Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 7–8 full sheets)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 package (9-12 count) Ghost Peeps marshmallows
Instructions
- Preparation and Preheating: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on the sides. This will make it much easier to lift the bars out once they have cooled. Lightly spray the parchment with non-stick cooking spray.
- Creaming the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating again until well combined.
- Mixing the Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet butter mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix, or the bars will become tough.
- Layering the Base: Divide the dough into two roughly equal portions. Press one half of the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. This forms the bottom crust of your s’mores bars.
- Adding the Chocolate: Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the bottom layer of dough. If you prefer a more solid chocolate layer, you can use thin chocolate bars (like Hershey’s) instead of chips.
- Topping with Dough: Take the remaining dough and flatten small pieces with your hands, placing them over the chocolate layer. It is okay if there are small gaps where the chocolate shows through; the dough will spread slightly as it bakes.
- Initial Baking: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. The edges should be starting to turn a light golden brown, and the center should look set but still slightly soft.
- Adding the Ghost Peeps: Remove the pan from the oven. Arrange the Ghost Peeps evenly across the top of the bars. Return the pan to the oven for another 3 to 5 minutes. Watch closely! You want the Peeps to get warm and slightly puffed, but if you bake them too long, their faces might melt off.
- Cooling and Slicing: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before attempting to slice them. This ensures the chocolate has set and the marshmallow ghosts stay in place. Once cool, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and cut into squares.
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian