Let these vegan s'mores bars transport you back to childhood summers. In this easy recipe, a rich graham cookie crust is made healthier by using oats and non-dairy butter. Dark chocolate chips are melted on top and spread out to create a melty chocolatey layer, and mini-marshmallows are the pièce de résistance - placed under the broiler for just a few minutes to create that toasted flavor and slightly crispy bite. Even better than the classic!
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Right around this time every summer I start to crave s'mores. If I don't have the opportunity to eat one around a fire, my go-to is to make these delicious vegan s'mores bars, similar to my marshmallow chocolate chip cookies.
These treats almost need their own category separate from regular ol' s'mores: a rich and buttery graham cracker cookie is topped with melty dark chocolate and toasted, crispy mini-marshmallows.
They can easily be made non-vegan, and they're guaranteed to be a hit at your next summer bbq, picnic, or camping trip!
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⭐️ Why These S'mores Bars are the Best
- Quick & Easy: Between the prep and bake time, this recipe only takes 40 minutes (and 30 of that is while they are in the oven so you can get other things done...is anyone else watching "Search Party"??)
- Fun Upgrade: You don't need a campfire to make s'mores when you can make rich, chocolatey, gooey, and crispy bars that are so much better than the classic.
- Versatile Party Treats - Because they are in bar form, they are much easier to transport - take them to a summer picnic, potluck, bbq, etc. No one will even know that they're vegan!
- Healthy: Because this recipe is dairy-free/plant-based, it's a little bit better for you and easier on the planet. Of course, there is still a decent amount of sugar so I can't say these are the healthiest summertime treats, but even a small move in the right direction is better than nothing at all!
🍫 Ingredient Notes
- Graham crackers - If you want to use plant-based/vegan graham crackers (many brands contain honey), Nabisco brand does not contain honey.
- Dairy-free butter - One of my favorite dairy-free butter brands is Earth Balance. Sometimes I forget that it's dairy-free - that's how good it is!
- Plant-based milk - I used almond milk but any plant-based milk will work.
- Vegan dark chocolate chips (60% or higher) - I prefer darker chocolate but you can use your favorite brand here. Guittard makes dark (60%) chocolate chips that are vegan. If you want darker vegan chocolate (higher cacao content), I recommend inquiring at Whole Foods or purchasing them online.
- Vegan mini-marshmallows - Essential when making anything s'mores-related! Vegan mini-marshmallows do not contain gelatin, making them vegan-friendly. Trader Joe's makes them, and Whole Foods might carry them as well.
🍽 Variations & Substitutions
- Make 'em non-vegan. If you don't need this recipe to be strictly vegan, you can easily substitute regular graham crackers, butter, milk, chocolate chips, and mini-marshmallows. The bars will be just as delicious!
- Flour: Substitute with ¼ cup of whole-wheat flour to make the bars even healthier!
🔪 How To Make Vegan S'mores Bars
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8"x8" baking dish with parchment paper. Add graham crackers to a food processor and blend until fine crumbs are formed. Scrape down sides of bowl.
Add softened butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, milk, vanilla, baking powder, and salt, and blend until well combined.
Transfer cookie dough into prepared baking dish. Use your hands or a rubber spatula to press dough evenly into pan. Bake for 30 minutes.
After dough has finished baking, immediately add chocolate chips on top. Let sit for 5 minutes, and then spread melted chocolate with rubber spatula or back of a spoon until evenly covered.
Add mini-marshmallows and spread in an even layer. Broil for 1-3 minutes, until marshmallows become your preferred level of toasted (watch very closely as they can burn very easily).
Cool for at least one hour before cutting into bars. If you cut them sooner, they will be a gooey mess. Grab parchment paper to lift bars out of the pan and use a sharp knife to cut the bars.
⏲ Expert Tips
- Storage: Place in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- How to freeze: After completely cooled, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Make ahead: Make the graham crust and chocolate layer up to 24 hours ahead of time, and store covered at room temperature. Add marshmallows and broil a few hours before serving.
- Let bars cool completely before cutting. Ideally, the bars should cool for at least one hour before cutting; cutting too soon will lead to a gooey mess.
- Make 'em non-vegan. If you don't need this recipe to be strictly vegan, you can easily substitute regular graham crackers, butter, milk, chocolate chips, and mini-marshmallows. The bars will be just as delicious! 😉
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The only difference between "regular" and plant-based marshmallows is that the former contains gelatin, which is animal-based. Both types of marshmallows work great for s'mores!
No, they contain gelatin, which is derived from animals.
Yes! You can use vegan marshmallows the same way you would for non-vegan marshmallows.
🍪 Related Recipes
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Vegan S'mores Bars Recipe
Ingredients
For the graham cookie crust:
- 8 (full) graham crackers (1 cup of crumbs)
- ½ cup dairy-free butter, softened
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the chocolate-marshmallow topping:
- 10 ounces vegan dark chocolate chips (60% or higher)
- 1 ¾ cups vegan mini-marshmallows
Instructions
Make the graham cookie crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8"x8" baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add graham crackers to a food processor and blend until fine crumbs are formed. Scrape down the sides of bowl. Add softened butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, milk, vanilla, baking powder, and salt, and blend until well combined.
- Transfer cookie dough into prepared baking dish. Use your hands or a rubber spatula to press dough evenly into pan. Bake for 30 minutes.
Assemble the chocolate-marshmallow topping:
- After dough has finished baking, immediately add chocolate chips on top. Let sit for 5 minutes, and then spread melted chocolate with rubber spatula or back of a spoon until evenly covered.
- Add mini-marshmallows and spread in an even layer. Turn on broiler, and place bars under broiler for 1-3 minutes, until marshmallows become your preferred level of toasted (watch very closely as they can burn very easily).
- Cool for at least one hour before cutting into bars. If you cut them sooner, they will be a gooey mess. Grab parchment paper to lift bars out of the pan and use a sharp knife to cut the bars.
Notes
- Storage: Place in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- How to freeze: After completely cooled, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Make ahead: Make the graham crust and chocolate layer up to 24 hours ahead of time, and store covered at room temperature. Add marshmallows and broil a few hours before serving.
- Let bars cool completely before cutting. Ideally, the bars should cool for at least one hour before cutting; cutting too soon will lead to a gooey mess.
- Make 'em non-vegan. If you don't need this recipe to be strictly vegan, you can easily substitute regular graham crackers, butter, milk, chocolate chips, and mini-marshmallows. The bars will be just as delicious! 😉
Barb+Haner
This will be a real summertime treat! I think it is a great idea to take to summer outings. The pictures look like I could bite right into them!
Gastronotherapy
Yes - what's better than portable s'mores that are also somewhat healthy?? 🙂
Emily Liao
This smores bar was so delicious and easy to make. The kiddos loved it.
Gastronotherapy
Fantastic, Emily!
Beth
My daughter loved helping make these and they were so addicting! My family and I loved how these turned out! Excited to make these bars again!
Gastronotherapy
Thanks so much, Beth! Yes - they are easy enough for kids to make as well!
Amanda Dixon
These bars were an absolute delight! They turned out perfectly gooey like a good s'mores should. This is a must-make for the summer.
Gastronotherapy
Thanks, Amanda! Yes - gooey is a requirement for s'mores! 🙂
Elizabeth
These s’mores bars are out of this world delicious! Such a great summer recipe!
Gastronotherapy
So glad you enjoyed them, Elizabeth!
Angela
S'more are my absolute favorite and I love that you made them vegan-friendly! Perfect summertime recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!
Gastronotherapy
You are welcome, Angela!