Pumpkin S’mores Bars: Spicy pumpkin cake bars topped with melty chocolate and gooey marshmallows are the perfect dessert for bringing summer into fall.
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Well, guys, our summer weather returned with a vengeance.
I know I was kind of bragging about our 50 degree mornings just a week ago, and how I was busting out the pumpkin in these Oreo Pumpkin Gooey Bars because obviously mother nature wanted me too. But now I’m eating those words. Mother nature took a turn back to summer!
This past week it has been 88 degrees with like 95% humidity. It has been crazy muggy outside. Can we say uuuuggghhh all together? I had these visions of fall arriving super early this year as I baked pumpkin treat after pumpkin treat.
But you know what? I already have the pumpkin baking itch, so I wasn’t about to let a little heat and humidity stop me from my favorite baking time of year. It’s pumpkin season baby!!!!
Oh, my word you guys! I found my favorite pumpkin treat of the fall already!
I know it might seem a little early to claim these are the best, but honestly, these ARE the best! It’s going to be hard to top these amazing bars. Of course you know I’ll definitely try to out do this one in the coming weeks, but it’s going to be tough to do.
The base of these bars started with my recipe for these Peanut Butter S’mores Blondies. Instead of peanut butter though, I put a full cup of pumpkin puree and just a little bit more flour. I have never tried using pumpkin in a blonde brownie, so I wasn’t quite sure how it was going to work. Recipe testing at its best here!
Can I just say that it worked out better than I could have hoped? These bars are definitely not as dense as a blonde brownie because pumpkin does change the texture of baked goods. They were more of a happy cross between cake and blondie.
Then to totally go over the top I added a layer of chocolate chips and marshmallows and put it back in the oven for just a few more minutes. Every thing gets all melty and toasty and delicious! Just make sure you keep an eye on the marshmallows because they can go from toasty to burnt in just a blink of an eye!
Pumpkin meets s’mores…it’s definitely the way to welcome fall this year!!!
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Summer meets fall in these spicy pumpkin bars with a melted chocolate and marshmallow layer.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the pumpkin, eggs and vanilla and beat again.
- Stir together the baking powder, salt, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Slowly add to the butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Spread in a greased 9x13 baking pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 24 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top of the hot bars. Cover the chocolate chips with the marshmallows. Return to the oven and bake another 2 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 1-2 minutes. You just want the marshmallows to start turning golden, so do not over broil them. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
- Use a wet knife to cut the bars into 24 squares. Rewet the knife in between each cut. The water on the knife keeps the marshmallow from sticking. Store in a sealed container. Makes 24 bars.
A few more pumpkin recipes to help you get your fall bake on:
Brown Butter Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake
Glazed Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
August 23, 2014 at 10:55 AMLove your disclaimer about pumpkin changing the texture of things, boy, after my cookbook, don’t I know 🙂 I love the texture they turned out to be! And I love the idea of making smores out of pumpkin bars! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:39 AMThanks Averie! 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
August 23, 2014 at 11:54 AMIt looks like the perfect dessert to end summer and begin fall with! Best of both! Pinned!
sue/the+view+from+great+island says
August 23, 2014 at 12:15 PMThese bring together all my favorite things — pinning and sharing <3
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:40 AMThanks for pinning and sharing, Sue! 🙂
Heather @ Shards of Lavender says
August 23, 2014 at 5:25 PMOur temperatures have risen too and the humidity is almost unbearable; what a tease that fall weather was… What a great idea to combine s’mores from summer with pumpkin from fall! The colors are so vibrant on this bar…
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:43 AMThe humidity had been terrible! Thank goodness it finally is starting to feel like Fall! 🙂 Thanks Heather!
Jamie says
August 23, 2014 at 5:53 PMI know what you mean about the summer heat. It’s been about 100 degrees all week here in SC. Yuck!
I’m loving your pumpkin smores bars! I wouldn’t have ever thought to make a pumpkin dessert into a smores but what a genius idea!! I can’t wait to try them! 🙂
Mir says
August 23, 2014 at 9:48 PMThis is a fantastic dessert (and seasonal) mash-up! S’mores in the fall is a great idea!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:44 AMThanks Mir! 🙂
[email protected]+Foodie+Mama says
August 24, 2014 at 8:57 AMOh my goodness! I love this so much! What a perfect dessert to transition from summer to fall with! 🙂
Pinned & sharing.
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
August 24, 2014 at 10:19 AMThese look so awesome! I love the texture, and those marshmallows on top are calling my name! What a fun pumpkin treat!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:44 AMThank you, Cate! 🙂
Barbara says
August 24, 2014 at 11:32 AMCould you use dark chocolate chips in this recipe? Love your websit. Keep up the great ideas.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 24, 2014 at 3:18 PMYes, you could definitely use dark chocolate chips for this. Sounds super delicious that way!!!
[email protected]+Confessions+of+a+Baking+Queen says
August 24, 2014 at 12:12 PMGreat combo! That humidity sounds awful, that is one good thing about so cal it gets hot but the humidity isn’t that bad.
