S'mores Bars (Golden Graham and Marshmallow Krispies)

This combination has been brewing in my mind for a while now, but I've been so consumed with everything pumpkin that I haven't had a chance to make it. When I bake for my family I focus on healthy-er options, and I save the decadent stuff for a a time when I know I can share it immediately without sampling half the quantity on my own...because me + a fulfilled craving are a dangerous pair. I finally decided to make this one happen because I started to notice that my kids were stealing from the marshmallows and had opened the box of cereal despite explicit instructions not to touch...lol even as I was making these s'mores bars I kept reaching for either the marshmallows or cereal and would find my self grasping thin air because one of my boys had run off with the packages :)

I've read a LOT of s'mores bar recipes online and have never been too tempted to stick with any of them. Either too many layers, ingredients that didn't belong in a s'more, or just way too long of a process to make a dessert that is in its essence delicious because of its simplicity. I present you with these babies...15 minutes TOPS in the kitchen and ready to eat almost right away...totally awesome, right?

Golden Grahams cereal is a crispy version of mini graham crackers, so they won't get too soft when mixed with hot marshmallows and break into crumbs. I use an equal ratio of marshmallow to cereal, which is a lot of marshmallow, but I like these bars to be sticky and fluffy...you can add up to an extra cup of cereal and still have a good texture. I found these tasted crunchiest the day I made them, otherwise the cereal absorbed some of the moisture from the marshmallows...which is also delicious, but you lose a little crisp. All I know is these were so good that I will probably never make regular Rice Krispy treats ever again...

Makes 12 rectangular bars

Ingredients
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-2 tablespoons unsalted butter
-4 cups marshmallows + 1/4 cup (I like to use the mini ones as I find they melt faster)
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup marshmallow cream (or add another 1/2 cup marshmallows to the 4 cups above)
-4 cups Golden Grahams cereal
-1 cup milk chocolate chips + 1/4 cup chocolate chips
-1 teaspoon oil

To Make:
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Sprinkling the chocolate chips

-Line a 7x11 inch baking dish with parchment paper (you could use an 8x8 inch pan and it would yield super thick bars or a 9x9 inch dish would give you slightly thinner bars). Spray with non-stick cooking spray (this probably isn't necessary but marshmallows can get pretty sticky and I didn't want to take any chances.)
-Melt butter on medium heat in a medium sized pot. Add 4 cups marshmallows, vanilla, salt and marshmallow cream and stir together with a silicon spatula until the marshmallows have melted and the ingredients are incorporated.

Look at that beautiful drizzle :)

-Remove the pot from the stove and stir in Golden Grahams cereal. Make sure the cereal and marshmallows are well coated but do not over-mix and break up the cereal.
- Pour mixture into the lined baking dish and sprinkle evenly with 1 cup chocolate chips and remaining 1/4 cup marshmallows (don't stir these into the pot because you don't want them to melt, and sprinkling them on when the mixture is in the baking pan will have given things a chance to cool down). Spray one hand with non-stick cooking spray and use that hand to push down the marshmallow and cereal mixture, taking care to press it down tightly and evenly.
-Melt 1/4 cup chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon oil in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each time just until melted. Drizzle melted chocolate all over the s'mores bars. Wait until the chocolate drizzle has set, then cut evenly in 12 bars.
-Serve and enjoy!!!

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