A Southern Grace: gimme s'more or gimme...

August 18, 2008

gimme s'more or gimme...

Yum

...anything else, really.


I'm sorry. I don't like s'mores. I love each component separately (especially ooey, charred, wood-flavored marshmallows), but together they create a sloppy, difficult-to-enjoy dessert.

S'more bars, on the other hand, make my complaints irrelevant--the mess factor is completely gone. The brittle graham cracker that always breaks and usually fails to keep a s'more together is reduced to crumbs. The slab of chocolate is nicely ensconced in those crumbs. The marshmallow, although not charred or wood-flavored, is contained but still gooey and delicious. Wonderful.


(peekaboo!)

The graham cracker crumbs that I ultimately used came from a sample of chocolate graham cookies that I got from work (hooray for perks!). I used toasted coconut marshmallows because a)that's all I had, b)I love coconut, and c)obviously, the "toasted" part would lend itself to a more authentic s'more experience.


Finally, and most importantly, the chocolate I used (in combination with some semi-sweet chocolate chips) was the last of my Amano stash. It was their Cuyagua bar, said to have notes of spice and melon. Oops--maybe not the most appropriate for this dessert, but nevertheless decadent and intoxicating.


In order to correctly enjoy these bars, they really should be eaten immediately, while the marshmallows and the chocolate are still slightly melted. I guess the microwave could be used in a pinch, since eating an entire batch at once probably wouldn't end well for anyone (unless there was a money prize involved).


Coconut S’more Bars
(adapted from this recipe)

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs, divided
1/4 cup sugar
8 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
12 ounces chocolate, whichever degree of darkness floats your boat
approximately 20 large coconut marshmallows, halved

Put 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted butter in a 11 x 9-inch baking dish. Using a fork or your fingers, mix well and then press into the dish. Bake at 350°F for 7 minutes or until it begins to brown on the edges.
Distribute the chocolate evenly across the surface of the crust. Put the dish back into the oven for 5 minutes or until the chocolate has melted enough to be evenly spread across the crust.
Once the chocolate is spread, add enough marshmallows to cover the chocolate. Put the dish back in the oven and allow it to cook for 5 minutes or until the marshmallows puff up and turn golden brown on the edges.
Remove the dish from the oven and spread the marshmallows so they evenly cover the surface. Combine 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs in a bowl and sprinkle mixture across the surface. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown, bubbly, gooey, and irresistible.

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMFG Grace. Will you adopt me? I promise I'll do the dishes. YUM!

Anonymous said...

I agree with you about s'more cookies. i love the parts, but the eating of it....all breaking and goozing...not so much. This looks amazing!! And you could just make a couple of small ramekins, or however much you wanted. Needed. Wanted.

When I saw the first photo in my aggregator, I couldn't quite tell what it was, but I could tell I wanted it. Real bad. I wonder what that says about me. :) Luscious as always, Grace!

Bunny said...

You had me with melting cococnut marshmallows over chocolate Grace!! This looks awesome!

Pamela said...

I love roasting marshmallows, and of course, I love chocolate. But I've never really been a huge fan of the campfire S'more. These bars, however, I would really like to try.
They look amazing.

Albany Jane said...

Another plus is that you don't have to break out the lighter and firewood!

Lore said...

I've never tried s'mores Grace but these bars look ever so yummy! I could eat at least half a batch :D

OhioMom said...

Oh I think the coconut marshmallows was a good choice for this yummy cookie bar. I am drooling here :)

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

I'm not usually a fan of marshmallow desserts but yours looks so inviting. I always want to lick your photos..haha

Anonymous said...

Oh my! Those look so yummy and now my coffee is sitting here feeling so lonely...

Like someone suggested, perhaps you could make these in ramekins and bake them as needed. Or perhaps use a blowtorch to remelt the marshmallow. Or I could just be dedicated and eat the whole thing while it's at its best!

I agree that smores are awfully messy but they're so good I still put up the mess.

Marilyn said...

Looks delicious, Grace. My pal Joanne (from The Box House blog) always says the blog world has a hive mind, and it's true; I have a s'mores post coming up soon. I do mine as a tart, which also helps do away with the mess. But these sorely tempt me to make bars. Yum!

Sharon said...

Grace, you don't like s'mores?!! Well, I suppose I can forgive you this once because the bars you make are equally, if not more tempting.

Mary said...

These smores bars look totally yummy!
I think I'm going to bookmark them!

Pam said...

My sister is the biggest s'more fan I know... I'll send her your recipe because she will love it. Nice photo!

April was in CA now MA said...

Woooooo, mercy! Oooey, gooooey goodnes gracious those look great.

Anonymous said...

I'm lusting for this.
I do love a good s'more, and this is perfect when there are no skewers or an open flame handy! ;)

Anonymous said...

this looks awesome. i'm going to have to bookmark the recipe to make with my sister next time we're together...minus the coconut part, since she's not a huge fan.

