Decadent S’more Brownies: The Ultimate Fudgy, Gooey Campfire-Inspired Dessert Recipe
Imagine combining two of the most beloved desserts into one unforgettable treat! These delightful S’more Brownies do just that, offering a perfect blend of rich, fudgy brownies, a crunchy graham cracker crust, and a crown of toasted, gooey marshmallows. It’s the ultimate homage to the classic campfire s’more, reimagined for any occasion and guaranteed to become a new family favorite.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Irresistible S’more Brownies
There’s something inherently magical and nostalgic about s’mores. That quintessential moment when a perfectly toasted marshmallow, still warm and yielding, meets melty chocolate, all embraced by a crisp, buttery graham cracker. It’s a taste that instantly transports you to cozy campfire nights, starlit skies, and cherished memories of togetherness. Now, take that beloved experience and infuse it into a rich, deeply decadent chocolate brownie, and you have these extraordinary S’more Brownies.
This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a celebration of textures and flavors designed to bring joy. We’ve taken the classic s’more, elevated it with a deeply chocolatey, homemade brownie base, and made it effortlessly accessible for any gathering – absolutely no campfire required! The beauty of these S’more Brownies lies in their ability to combine the familiar comfort of a fudgy brownie with the playful, gooey delight of a s’more. Both kids and adults will find these layered treats absolutely irresistible, making them an instant crowd-pleaser for parties, potlucks, family dinners, or simply a delightful homemade indulgence on a quiet evening.
The Anatomy of a Perfect S’more Brownie: A Layer-by-Layer Breakdown
What truly makes these S’more Brownies so exceptional and utterly addictive? It’s the thoughtful and harmonious combination of three distinct, yet perfectly complementary, layers. Each component contributes its unique flavor and texture to create a symphony of deliciousness that will have you reaching for just “s’more”!
- The Golden Graham Cracker Crust: This isn’t just a simple base; it’s the crunchy, slightly sweet, and aromatic foundation that anchors the entire dessert. Made from buttery graham cracker crumbs, it provides that essential, nostalgic s’more flavor profile and a delightful textural contrast to the softer layers above. Its gentle crispness is a key element in replicating the classic s’more experience.
- The Fudgy Chocolate Brownie: This is where true chocolate indulgence begins. Our brownie layer is crafted to be dense, intensely chocolatey, and wonderfully fudgy, rather than dry or cakey. It’s packed with rich cocoa flavor and often extra chocolate chips, ensuring a deep chocolatey heart that perfectly balances the sweetness of the other layers. This rich base provides the perfect canvas for the marshmallow topping and complements the graham cracker crust beautifully.
- The Ooey-Gooey Toasted Marshmallow Topping: The crowning glory of these S’more Brownies! A generous blanket of mini marshmallows transforms into a golden, bubbly, caramelized, and incredibly stretchy topping under the broiler. This layer brings the authentic “campfire” experience right into your kitchen, delivering that iconic sticky sweetness and pillowy texture that defines a s’more. The slightly charred bits add another layer of complex flavor that’s simply divine.
Together, these perfectly balanced layers create a dessert that is more than the sum of its parts – it’s an experience, a memory, and a truly unforgettable treat that captures the essence of a s’more in every single decadent bite.
Tips for Baking the Best S’more Brownies
While the recipe is straightforward, a few expert tips can elevate your S’more Brownies from good to absolutely phenomenal:
- Don’t Overmix the Brownie Batter: For fudgy brownies, mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tougher, more cake-like texture rather than the desired dense fudginess.
- Achieve the Perfect Fudginess: As suggested in our FAQ, consider replacing the hot water in the brownie recipe with an equal amount of milk. The added fat from the milk contributes to an even richer, moister, and more tender crumb. Also, pull the brownies from the oven when the edges are set but the very center still looks slightly undercooked. They will continue to set as they cool.
- Watch the Broiler Like a Hawk: This is the most crucial step for the marshmallow topping. Marshmallows go from perfectly golden to burnt in a matter of seconds. Keep your oven door slightly ajar and stand by it, watching constantly. The moment they achieve that beautiful golden-brown puff, pull them out!
- Patience is Key for Cooling: It’s tempting to cut into these gooey delights right out of the oven, but resist the urge! Allowing the brownies to cool completely, preferably for several hours or even overnight, allows all the layers to set properly. This ensures clean, beautiful cuts and prevents the marshmallow from sticking excessively to your knife.
- Grease and Line Your Pan: To make removal and slicing easier, lightly grease your 9×13 inch pan and consider lining it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This creates “handles” to lift the cooled brownies out of the pan, making for effortless slicing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About S’more Brownies
Achieving perfectly moist and fudgy brownies is all about a few key techniques and ingredient choices. Firstly, for this recipe, swapping the hot water for an equal amount of whole milk is highly recommended. Milk contains fat, which significantly contributes to a richer, moister, and more tender crumb compared to water. Secondly, do not overbake your brownies; pulling them out of the oven when the center is still slightly gooey (a toothpick inserted should come out with moist crumbs, not liquid batter) will result in that desired fudgy texture once they cool completely. Using good quality butter and unsweetened cocoa powder also enhances both the deep chocolate flavor and the overall moistness.
The delightful s’more is widely attributed to a Girl Scout leader named Loretta Scott Crew. The first known recipe for “some mores” was published in 1927 in a Girl Scout guide titled “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” The original name, “some mores,” perfectly captured the sentiment of everyone wanting “some more” of the delicious treat after trying just one. It quickly became a beloved campfire staple, bringing joy to generations of campers and dessert lovers alike, eventually being shortened to the more familiar “s’more.”
