S'mores Bars

"The campfire burns. It’s 9:08.

I feel so good cuz I just ate

Two graham crackers, and chocolate, too,

With marshmallow turned to warm, white goo.

A treat indeed, a dripping mess.

A touch of melty joy -- oh yes!

It’s bedtime soon, but I’m not done.

I simply cannot stop at one.

Because, you see, it takes three s’mores

To make a night of happy s’nores."

-Gregory K.

I've always loved S'mores. I guess it's because I was a Girl Scout. I really enjoyed my tenure as one. The camaraderie, the team spirit. There was the time we all went on a field trip to Catalina Island where I got third degree burns from laying on the beach for days with no one to tell me to wear sunscreen. Good times. I don't even remember being sad about the burn. I just remember I had such a good time it was worth it. There were the times at camp, the fun and games. Great friends and greater memories.

Girl Scouts invented S'mores, didn't you know? In 1927 a woman named Loretta Scott Crew wrote in a publication called, "Tramping and Trailing With the Girl Scouts," the first recipe for a S'more. We did indeed make many s'mores during my days as a girl scout. We did not however, do any tramping, I'm happy to report.

These S'more's bars are so delicious. I can't stop eating them. I mean it. If you like S'mores, you will love these bars. They are the perfect treat to bring to a summer party or picnic. Kids and adults will love them. I'm telling you, you will be wanting some more.

S'more's Bars

inspired by this recipe

Ingredients

18 graham crackers (2 packages) (two thirds of a 14.4 oz box) (280 g.) or 2 cups crumbs
2 sticks (1 cup) (230 g.) butter- melted
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3 cups milk chocolate chips (420 g.) (about 15 oz.)
3 1/2 cups (174 g.) (6 oz.) mini marshmallows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, 180 degrees Celsius, Gas Mark 4.

Line a 9x13 pan with heavy duty foil with 4 inches overhang off the sides to create a sling to lift the bars out when they are finished. Don't use parchment like I did, the sides burned under the broiler. Grease the foil.

In a food processor, grind the graham crackers into crumbs. Pour the crumbs into a large bowl and add the salt and melted butter. Mix together, it will resemble wet sand. Add the egg and mix well. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for topping.

Press the rest of the crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden brown.

Let the crust cool for a bit while you melt the chocolate.

Put the chocolate chips in a pan on the stove on medium heat stirring until completely melted. Or microwave the chips on medium power stirring after 2 minutes.

Preheat the broiler.

Spread the melted chocolate chips evenly onto the crust. Sprinkle the marshmallows onto the chocolate pressing them in a bit. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs onto the marshmallows, getting the crumbs in the spaces around the marshmallows.

Place pan 6 inches under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the marshmallows are golden brown. Seriously don't walk away. They will burn in no time.

Refrigerate them until the chocolate hardens slightly, about an hour. Remove the bars with the foil, cut into squares. Serve cold or at room temperature.