Anonymous said...

That looks really good Grace! But can you believe that I've never tried Smores before in my life? Must rectify that situation immediately with these...

Anonymous said...

Oh geez this look fantastic! Wow, another winning recipe...Gawd that drippy chocolate...ridiculous.

kat said...

oH man how decadent!

Lucy..♥ said...

Ooooh Grace you had me at "gimme s'more" OMG!! they look absolutely yummEEEE!

Marjie said...

Chocolate? Graham Crackers? Who could ask for more? Marshmallow to boot? A little slice of heaven, without the campfire mess...

Ann said...

I love it, I love it ALL. Smores the regular way, ingredients on their own, and THESE BARS. I'll take it all off your hands.

The Blonde Duck said...

I think I'm in love. Add a dash of peanut butter and I'd marry it.

Suze said...

um..wow! I'm not a smores fan either..well..I say I'm not..honestly I've NEVER had one...
but I'd be more than willing to try those...repeatedly.
Coconut marshmellows?? yes please!

Anonymous said...

oh ah uh oh ah.... sorry at the moment that was all i could get out.... these look fantabulous. Must try. Must eat. Must try and share. Thanks Grace for this recipe!!!

pam said...

After the stressful day at work that I had, I cannot begin to tell you how much I wish I had some of this right now!!!

Deborah said...

I like regular s'mores, but I bet I'd love this version even more!!

La Bella Cooks said...

This is on the Atkins diet, right? Ha Ha. Ugh, this looks decadent.

Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer said...

Come on Grace are you kidding me!! Off the charts sister. WOW this looks so great no wonder I can't get my skinny jeans on right now it is because of people like you!! I say this with love and respect ;)

giz said...

The bars - oh yeah - a total home run. I've always been kind of on the quiet side about my distain for smores because I really hated the sticky messy eating of them. The kids all love em so what the heck do I know???

Anonymous said...

I'm scared! I have all the ingredients sitting in my cupboard. But I wouldn't dare make these, I would eat the whole pan...but then again...

Anonymous said...

That first photo is so drool-worthy. What a fantastic dessert, and so simple too! I love this.

Paula said...

Those photos ... especially the one with the melted chocolate ... Wow! My husband would be in absolute s'more heaven. The man loves chocolate. And marshmallows. And graham crackers. Eating them immediately would not be a problem for him. When should I send him over?

Anonymous said...

Wow Grace, I adore coconut and you! I learned to make s'mores when I was a girl scout. Thanks for a recipe to make these without starting a campfire.

Katie said...

Yum Yum. I love smores you are making me wish I went camping this year!

Thistlemoon said...

That looks awesome! I do like s'mores a lot, but I think this is way better! Genius in fact.

LyB said...

Melted marshmallows are one of my favorite things. These look sinful Grace! :)

Elle said...

droooool....I love s'mores, especially with burnt marshmallows. but they're messy. These, I could gladly enjoy!

Lisa said...

You had me... right down to the coconut part! Although it is almost un-southern of me, I just can't deal with shredded coconut. Of course that is easy enough to fix. Beyond that detail, these bars look amazing!

sara angel said...

I love s'mores! I'm the only one in my family who does though :( I will have to make these for a different crowd then I guess because I can't just pass these up :]

eatme_delicious said...

Drool drool drool - smore bars!! Oh wow. And what's with this Amano chocolate?? I just finished reading another post about it. I've got to find it.

test it comm said...

Those look good!

Jaime said...

mmmm i love the idea of a smores bar! great use of your amano chocolate...i'm still thinking up ideas for my last bit of amano...

Anonymous said...

Grace- these look incredible. I read this yesterday, and then found myself thinking about them today on my train ride home (of all places) meaning that these must be tried!

Peabody said...

Oh my this looks like all sorts of yum.

Chef Jeena said...

This is just amazing! Can I have seconds?

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

These look amazing Grace. I am drooling over here :P I would love to make these, but I am still on the lookout for veggie marshmallows. I know they are available in the US, but I haven't seen them here yet *sigh*

Jeanne said...

No idea what S'mores are (other than a sweet confection!) but your creation looks completely decadent...

Honeyed Hashette said...

YUM YUM YUM! Sign me up for a batch please! These look awesome. :)

My Sweet & Saucy said...

Love the addition of coconut! The bars look great!

Gloria Baker said...

I like this soooo!!! Gloria

Lori said...

I agree too about the smores. UnGodly sweet. I love each component but together they are just too sweet.

These look luscious!

Sophie said...

Wow! I didn't think s'mores could get any better...how dreamy! :) Mighty delicious chocolate you used there, too!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the recipe. Your opening line cracked me up. How could anyone not like smores?

Anonymous said...

whooo, that picture of the melting chocolate is amazing! Now I cheated and read the other post about the happy accident first, but hot out of the oven this looks fabuloso grace!

test it comm said...

It has been a long time since I last had a smor and these coconut smores sound good.