S’Mores Cookies

Summer usually means making s’mores by a campfire. But since it rained this week the kids and I decided to make these s’mores cookies indoors from the simply recipes web site. Make sure to let the children help you collect the ingredients, mix the ingredients, and help scoop the cookie dough to prepare it to bake.

You Will Need:

5 ounces graham crackers (typically 1 full sleeve)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, very soft
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups (12 ounces) roughly chopped chocolate or chocolate chips
About 2 cups mini marshmallows

What to Do:

1. Place the graham crackers in the bowl of a food processor. Process in pulses until the crackers are completely broken down into crumbs. (Alternatively: Place the crackers in a zip-top plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.)

2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, flour, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.

3. With an electric mixer or in a stand mixer with a beater attachment, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter on medium speed until combined and thick, 30 to 60 seconds. Pick out any large pebbles of hard brown sugar that you see. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beater.

4. Add the two eggs and vanilla to the butter-sugar mixture and beat at medium speed until no clumps or streaks remain, 10 to 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters.

5. Add the graham cracker and flour mixture all at once. Beat on low speed just until no more dry streaks of flour are visible, 20 to 40 seconds.

6. Add all of the chocolate chips or chopped pieces, and beat on low speed for just a few seconds until incorporated.

7. Chill the dough: Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beater. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to three days. (Or freeze in individual scoops for up to 3 months.)

8. Heat the oven to 375ºF. Place a rack in the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheet with silicon baking mats or parchment.

9. Use a medium cookie scoop (or a well-mounded tablespoon measure) to scoop the dough out onto one of the baking sheet. Space the cookies about 2 inches apart.

10. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Gently press 3 to 4 mini marshmallows into the tops of each cookie.

11. Return the cookies to the oven and bake for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the marshmallows look like puff balls and are just starting to melt around the bottom. The marshmallows will continue to melt after the cookies come out of the oven.

12. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, or until the puffed middles collapse down and the cookies have firmed a little. Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

References:

Recipe from the Simply Recipes web site

Photo by Stephanie Felzenberg