I hope all of you had a relaxing weekend; mine was full of short road trips and a little exploring. On Friday we headed to Cleveland to check out the West Side Market which is a magnificent collection of fresh produce, meats, seafood, cheese and pastries.
Unfortunately, I left my camera at home by accident, but I will definitely remember it next time. Brian ate a saugage sandwich smothered with onion and peppers and I indulged in the most delicious falafel sandwich I have ever experienced. This is totally my type of shopping and really makes me want to move back to the area.
After our lengthy stroll through the West Side Market, we dropped off some Mexican food and pastries to my dad. While on the subject of Mexican food, he told me about an elusive mouse that breaks into his office to indulge in hot sauce packets and Hershey Kisses out of his desk drawers. My guess it this mouse has some serious heartburn.
After a little visit with the fam, we headed to dine at Michael Symon’s restaurant, Bar Symon. The décor, food and service were all perfect. Brian noshed on a whole lobster smothered in an orange beurre blanc. I discovered mac & cheese perfection with Michael’s Chicken, Goat Cheese and Rosemary blend. It was simply amazing.
On Saturday, my lovely friend Brittani and I went to Canton, Michigan to explore Ikea and Home Goods. I picked up some cheap props and dined on greasy bar food at a local restaurant.
Sunday morning was spent whipping up pancakes and doing some last minute shopping with my mom and John for a hospice fundraiser we have been working on for weeks. More details on this little project will hit MBA later this week.
After a jam packed weekend, I settled in on Sunday afternoon and made my last recipe for S’mores week. After I tossed around the idea of S’mores Ice Cream (which I may still execute at some point this summer) I ended up preparing S’mores Brownie Bars. I thought these were quite tasty; however, Brian was not too fond of them. He thought the graham cracker crust created a dry texture. I, on the other hand could eat graham cracker crust with a spoon, so I was all over this dessert. If you make this recipe, definitely report back and share your thoughts! Many thanks to Naomi of Baker’s Royale for pointing me in the direction of Alice Medrich’s brownie recipe, it was scrumdiddlyumptious.
S’mores Brownie Bars
Yields 16 servings
For the crust:
1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter; melted
2 tablespoons sugar
For the brownie layer:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
For the topping:
20 large marshmallows; cut in half
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch-square metal baking pan with foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, 6 tablespoons of melted butter in a bowl and mix until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the pan and bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Allow crust to cool on wire rack.
3. Turn the oven temperature up to 400 degrees and prepare the brownie layer.
4. In top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, or on low power in a microwave, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir often, and remove from heat when a few lumps remain. Stir until smooth.
5. Stir in sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in eggs one at a time, followed by flour. Stir until very smooth, about 1 minute, until mixture pulls away from sides of bowl. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 18 minutes.
6. Let cool completely, then lift out using the foil and place brownies onto a broiler safe pan. Move your oven rack about 6 inches from your broiler and preheat your broiler to low.
7. Layer marshmallows (sticky side down) across the top and toast under the broiler until golden, (watch this like you have never watched anything before…it can burn QUICK), about 2 minutes. Cool and cut into 16 (two inch) squares.
Note: The brownie recipe is adapted from Alice Medrich
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{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
I love getting cheap stuff at Ikea & Home Goods! These are the most delicious looking s’mores brownie bars I’ve ever seen
Sounds like a fun trip to Cleveland! I’m currently cooking my way through Symon’s cookbook and loved that mac and cheese recipe! I would love to eat at his restaurant.
These smores bars look fantastic. I agree with you – graham cracker crust is a GOOD thing.
I am very jealous that you could go to Bar Symon. That is great.
Can’t wait for our Denver IKEA to open.
Your s’mores bars look delicious.
These look incredible. I love s’mores brownies!
I have never tried s’mores before and i think today may be the day…. What a great recipe and wonderful photos.
They look delicious! I bet my kids would LOVE this one!
Yum! I made something similar to this recently, but instead of brownies it was chocolate ganache! Either way.. anything s’mores is always good!
