people around a campfire.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These S'mores Bars
• Ingredients For S'mores Bars
• Step by Step Method
• S'mores Bar Variations
• Storage Tips
• Equipment For S'mores Bars
• Substitutions
• Top Tip
• My Mother's Secret Worth Sharing
• FAQ
• Time for S'mores Magic!
• Related
• Pairing
• S'mores Bars

Ingredients For S'mores Bars

The Graham Cracker Base:

• Graham crackers
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Pinch of salt

The Chocolate Layer:

• Hershey's chocolate bars
• Chocolate chips
• Heavy cream
• Vanilla extract

The Marshmallow Top:

• Mini marshmallows
• Large marshmallows

See recipe card for quantities.

Step by Step Method

Make the Graham Crust:

• Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs
• Mix with melted butter and brown sugar
• Press firmly into lined baking pan
• Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes

Create the Chocolate Layer:

• Melt chocolate bars and chips together
• Stir in heavy cream until smooth
• Add vanilla extract
• Pour over warm crust and spread evenly

Add the Marshmallow Top:

• Sprinkle mini marshmallows over chocolate
• Add some larger marshmallows for variety
• Bake 5-7 minutes until golden
• Cool completely before cutting

Final Touch:

• Let bars set for at least 2 hours
• Cut with sharp knife
• Serve at room temperature

S'mores Bar Variations

Oliver and his friends have helped me test so many fun twists on these over the years:

Peanut Butter Explosion:

• Add peanut butter to chocolate layer
• Crush peanut butter cookies in crust
• Top with Reese's pieces
• Drizzle with melted peanut butter

Cookies and Cream:

• Mix crushed Oreos in crust
• Use white chocolate layer
• Add chocolate cookie crumbs on top
• Mini marshmallows for texture

Salted Caramel Dream:

• Drizzle caramel over chocolate
• Sprinkle sea salt on marshmallows
• Add caramel bits throughout
• Extra golden browning on top

Birthday Cake Style:

• Add sprinkles to crust
• Use vanilla chocolate layer
• Colorful mini marshmallows
• Birthday cake crumb topping

Storage Tips

Room Temperature (3-4 days):

• Store in airtight container
• Layer between parchment paper
• Keep away from heat and sunlight
• Don't refrigerate unless very hot weather

Longer Storage (1 week):

• Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap
• Store in sealed container
• Refrigerate if marshmallows get too soft
• Bring to room temperature before serving

Freezing (2-3 months):

• Wrap bars individually in foil
• Place in freezer bags
• Thaw overnight in fridge
• Label with date

Equipment For S'mores Bars

• 9x13 inch baking pan
• Parchment paper or foil
• Food processor
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups

Substitutions

From making these for kids with different dietary needs, here are substitutions that work great:

Crust Options:

• Graham crackers → Digestive biscuits
• Regular → Gluten-free graham crackers
• Traditional → Crushed vanilla wafers

Chocolate Switches:

• Hershey's bars → Dark chocolate
• Milk chocolate → Semi-sweet chips
• Regular → Dairy-free chocolate

Marshmallow Alternatives:

• Mini marshmallows → Marshmallow fluff
• Regular → Vegan marshmallows
• Traditional → Homemade marshmallows

Butter Swaps:

• Regular butter → Coconut oil
• Dairy → Plant-based butter
• Salted → Unsalted (add pinch of salt)

My Mother's Secret Worth Sharing

My mother had a trick with s'mores bars that she learned from her own camping days in the 1970s. Instead of just melting the chocolate straight, she would toast the marshmallows first in the oven until they got those beautiful golden edges, then fold half of them right into the melted chocolate layer. "You want that smoky flavor in every layer, not just on top," she'd explain while carefully stirring the puffy marshmallows into the warm chocolate. But her real secret was what she did with the graham crackers. She would save a handful of the crushed crackers and mix them into the chocolate-marshmallow layer too, creating these little pockets of crunch throughout the S'mores Bars.

The best part of Mom's method was how the pre-toasted marshmallows created this beautiful marbled effect in the chocolate layer. Some spots were light and fluffy, others were rich and dark, and it looked like something you'd see in a fancy bakery. It meant every bite had that mix of textures - smooth chocolate, chewy marshmallows, and those satisfying crunchy bits that reminded you of sitting around a real campfire. Oliver loves helping me recreate her technique, and he always gets so proud when the S'mores Bars come out looking just like Grandma's used to. Sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.

FAQ

Time for S'mores Magic!

Now you have all the secrets to creating s'mores bars that taste just like summer camp but can be made any time of year. From Mom's trick with the pre-toasted marshmallows to our "recycled chocolate" discovery, these bars are going to become your new favorite way to satisfy those campfire cravings. Oliver and I have made these so many times that he can practically make them by himself now, and watching him teach his friends the technique never gets old. There's something really special about seeing a seven-year-old get so excited about sharing his cooking knowledge with other kids.

Looking for more crowd-pleasing treats that bring families together? Try our Healthy Red Velvet Brownies Recipe that satisfies chocolate cravings without the guilt - great for when you want dessert but don't want to feel terrible afterward. Our Easy Baked Beans Recipe Ready in 30 minutes is good for backyard barbecues and pairs surprisingly well with these sweet bars for contrast. Or whip up our Easy Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes Recipe that's become our go-to for birthday celebrations and spring gatherings!

Share your s'mores bar success! We love seeing your family's takes on this classic treat, and Oliver gets so excited when other families post pictures of their creations. He's started a little collection of photos that people send us, and he proudly shows them to anyone who will listen. There's nothing quite like seeing kids get excited about cooking and sharing recipes with each other.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rate this S'mores Bars and join our dessert-loving community! We're always sharing new tips, answering questions about technique, and celebrating those batches that make all the effort worth it.

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Pairing

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