chewy oatmeal s'mores bars

Some days are just meant for baking. For getting your counter covered in flour, your hands covered in butter & your floor covered in sugar. So yesterday, us girls baked. Okay, so Olivia mostly ate what I baked. Still a perfectly lovely afternoon as Mama + Daughter.

These chewy & gooey s'mores bars are filled with old-fashioned rolled oats and reminiscent of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, but have a sweet summer twist on them with crushed graham crackers & mini marshmallows that get toasted to golden brown perfection in the oven. The perfect solution for when you're craving a s'more but a bonfire is too much work. You'll want a large glass of cold milk to savor alongside this summer treat, because it's rich in all the best ways.

chewy oatmeal s'mores bars

what you'll need

bottom layer ||

     1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

     1 cup all-purpose flour // I used cup4cup gf flour

     1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

     1/2 teaspoon baking soda

     1/4 teaspoon salt

     1/2 cup butter [1 stick], softened

     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

middle layer ||

     1 cup milk chocolate chips

     1 and 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

top layer ||

     6 tablespoons light brown sugar

     6 tablespoons butter, softened

     3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

     3/4 cup graham crackers, crushed // Approximately 3-4 full crackers

     6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

     

8x8 glass baking dish

parchment paper

what you'll do

preheat oven to 350 degrees + line 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper

bottom layer

» in a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients of the bottom layer & stir until a crumbly "dough" has formed; it is critical that your butter be soft for your crust to be successful because the softened butter is really what creates the "dough"

» press into bottom of pan and bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown

middle layer

» remove from the oven and add the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows on top

top layer

» beat together the brown sugar [6 tbsp] and softened butter [6 tbsp] until creamy

» stir in the oats [3/4 cup], crushed graham cracker [3/4 cup] & flour [6 tbsp]

» scoop the dough on top of the middle layer, evenly dispersing it // I spread it on top and then mixed it with the middle layer a bit to bring some marshmallows and chocolate chips to the top

» return to the oven for 10-12 minutes or until chocolate chips are melted and mini marshmallows are gooey & golden brown

» remove & let cool

» enjoy 20 minutes afterward for a warm & gooey dessert, or let set up for an hour for a firmer bar

happiest friday to you & yours.