Emily @ Life on Food says
August 24, 2014 at 1:53 PMThese bars look fantastic and are the perfect melding of all things good in summer and fall.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:46 AMThanks Emily! 🙂 I love that s’mores are perfect for both summer and Fall!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
August 24, 2014 at 3:05 PMYou definitely make the best desserts, Jocelyn! I love the smore and pumpkin flavors in these bars. Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:46 AMYou’re too sweet! 😉 Thank you Gayle!
marcie says
August 24, 2014 at 6:00 PMThis is the perfect end-of-summer-with-fall-flavors-on-the-brain dessert! Pumpkin with gooey marshmallow and chocolate sounds like THE best combination. 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
August 24, 2014 at 8:51 PMYes summer is still here with a vengance too! I’m so looking forward to it cooler, but that won’t stop me from making pumpkin! LOVE these s’mores bars, obvi!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:47 AMFall weather has finally arrived here, yay! 🙂 Thanks Dorothy!
Wendy says
August 24, 2014 at 11:31 PMI was closing my eyes at all pumpkin deserts until I saw these hybrid summer-fall bars! They look delicious! I love pumpkin, but am holding on to summer and don’t want to rush the seasons. As long as it is in the 90’s here, I can ignore that winter is around the corner.
Laura+O+|Petite+Allergy+Treats says
August 25, 2014 at 8:32 AMI’m in for anything pumpkin and these bars ROCK! Pinned and can’t wait to to try these!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:47 AMThanks Laura! 🙂
[email protected]+A+Kitchen+Addiction says
August 25, 2014 at 9:32 AMSuch a perfect combination of seasons and flavors!
[email protected] says
August 25, 2014 at 9:49 AMYAY for pumpkin!! And way to make this still summery with the s’mores topping 🙂 These pumpkin bars look fantastic! Pinned! Hope you had a great weekend Jocelyn
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:48 AMThanks Chelsea! 🙂
Cookbook+Queen says
August 25, 2014 at 10:44 AMOh my gosh, same with the weather here. We are totally making up for the mild Summer we had! These bars are seriously fabulous.
Michelle @My California Kitchen says
August 25, 2014 at 1:38 PMSummer meets fall! Love these! Pinning these for consumption ASAP! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:49 AMI hope you make these! Your taste buds will thank you! 😉
Julie @ Willow Bird Baking says
August 25, 2014 at 2:22 PMI’m a pumpkin addict, and these look incredible!!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
August 25, 2014 at 3:08 PMIt came back for sure and I am super bummed about it. >_< I just made pumpkin cornbread over the weekend to welcome Fall, and BOOM – it's going to hit 90 tomorrow. Well, at least I can hide in the AC and pretend Autumn is here with these gooey pumpkin smores bars! 😀 They look awesome, Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:50 AMHaha! Thank goodness for AC! 😉 Thanks Jess!
[email protected]+Beyond+Frosting says
August 25, 2014 at 4:13 PMSeriously?!?! I am going to have to try these STAT!
Krystle(Baking Beauty) says
August 25, 2014 at 9:32 PMYesssss what a genius way to merge summer and fall. These look beyond yum!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:50 AMThanks Krystle! 🙂
Jocelyn+(Grandbaby+Cakes) says
August 25, 2014 at 10:46 PMYou totally have my looking forward to fall now with these incredible bars!!! And I adore s’mores!!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
August 26, 2014 at 12:13 AMShut the front door! I need these in my life ASAP. I’ve got the pumpkin baking itch too Glad to see I’m not the only one 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
August 27, 2014 at 5:59 AMThese bars look amazing! I love pumpkin all year round and love that you combined that with summery s’mores! So creative and super tasty – pinned 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 9, 2014 at 2:51 AMThanks for pinning Kelly! 🙂
Lolly Jane says
August 30, 2014 at 8:27 PMLooks incredible. Shared on our site & pinned. MMM!
Grace says
September 1, 2014 at 6:38 PMI love how simple and easy this recipe is! It makes me want it to be fall already! 🙂
Would you ever consider posting or even experimenting with Gluten-Free alternatives to your yummy dessert posts? I have been Gluten free for over a year and a half now and have been dying to get into baking again, but I have been struggling to find easy to do recipes where I can make and enjoy something this delicious, but in a GF version. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 2, 2014 at 10:30 AMAlmost all the recipes that I share are ones I make for my family, and since no one here is gluten free I do not do those kind of recipes. I am sorry! I know with some googling most recipes can be made gluten free, but I do not have experience with doing that. I have heard that most cake mix recipes can be exchanged for the gluten free cake mixes. I wish I could be more helpful!
Chels+R. says
September 2, 2014 at 12:10 AMOohhh, that toasted marshmallow is killing me 🙂
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says
September 10, 2014 at 11:41 PMOur days still feel like summer here too! At least 90° and fall seems like it’s way far off in the future… At least the mornings and evenings are cooling off a bit though. I’ve got the pumpkin baking itch too, and I can’t wait any longer. These s’mores bars look incredible Jocelyn! Totally have my name written all over them. 😉 Pinned!