S’mores! Yay! We cannot get enough of this flavor combo so will be of course baking these up as soon as we can…and those golden puffy marshmallows are calling our name!
We have our annual foot ball kick-off dinner Thursday … I am going to bake this gorgeous beauties!! I KNOW they will be a hit!!!
Summer and smores go hand in hand. Thanks for sharing. Love these!
These are to die for! What a great idea. Love it.
Oh my….
There’s really nothing else to say, is there? These look AMAZING!
Hmm, I’ve tried many s’more brownies but there was always something off about them. I’ll have to give your recipe a go.
~ingrid
S’mores and brownies together sound awesome. Great recipe.
S’mores are great in any form- thanks!
Wow, I am too pregnant to be looking at this LOL, I want some.. nooow. I love s’mores! All these s’more recipes are killing me. My fiancé has never had a proper s’more before, how saaad!
Those.look.amazing!
Could this look more delicious…I don’t think so.
Lovely smores! Have you ever considered opening up shop?
I am a big fan of graham crust as well–these look delish!
How did I miss s’mores week??? I’ve been so out of touch. I did make s’more cookies last week though, so I was participating in spirit…too bad I didn’t post them yet
oh well…maybe it could be s’mores month?
After seeing all the smores recipes I only just completely clicked that it was smores week! I’m such a dork. Anyway, these look amazing, and to tell you the truth I’ve never eaten a proper smore with graham crackers… so I think I’m gonna have to do something about that now.
Looks great! I have never seen s’mores looking so beautiful before!
Yum!!! These look amazing.
I’m not sure how I am just now discovering your blog, but glad I did. Amazing! All of these s’mores recipes are just plain outrageous.
Thanks so much for visiting. I am glad you found me too!
-Jamie
I’m so late to the S’more week fun, but this really is my favorite out of all I’ve seen! I can’t wait to try it!
What a great combination! My favorite part of a s’more is the lightly browned top of the mallow! I’m with you on the graham cracker crust.
What a great combination!! My favorite part of a s’more is the lightly browned top of the mallow! I’m with you on the graham cracker crust too!
I love s’mores! These look awesome, thanks for the recipe
For another fun s’more recipe, check out my blog. I recently made s’more cupcakes! http://wp.me/pNzDb-c1
I love the big fat marshmallows on top!
Jaime these look absolutely amazing!!!
Oh, please, please explain to me what s’mores are…. I love reading this blog but being Australian, I just don’t understand what they are?
Tamsin-
Thanks so much for visiting. A s’more is a campfire treat popular in the United States, it consists of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham crackers.
-Jamie
S’mores + brownies? Brilliant! I hope to try these soon! LOVE your blog!
This looks great, I just tried a s’more bar I tried to adapt from Betty Crocker and it went way wrong. Yours looks so much better!
What a delicious idea
These look fantabulous, I’m drooling!
This recipe would be great for kids! Who doesn’t like S’mores or Brownies!
These were so nice !! Whipped them up in not long at all, though I toasted the marshmallows in the sandwich toaster, it was so quick and easy !
Hi,
I was just confused with the foil and brownie layer part.
Do we bake the crust and then put on a foil layer and cook the brownie layer on the same pan?
Sorry just a little confusion.
Hope you can help clarify thank you!
Janice-
You are simply using the foil to line your pan with to prevent it from sticking and to allow for easy removal. Thanks for stopping by!
-Jamie
I found this recipe for my daughter to make for her coworkers … a bribe for trading days off so she could attend the Mopar Mile High Nationals for her birthday. They all thought they were great! I will be making them next for my coworkers …. a special treat for them as I’m coming back from a week’s vacation in Yellowstone.
Kelly-
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know how they were!
-Jamie
oh my these were scrumdiddlyicous.
I forgot to say that I mixed in 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips into the brownie batter just because I had them on hand, and that was a very nice addition.
My mouth is watering just looking at these. I am going to have to try them.
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