Irresistible Small Batch S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies: Your New Favorite Dessert!

Imagine the delightful taste of classic S’mores – toasted marshmallows, melted chocolate, and crisp graham crackers – all neatly packed into a warm, chewy chocolate chip cookie. These S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies offer precisely that magical experience, but with significantly less mess than their campfire counterparts. They are perfect for enjoying the nostalgic flavors of summer by the fire, or simply a cozy treat indoors on a chilly evening. What makes this recipe truly special is the strategic timing of adding the marshmallows and milk chocolate pieces, ensuring they become perfectly gooey and melted without drying out or burning.

Crafted as a “small batch” recipe, it’s ideal for those times when you crave freshly baked cookies without wanting an overwhelming quantity. Whether you’re baking for one, two, or a small gathering, this recipe yields about 16 incredibly satisfying cookies, making it a fantastic choice to satisfy your sweet tooth without excess. Get ready to bake a batch of these delectable cookies that are guaranteed to become a new favorite in your household!

Small Batch S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies: The Ultimate Indoor Treat

This recipe is designed for ease and enjoyment, yielding approximately 16 delightful cookies. It brings together all the beloved components of S’mores into a convenient, delicious cookie form. Follow our detailed guide to achieve perfectly chewy cookies with that irresistible gooey center.

Why You’ll Love This Small Batch Recipe

There are numerous reasons to adore a small batch cookie recipe. Firstly, it allows you to enjoy freshly baked goods without the commitment of making dozens of cookies. This is perfect for smaller households, late-night cravings, or when you simply want to try a new recipe without a large surplus. Our S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies are no exception – they offer all the flavor and fun in a manageable quantity, ensuring every cookie is enjoyed at its peak freshness. Plus, less baking time means less waiting for that first delicious bite!

Essential Ingredients and Their Role

Understanding each ingredient’s purpose can elevate your baking from good to truly exceptional. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need for these marvelous S’mores cookies:

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookie structure. For best results, measure by weight (80 grams) or use the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense cookies.
• Graham Cracker Crumbs: This is where the signature S’mores flavor truly shines! You can buy pre-crushed crumbs or crush whole graham crackers yourself for a fresher taste and slightly coarser texture.
• Baking Soda: Our leavening agent, which helps the cookies rise and spread, contributing to their soft and chewy texture.
• Salt: A crucial flavor enhancer that balances the sweetness and brings out the rich chocolate notes.
• Unsalted Butter (softened): Softened butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air for a light and tender cookie. Using unsalted butter gives you control over the overall salt content of the recipe.
• Granulated Sugar & Packed Brown Sugar: The combination of these two sugars is key. Granulated sugar contributes to crisp edges, while packed brown sugar adds moisture, chewiness, and a subtle caramel flavor. Ensure your brown sugar is firmly packed for accurate measurement.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract deepens all the flavors, adding warmth and aroma to the cookie dough. Use pure vanilla extract for the best taste.
• Lightly Beaten Egg: Acts as a binder and provides moisture, helping to create a tender crumb. Since this is a small batch, you’ll only need a portion of a standard egg, ensuring the dough consistency is just right. (Approximately 25 grams).
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks or Chips: High-quality chocolate is essential here. Semi-sweet chocolate provides a lovely contrast to the sweetness of the marshmallows and graham crackers. Chunks melt into beautiful pockets of chocolate goodness, while chips hold their shape slightly more.
• Marshmallows: The star of the S’mores show! We add these near the end of baking to prevent them from completely melting away or drying out, ensuring a wonderfully gooey finish. Mini marshmallows work best for even distribution.
• Hershey Bar (1.45 oz), broken into pieces: The iconic milk chocolate flavor of S’mores comes from the classic Hershey bar. Breaking it into pieces allows for perfect distribution and melting throughout the cookies, enhancing the authentic S’mores taste.

Step-by-Step Baking Instructions for S’mores Perfection

Creating these cookies is a straightforward process, but paying attention to each step will ensure perfect results every time:

1. Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lining two cookie sheets with parchment paper is crucial; it prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup. This also helps in even baking.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt. Ensure these ingredients are well combined to distribute the leavening and flavor evenly throughout the dough.
3. Cream Wet Ingredients: In a separate, larger mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on high speed to cream together the softened unsalted butter and both granulated and brown sugars. Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, typically for 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air, which is vital for a tender cookie. Then, add the vanilla extract and the lightly beaten egg, continuing to beat for another 30 seconds until just combined.
4. Incorporate Dry into Wet: Reduce the mixer speed to low, or switch to a sturdy mixing spoon. Gradually add the flour/crumb mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated; be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Once the flour mixture is nearly combined, stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5. Bake the First Round: Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, ensuring they are spaced about 3 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake one sheet at a time on the center rack of your preheated oven for 8 minutes. The cookies should be set around the edges but still appear slightly underdone in the center.
6. Add Toppings and Finish Baking: Remove the partially baked cookies from the oven. Working quickly, gently press several marshmallows and pieces of the Hershey bar into the surface of each cookie. Return the cookie sheet to the oven and continue baking for another 3-5 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown, the marshmallows are puffed and lightly toasted, and the chocolate is melted and gooey. Keep a close eye on them to prevent the marshmallows from burning.
7. Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for about 3 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before you attempt to move them. Then, carefully transfer the warm, gooey S’mores cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with any remaining cookie dough.

