I've been on a diet for months now. Sugar is not allowed. Because of this, I spend a lot of time thinking about desserts and what I would eat if I could. Pitiful, I know. Yesterday we were invited to a Labor Day BBQ/swim party and Sage and I were excited for an excuse to bake! We leafed through cookbooks and all the yummy recipes I have saved for 'someday'. And finally just made up a recipe of our own. I can't believe I have never thought of making something like this before. It was too perfect. I think we'll call it S'more Bars (wow, that's really unoriginal... is that even a word?).
I didn't know how tasty they would be or I would have taken more and better step by step pictures. I wish my pictures were scratch n' sniff! Oooh or maybe scratch n' TASTE!! Now I'm on to something!
S'more Bars
1 Box Brownie Mix (Prepare batter as directed)
1 Jar Marshmallow Creme (Or just a bag of marshmallows! I think we'll use them next time)
1 Sleeve Graham Crackers
1 1/4 Sticks of Butter (melted)
6 Tablespoons Sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Put the graham crackers in a big ziploc bag and roll/smash with a rolling pin or in a food processor and make them nice and crumbly. Pour the crumbs into a 9x13" pan. Pour the melted butter over the crumbs and mix until evenly coated and (dare I say it, Shannon??!) moist. Doesn't that word just give you the heebie jeebies??! Anyway, then you press the crumb/butter mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Prepare you brownie mix as directed on the box and pour the batter over the graham cracker crumbs. Looking good! Put it in the oven and bake according to the brownie mix directions. I think we baked ours for about 25 minutes... ?? But I can't remember, so check your box. Meanwhile, I scooped out the marshmallow creme into a bowl and added a little water and stirred (to make it thinner... but these brownies will not make you thinner!). I just got it thin and pourable. When the brownies were done and a fork (because I don't have any toothpicks!) comes out clean about an inch from the edge of the pan, I put them on the cooling rack for about 5 minutes. Pour and spread the marshmallow creme over the top of the brownies and admire your 3 layers from the side. pretty :) Turn on the broiler and put the pan back in the oven with the oven door cracked open so you can watch carefully (they will brown quickly). Just wait about 30 seconds to a minute until you're reminded of sitting around the campfire and the marshmallows are nice and lightly browned (don't wait until they turn into flame throwers like I always do at a bonfire!) Take them out and back to the cooling rack. If you want to use marshmallows instead of the creme, just pour them over the baked brownies and brown them under the broiler. Note: I lowered my top oven rack to the middle of the oven to broil these, otherwise I think they would have burned.
If you're living without sugar, like I am, I wouldn't recommend making these! They are very hard to resist. But if not, please enjoy them for the rest of us (um, me... ) !!
When I took them out of the oven, the marshmallow layer was perfect, but within a couple minutes it had shrunk so it wasn't as pretty anymore. With actual marshmallows it wouldn't do this and it would be gorgeous!
Side view of the layers of yumminess
There are only 3 left. Photo opportunity pickings were slim... but I think this one looks tasty! Enjoy!! Let me know what you think!
