S'more for the New Year

A few weeks ago we had a pot-luck lunch for the college Sunday School teachers. I took this yummy salad and a dessert. I knew there would be chocolate chip cookies there, so I wanted to take something a little different. Enter Peabody. She had posted this yummy looking S'more Brownie; so, I decided to give it a try. Um...Yum!!!! Honestly, my favorite part was the graham cracker crust...I love those things. But this was good all the way around. Try it out for your New Year's party!

S’mores Bars adapted from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

Graham Cracker Crust

2 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs (15-17 crackers)…I used 18
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Fudge Brownie Filling:

6 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped (I used 3 oz baking chocolate and the 3oz equivalent minus oil of cocoa)
1 cup unsalted butter, chopped into TBSP sized pieces
2 ½ cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups pecan halves, chopped
4 cups (packed) miniature marshmallows

Line a 13 x 9x 2 inch glass baking dish with foil, leaving a 1-inch over hang around the top edge of the pan. This makes clean up AWESOME! Smooth out any big wrinkles in the foils and then lightly coat the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a small bowl. Gradually add the melted butter until the crumbs just hold together when squeezed in your palm. (I did all of this in my food processor). Press the mixture into an even ¼ inch layer on the bottom of the prepared pan.

Combine the chocolate and butter in a large bowl that fists a double boiler. Place the bowl over barely simmering water and stir as needed until the chocolate and butter are melted. (Or slowly heat in the microwave...this is what I did. Forget the double boiler!) Remove from the heat and whisk in the sugar, followed by the beaten eggs and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour, mixing until smooth. Pour the batter on top of the graham cracker crust and level with a small offset spatula.

Scatter chopped nuts evenly over the batter. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in brownie center comes out with dark, damp crumbs on it. (I used 35 minutes) Do not overbake. Set on a wire rack and cool completely in the pan.

Distribute the marshmallows evenly over the brownie top. Place the pan under the broiler in the top third of the oven for about 1 minute, or until he marshmallows are puffy and golden brown. Watch carefully and rotate the pan regularly, as the marshmallow can easily burn! Cool until the topping is firm and easily cut without sticking.

Remove the brownies from the pan in one block by gently pulling up on the foil overhang. Place directly on a cutting board. Remove all foil and cut into 2-inch squares. For the neatest cuts, use a sharp knife, wiped clean with a warm, damp cloth between slices.