Tips for Achieving Perfect S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies Every Time

Making delicious cookies is an art, and a few simple tips can help you achieve perfection with these S’mores cookies:

• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the flour mixture, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense cookies.
• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Softened butter and a room temperature egg emulsify better, creating a smoother dough and a more consistent cookie texture.
• Precision in Marshmallow Placement: For the best aesthetic and taste, gently press the marshmallows into the cookies right after the initial bake. This allows them to soften and melt perfectly without becoming crisp or burning during the final few minutes.
• Quality Chocolate Matters: While a Hershey bar is classic for S’mores, feel free to use high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chunks or even a mix of milk and dark chocolate for a richer flavor profile.
• Don’t Overbake: Cookies continue to cook slightly after being removed from the oven. Take them out when the edges are golden, and the centers still look a tiny bit soft. This ensures a wonderfully chewy interior.
• Crush Your Own Graham Crackers: If you have whole graham crackers, crushing them yourself can result in fresher, more aromatic crumbs compared to pre-packaged crumbs. A food processor or a Ziploc bag and a rolling pin work great.

Creative Variations and Customizations

While the classic S’mores combination is unbeatable, these cookies are incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with these variations:

• Chocolate Variety: Swap out semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate for a more intense flavor, or white chocolate for a sweeter, creamier touch. You could even use a mix!
• Add a Pinch of Cinnamon: Stir a ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon into your dry ingredients to give the graham cracker flavor an extra warming spice note.
• Toasted Marshmallow Flavor: For an even deeper S’mores flavor, lightly toast a few mini marshmallows under a broiler before pressing them into the cookies. Be quick, as they burn easily!
• Nutty Addition: For extra crunch and flavor, fold in a ¼ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts with your chocolate chips.
• Different Cracker Bases: While graham crackers are traditional, consider using other crushed biscuit types like digestive biscuits or even Biscoff cookies for a unique twist.
• Larger Batch Option: If you do want more than 16 cookies, simply double the recipe ingredients. Just ensure you have enough baking sheets and space.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

To keep your S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh and delicious, follow these simple storage tips:

• Storing Baked Cookies: Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. The marshmallows might firm up slightly, but a quick 10-15 second reheat in the microwave will bring back that gooey center.
• Freezing Cookie Dough: You can prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and freeze it. Form rounded tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, place them directly on a baking sheet from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the baking time, following the marshmallow addition steps as usual.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Fully baked and cooled cookies can also be frozen for longer storage. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave for a fresh-baked experience.

Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions About S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies

Can I use large marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows?

While you can, mini marshmallows are highly recommended for this recipe. Large marshmallows might spread too much, making them harder to incorporate neatly into the cookies, and they can also dry out or burn more easily.

Why do my marshmallows melt completely and disappear?

The key is timing. Adding the marshmallows (and Hershey bar pieces) after the cookies have had an initial bake of 8 minutes is crucial. If added at the beginning, they have too much time in the oven and will often melt into the dough or simply vanish. The quick finish bake allows them to get perfectly gooey and lightly toasted on top.

Can I omit the Hershey bar or use a different type of chocolate?

You can certainly customize the chocolate! While the Hershey bar provides that authentic S’mores milk chocolate flavor, you can use extra chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bars (milk, dark, or even white chocolate), or another type of candy bar. Just ensure it’s something that melts well.

How long do these S’mores cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies are best enjoyed within 3-4 days. For optimal gooeyness, a quick 10-15 second reheat in the microwave can revive them after the first day.

My cookies are spreading too much. What went wrong?

Common culprits for excessive spreading include butter that is too soft or melted, not chilling the dough (though not required for this recipe, it can help), or inaccurate flour measurement. Ensure your butter is just softened (press with a finger, it should indent easily but not be greasy) and measure your flour accurately, preferably by weight.

Conclusion: Your New Favorite Way to Enjoy S’mores

These Small Batch S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies truly capture the essence of a beloved campfire classic, transforming it into a convenient and utterly delicious baked good. The combination of chewy cookie dough, crunchy graham cracker crumbs, rich melted chocolate, and perfectly gooey marshmallows creates an irresistible symphony of textures and flavors. Whether you’re seeking a quick dessert for a small group or a comforting treat for yourself, this recipe is guaranteed to deliver. So go ahead, whip up a batch, and let these cookies bring a little bit of that magical S’mores joy right into your home, without the sticky fingers or smoky clothes!