While you technically can use large marshmallows for the topping, mini marshmallows are highly recommended for S’more Brownies. Mini marshmallows melt and toast much more evenly and quickly, creating a consistent, beautifully golden, and gooey layer across the entire surface of the brownies. Large marshmallows tend to puff up significantly, can be harder to toast evenly without burning, and may create a much thicker and more irregular topping layer, which can also be more difficult to cut cleanly. If mini marshmallows are unavailable, you could try cutting larger marshmallows into smaller pieces, but be aware it might not yield the same smooth, uniform finish.
Yes, S’more Brownies can absolutely be frozen for longer storage, making them a fantastic make-ahead dessert! It’s best to allow them to cool completely at room temperature, then cut them into individual squares. Wrap each square tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, simply unwrap the desired number of brownies and let them come to room temperature for about an hour. If you prefer a warm, extra gooey marshmallow, you can gently microwave a single square for 10-20 seconds. Note that the marshmallow texture might be slightly chewier after freezing and thawing, but still incredibly delicious.
Once completely cooled, store your S’more Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. For extended freshness, especially in warmer climates, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. If refrigerated, allow them to come to room temperature or warm them slightly in the microwave for a few seconds to restore some of that delightful gooeyness, as the marshmallow topping will firm up when cold.
More Irresistible Treats to Satisfy Your Sweet Cravings
Our culinary adventures don’t stop at S’more Brownies! We love exploring new twists on classic desserts and finding innovative ways to bring deliciousness to your table. If you’ve enjoyed these layered chocolatey treats, you’ll definitely want to explore these other must-try recipes from our collection, perfect for any occasion or craving:
- For a surprisingly delightful and incredibly moist treat, don’t miss our Zucchini Brownies. These are so rich and chocolatey, with a wonderfully tender crumb, you’d never guess they contain a hidden vegetable, making them a fantastic (and sneaky) way to enjoy your greens with a sweet twist!
- Simplify your baking with these incredibly easy One Bowl Cocoa Brownies. Perfect for when you need a quick chocolate fix with minimal cleanup, they deliver maximum flavor and that classic brownie satisfaction with minimal fuss.
- Sometimes, you just crave the tried-and-true classics. Our Homemade Chewy Brownies recipe is a timeless favorite, guaranteeing that perfect balance of crisp, slightly crackled edges and a soft, incredibly chewy center every single time.
- If you adore the layered concept and flavors of S’mores Brownies, you’ll equally love our S’more Cookie Bars. These maintain that delightful sandwiched element with a buttery cookie dough base, chocolate, graham crackers, and toasted marshmallows, offering another fantastic and convenient take on the beloved campfire classic.
- Gather your friends and family around a warm, bubbling bowl of our Caramel S’more Dip. This interactive and outrageously delicious dessert is perfect for sharing, served hot with graham crackers, fruit, or pretzels for dipping into a luscious blend of melted chocolate, gooey caramel, and toasted marshmallows.
- For a no-bake wonder that’s light, creamy, and packed with s’mores flavor, try our S’mores Icebox Cake. With layers of crisp graham crackers and luscious marshmallow whipped cream, it’s a refreshing and easy way to enjoy s’mores, especially in warmer weather – pure marshmallow heaven!
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S’more Brownies
Ingredients
- CRUST
- 3 c. graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 c granulated sugar
- 3/4 c unsalted butter melted
- BROWNIES
- 3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 c. unsalted butter melted
- 2 TBSP hot water (or whole milk for extra moistness)
- 1 2/3 c granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 c all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 c. chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
- TOPPING
- 10.5 oz bag of mini marshmallows
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). This ensures even baking from the very beginning.
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Prepare a 9×13 inch baking pan by lightly greasing it. For easy removal and clean slices, you can also line it with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the long sides as “handles.” Set the prepared pan aside.
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In a medium-sized bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and 3/4 cup melted butter for the crust. Stir these ingredients together until they are well combined and the mixture resembles wet sand. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9×13 inch pan. Bake for 12 minutes to set the crust and give it a lightly golden hue.
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While the crust is baking, prepare your rich brownie batter. In a large bowl, combine the unsweetened cocoa powder, the second 3/4 cup of melted butter (for the brownies), 2 tablespoons hot water (or milk for added moisture), 1 2/3 cups sugar, the 2 beaten eggs, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Stir these wet ingredients together until they are just combined and smooth. Next, gradually add the all-purpose flour and baking powder to the wet mixture, mixing until no dry streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix the batter to ensure fudgy brownies. Pour this decadent brownie batter evenly over the pre-baked graham cracker crust and spread gently. Sprinkle the 2 cups of chocolate chips evenly over the brownie layer for an extra burst of chocolate flavor in every bite.
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Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or just until the brownie is set around the edges but the center still looks slightly soft (a toothpick inserted near the center should come out with moist crumbs, not liquid batter). Remove the brownies from the oven and immediately sprinkle the entire 10.5 oz bag of mini marshmallows evenly over the warm top. Place the pan under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, keeping a very close eye on them! Marshmallows can go from perfectly golden to charred in a matter of seconds. You want them to be beautifully golden brown and slightly puffy, not burnt.
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This step is crucial for clean cuts and set layers: Allow the S’more Brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to cut and serve. This will allow all the layers to firm up, making for perfect, delicious squares that hold their shape. Patience will be rewarded with the best S’more Brownies!