Take Along... S'mores Trail Mix!

Happy National S'mores Day! I'm going to be posting several recipes today in honor of this special "sweet day!" :-) 

I think this recipe is the easiest one that I've ever posted! With that said, I think that it might become a special treat for the kids to take along for a snack at school or on a play date!

What You Need:

15 ounces Teddy Grahams

16 ounces miniature marshmallows
12 ounces mini-chocolate morsels

Note: Make as much or as little as you like on this one... it's just the combo that is "s'more!"

Make It:

Let the kids dump everything in a BIG bowl and stir it until it's well combined with a BIG spoon. Then have them use individual zippy's, enough for just one serving.

Note:  If they want to give this away to friends and playmates another fun step would be to let them decorate the little zippy's!

Happy National S'mores Day!

Keep on Cookin' with the kids,

Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach

Ooey Gooey S'mores Bars

I hope you and the kids are having fun celebrating S'mores this week! Here's a quick and easy recipe with all of the magical ingredients of S'mores!

What You Need:
1 (1-pound 1.5-ounce) pouch sugar cookie mix (I use Betty Crocker®)
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 12 squares)
1 cup butter or margarine
3 cups milk chocolate chips
4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows 

Make It:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. About 12 squares of graham crackers will make about one cup of crumbs. Have the kids place the graham crackers in a zippy bag and roll with a rolling pin until they have fine crumbs. Kids love rolling, stirring and whisking!

Use a large bowl and let the kids dump in the cookie mix and the graham cracker crumbs. Whisk dry ingredients together until well blended (or until the kids are tired of whisking)!

Place butter in a small bowl and melt in the microwave.  Stir the melted butter into the dry ingredients a soft dough forms. Let those "little hands" press into an ungreased 13x9-inch pan until flat (it doesn't need to be really smooth).

Bake about 18 minutes or until graham cracker crust is set. Remove from the oven (adult helper needs to be very close here)... immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust (depending on the age of the kids, determine who does this step). Let stand 4 or 5 minutes or until chocolate starts to melt. Using the back of a large spoon, spread chocolate evenly over crust.

Set oven to broil. Sprinkle the marshmallows over the top of the chocolate. Broil about 6 inches from heat for only about 20 seconds... watch carefully as you want the marshmallows to just be toasty and they will continue to cook a bit when removed from broiler).

Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Serve warm.

If you want to have a super sweet treat, serve with a scoop of marshmallow ice cream (vanilla works too)!
Makes 24 bars

Ooey Gooey Yum!
S'more Fun Cooking with Kids!
Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach