Name: Healthy S'mores Bars (Vegan)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 (full) graham crackers (1 cup of crumbs); 1/2 cup dairy-free butter, softened; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats; 1/4 cup light brown sugar; 3 Tablespoons plant-based milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 10 oz. vegan dark chocolate chips (60% or higher); 1 3/4 cups vegan mini-marshmallows

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Let these healthy s’mores bars transport you back to childhood summers. A rich graham cookie crust is topped with gooey dark chocolate and toasted mini-marshmallows. Even better than the classic!

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, I actually make them using my gas stove. My husband loves to remind me about the time we were playing a board game and my hankering for s’mores almost burned our apartment down (he can be a bit dramatic). I might have left the burner on for several minutes after making said s’mores, but in my defense, it was a very satisfying s’mores.

These healthy s’mores bars almost need their own category separate from regular ol’ s’mores: the base is a rich and buttery graham cracker cookie made healthier by using oats and non-dairy butter. Dark chocolate chips are melted on top and spread out to create a deep 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 we chase after in a s’mores.

nine healthy smores bars arranged in a grid pattern with chocolate chips scattered around

Why This Recipe Works

Quick & Easy – Between the prep and bake time, this healthy s’mores bar 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 Classic Upgrade – You don’t need a campfire to make s’mores when you can make rich and gooey s’mores bars that are so much better than the classic.
Great Party Dish – Who doesn’t love the person who shows up to the summer bbq with homemade s’mores bars? Because they are in bar form, they are easily transportable. And when you show up with s’mores bars in hand, you will be thanked endlessly for making people’s dreams come true.

chocolate chips scattered on top of graham cookie base in a glass pan

toasted marshmallows on top of a pan of bars in a glass baking dish

Ingredients Needed

Graham crackers – if you want to use plant-based 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.
All-purpose flour – substitute 1/4 cup of whole-wheat flour for 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour to make the bars even healthier!
Old-fashioned oats – I love the flavor and texture that oats add to baked goods.
Light brown sugar – the subtle notes of molasses work perfectly in this recipe.
Plant-based milk – I used almond milk but any plant-basked milk will work.
Vanilla extract – essential for all manner of baked goods.
Baking powder – acts as the leavening in this recipe.
Vegan dark chocolate chips (60% or higher) – I prefer dark chocolate but if you are not making vegan s’mores bars and you prefer milk chocolate, they will work great here.
Vegan mini-marshmallows – essential when making anything s’mores-related! If you are not making vegan bars, you can use “regular” mini-marshmallows.

stack of three healthy smores bars with a bite taken out of the top one with chocolate chips and marshmallows scattered around

Helpful Tips and Recipe Notes

Guittard makes delicious 60% chocolate chips that are also vegan. If you want darker vegan chocolate (higher cacao content), I recommend inquiring at Whole Foods or purchasing them online.

Vegan mini-marshmallows do not contain gelatin, making them vegan-friendly. Trader Joe’s makes vegan mini-marshmallows, and Whole Foods might carry them as well.

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!

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

toasted marshmallow and chocolate bars cut into nine pieces on white counter with chocolate chips scattered around

Enjoy your week, and feel free to drop me a line in the comments – I would love to hear if you try this recipe! Or tag me on Instagram @maryannehoekstra to let me know how it turned out! Also, if you are enjoying my blog, please consider recommending it to your friends. They can subscribe here.

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