S'MORES BARS

to redeem my baking skills (my last attempt at pumpkin bars turned into a sheet cake??), i decided i needed to try making another bar. so, on my weekly peruse of TasteSpotting, i was greeted by a decadent image of s'mores bars. the minute i laid eyes on them, i knew i had to make them. for awhile now, i've been craving that gooey, melted chocolate, perfectly toasted marshmallow, crisp, slightly sweet graham cracker goodness and this recipe was not only the easiest thing you'll put together, but it was just what i needed to satisfy the craving.

S'MORES BARS

posted on real mom kitchen on july 17, 2010 (originally posted on cooking with my kid on june 21, 2010 by rebecca & gus)

• 1 stick of butter (1/2 c), room temperature
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 c all-purpose flour
• 3/4 c graham cracker crumbs (about 7 full-sized graham cracker sheets, processed until fine)
• 1 t baking powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 4.4 oz. milk chocolate bars
• 1 1/2 c marshmallow creme/fluff (1 jar)

preheat oven to 350°F. grease an 8-inch square baking pan (per rmk, i lined it with foil first, then greased to remove easily). use an electric mixer to cream together butter and brown & white sugars until light and fluffy.

beat in egg and vanilla. set aside.

whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt.

slowly add flour mixture to creamed butter mixture 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 (the 2 bars should fit perfectly side by side).

spread chocolate with marshmallow creme.

place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and layering them together). **i, clearly, did not take the suggestion

bake for 30 - 35 minutes, until lightly browned. cool completely before cutting into bars (about 1 1/2 hours).

my yummy tip: if you don't have a food processor to crush the graham crackers into crumbs, use a blender. if you don't have either, place in a plastic storage bag and go buck-wild!