Imagine sinking your teeth into a warm, gooey treat packed with melty chocolate, golden marshmallows, and crisp graham crackers—welcome to the world of Smores Cookies! This playful twist on the campfire classic is everything you love about s’mores, but in cookie form. Each bite is loaded with rich chocolate, sweet toasty marshmallows, and buttery cookie dough, all enhanced with that unmistakable graham cracker crunch. Smores Cookies hit all the right notes: chewy, soft centers, crisp edges, and plenty of nostalgia baked in. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just craving a bit of sweet comfort, these cookies will have everyone begging for another round.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Smores Cookies come together with a handful of pantry staples and a few special extras, each ingredient playing a crucial role in building both flavor and texture. Get ready to celebrate how these simple items transform into pure cookie magic!

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure to hold all the gooey, melty goodness together without being dense.
Baking powder: Gives the cookies a gentle lift for that ideal chewy center.
Baking soda: Aids in spreading and adds a bit of crispness to the edges.
Corn starch: Secret weapon for extra-soft, tender cookies with just enough chew.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Delivers pockets of rich, melty chocolate throughout each cookie bite.
Unsalted butter (room temp): Adds luscious flavor and ensures a supple dough—make sure it’s softened for dreamy blending!
Granulated sugar: Lends sweetness and that slight crunch to the cookie’s crust.
Light brown sugar: Adds depth and a touch of caramel-like richness that pairs perfectly with marshmallows and graham crackers.
Egg: Binds everything together for the perfect texture.
Vanilla extract: Brightens the dough and rounds out all those classic s’mores flavors.
Salt: Essential for balancing sweetness and highlighting the cookie’s rich notes.
Mini marshmallows or marshmallow bits: For that signature gooey, toasty center and irresistibly sweet pockets.
Hershey’s Chocolate Bar: The heart of a true s’more—break into pieces for melty tops.
Graham crackers: Don’t skip these! They add the signature crunch and flavor that brings the campfire experience indoors.

How to Make Smores Cookies

Step 1: Prep the S’mores Stars

Start by roughly chopping the graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate bar into bite-size chunks, and tear the mini marshmallows in half. Don’t skip this step with the marshmallows—cutting them ensures they melt evenly and don’t sprawl out of the cookies as they bake. This is where the fun begins, as you can already imagine those sweet, melty pockets forming.

Step 2: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine your flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cornstarch. Whisk them together well—this sets the stage for perfectly even cookies with just the right rise and tenderness. Combining the dry ingredients first ensures all those leaveners are spread evenly, which makes a huge difference in the cookies’ final texture.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, use your stand or hand mixer to beat together the room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until creamy—about two minutes. This is where you build the base of flavor and that wonderful, chewy consistency. Next, add the egg and vanilla, then blend again until everything is silky and smooth. Scrape the sides as needed to make sure nothing gets left behind.

Step 4: Combine for Cookie Dough Bliss

Gradually add your dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix here; doing so could make your cookies tough. Now, set aside a handful of the torn marshmallows—you’ll use them for topping later. Gently fold the remaining marshmallows, chocolate chips, and chopped graham crackers into the dough so every scoop is a full s’mores experience.

Step 5: Chill for Cookie Perfection

Pop the cookie dough into the fridge for at least an hour. Chilling the dough keeps the cookies from spreading too much and lets all those flavors blend together. If you’re feeling extra patient, let it chill even longer—the results will be worth the wait!

Step 6: Shape and Bake Smores Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out generous two-tablespoon portions of dough, rolling them into balls and spacing them about two inches apart on the sheet. Bake for eight minutes, then quickly top each cookie with your reserved marshmallow halves and pieces of Hershey’s bar. Return to the oven for another two to three minutes, just until the marshmallows turn golden and the chocolate begins to melt.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Once baked, let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet—they’ll be soft and delicate right out of the oven but will firm up beautifully as they cool. If any marshmallow escapes (the occasional “cookie blowout”), use a round cookie cutter or a spatula to nudge the edges back into place while the cookies are warm.

How to Serve Smores Cookies

Garnishes

Go all out by topping your Smores Cookies with a pinch of flaky sea salt for next-level flavor or a dusting of crushed graham crackers for extra crunch. If you want that signature s’mores look, add a drizzle of melted chocolate or a few extra toasted mini marshmallows on top just before serving.

Side Dishes

Smores Cookies pair perfectly with an ice-cold glass of milk or hot cocoa for a cozy treat. For summer gatherings or movie nights, try serving them alongside bowls of fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream—the warm cookie and the chilly cream are an irresistible match!

Creative Ways to Present

Stack these beauties high on a rustic platter or pile them into small jars as sweet party favors. For the ultimate camp-inspired fun, serve them with skewers for guests to “roast” the marshmallow tops over a candle before digging in. Smores Cookies also make adorable add-ons to ice cream sundaes for a playful, over-the-top dessert.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover Smores Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. To help them maintain their delightful chewiness, slip a small piece of bread into the container—that old bakery trick works wonders for cookies!

Freezing

If you’re thinking ahead or love having treats on standby, freeze baked cookies (once fully cooled) in a zip-top bag with parchment between layers for up to three months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls; just let them thaw for a few minutes before baking, and add a minute or two to the bake time for fresh-from-the-oven flavor anytime.

Reheating

To revive that just-baked magic, pop a cookie in the microwave for 10 seconds or warm them in a low oven (about 275°F) for a few minutes. The marshmallow will get gooey again, and the chocolate deliciously soft—just like a real s’more by the fire!

FAQs

Can I use regular marshmallows instead of minis?

Absolutely! If you only have large marshmallows, just snip or tear them into smaller pieces. This helps them distribute more evenly throughout the dough and prevents oversized melty patches.

Why should I chill the dough before baking?

Chilling the dough keeps Smores Cookies from overspreading while baking, so you end up with thick, chewy centers and glorious gooey pockets instead of flat cookies. It also lets the flavors meld for a richer taste.

How do I keep my cookies from sticking to the baking sheet?

Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper! The marshmallow can get sticky as it bakes, but parchment will make removal a breeze and help with cleanup, too.

Can I make Smores Cookies gluten-free?

Yes! Swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free blend, and use gluten-free graham crackers. Everything else in the recipe stays the same for delicious gluten-free results.

What’s the best way to get that “campfire” look on top?

Try placing an extra marshmallow piece on each cookie during the last couple minutes of baking, then briefly broiling (set your oven to broil for 30 seconds) to get golden, toasty tops. Keep a close eye so they don’t burn!

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving a dose of summer nostalgia or just want to make everyone around you grin ear to ear, Smores Cookies are your ticket to cookie bliss. They’re simple, playful, and guaranteed to impress. Give this recipe a try and watch these cookies disappear faster than you can say, “just one more!”