Vegan Smores Cookie Bars feature a golden cookie crust, plenty of chocolate chips and a marshmallow topping that gets toasty in the oven! A crowd pleasing warm weather dessert.
I’ve got the perfect summertime dessert for you!
If you can’t decide if you want a chocolate chip cookie or a Smores, why not combine the two to create a super decadent, crowd pleasing dessert bar?
What I LOVE about these Vegan Smores Cookie Bars:
- They are much easier to eat with less mess to clean up.
- They’re incredibly simple to make with 9 ingredients and 1 bowl.
- The golden cookie crust is absolutely scrumptious and the (vegan) marshmallows get all toasty in the oven. BEST THING EVER.
So what are you waiting for? Make these for your next backyard cookout and watch them disappear!
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What are vegan marshmallows and where can I find them?
Normally, marshmallows have gelatin in them which is not vegan because it’s made from animal ligaments. Thankfully, there are some awesome brands out there making vegan ones, so not to worry.
I’m lucky enough to shop at Trader Joe’s, where they almost always have vegan marshmallows on hand. Sometimes the big ones, and sometimes they carry mini ones. Either is fine!
If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods nearby, you can always order Dandies Vegan Marsmallows on Amazon for a pretty good deal! They are yummy and totally worth it when you need some marshmallows.
What chocolate chips are vegan?
Make sure to check the ingredients on chocolate chips, because often times they contain milk fat or butter oil. Guittard brand semi-sweet chocolate chips are vegan, as well as Trader Joe’s. I’m sure there are others, but those are the two I use most often.
Want more vegan summertime dessert recipes?
Vegan Smores Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted vegan butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons almond milk soy or coconut milk fine
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups vegan chocolate chips I used mini chocolate chips
- 10 ounces vegan marshmallows I used Trader Joes brand
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8 x 8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted vegan butter, brown sugar, vanilla and almond milk until smooth. Now add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix with a large wooden spoon until combined.
- Add 2/3 of the cookie dough into the pan and push it down evenly with your hands. (If it sticks, wet your hands slightly as needed.)
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the chocolate chips on top of the cookie dough (leave 1/4 cup for the top). Now add the marshmallows, evenly, on top of the chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle the rest of the cookie dough on top, as well as the rest of the chocolate chips.
- Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. May also broil for just a couple of minutes to make the marshmallows even more toasty, but watch closely so it doesn't burn! Let cool for 10 minutes or so before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- May sub coconut oil for the vegan butter if desired.
- Any kind of non-dairy milk will work here, not just almond milk.
- Try subbing with a gluten free flour mix to make these gluten free.
Do you think oat flour or almond flour could be substituted?
I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure. It might work but substituting especially with almond flour can be tricky.
Could I double this recipe and use a 9×13 pan? What might be the time adjustment on that?
Sure, you probably could do that. I would guess around 35 minutes or so.
This recipe is sooo good! I have made it twice already. Thanks a lot for sharing it! ??
I’m glad you’re loving them! Thanks for sharing your review!
I’m wondering if any other kind of topping will work with this crust?
I’m sure it would.
Hi there! I’m curious how long the vegan marshmallows stay soft or if this is still good 2-3 days after it’s made?
The marshmallows should be a little crispy on top but they do stay soft for a few days, but to be honest I’m not sure it’s lasted that long in my house! But 2-3 days should be fine, yes.
Was very good!
Amazing!!
Could I try and sub some oil for unsweetened apple sauce? How much might work? Or is there a better alternate? Trying to lower fat ratio but keep the right texture and taste?
You could try, but they will probably be softer and quite different in texture. Subbing half applesauce for oil might work quite well. Hope that helps!
Used vanilla soy milk unsweetened kind and put all the dough and then chocolate and marshmallows ( fewer than Called for) and absolutely fantastic!! Also didn’t add the salt because the vegan butter had some. Yum yum thanks
So glad you enjoyed the bars!
Another winner from Nora!!!
This was so easy to put together. The only tip I can think to mention is that the marshmallows will puff up while baking, but as it cools they’ll resume they’re semi-original form. So yummy and tastes like a s’more!
Thanks for the comment!
This looks so good. Being plant based what can I substitute the butter for? Can I use date sugar in place of brown sugar?
Maybe applesauce, but I don’t know if it would actually work. You could probably use date sugar instead of brown, yes. Thanks!
There are a ton of vegetable oil based butters that almost every grocery store has!
Best. Dessert. Ever
Thanks!!!
Little bites of chocolaty heaven!! Your blog is my go-to spot to bake anything. I had to skip the vegan Marshmallows since I didn’t have them on hand. Can’t wait to try it next time. We enjoyed the chocolate chip bars with Vanilla ice cream and it was delicious. Thank you Nora for the wonderful and simple recipe.
You’re so welcome! Thanks for the great comment!
Can you use the base recipe for the cookie dough for cookies or layer brownie batter on top and then add the marshmellows and choco chips?
You probably could. Have fun!
These were bomb! Easy to make. And it looks amazing too! Tastes like a melty marshmallowy chocolate chip cookie! Would be good with graham crackers crumbled on top after cooking or something crunchy.
Hi there!
I’d love to make this (just for me) so I’m wondering if you’ve had success in freezing cut squares of this? Seems like it would be ok but if you have tried it before let me know!
thanks!
Yes the squares freeze well. Just let one sit out for 20-30 minutes to thaw and then you can enjoy it!
Did anyone else’s chocolate chips not melt at all? I don’t know if mine looks right.
This is exceedingly good! I only recently got into baking and have no idea what I’m doing, and have never been very good in the kitchen at all. I made this and was almost angry with it because it was SO frickin good it was hard not to eat the entire thing. I brought it to work to share and my coworkers were shocked it was vegan – and two of my coworkers (neither of whom are vegan) loved it so much they came back for about 7 pieces each. (I cut it into little squares and put them in cupcake paper holder things to make it easier to share)
The only things I did different were I didn’t realize I didn’t have quite enough chocolate chips so I cut up a dark chocolate bar for the rest, and I used a toaster oven which ended up roughly halving the baking time, surprisingly.
10/10 recommend, no question. I’ve never bothered to stop and write a review on a recipe before, never thought I would, but this is so stupidly good I had to. Thank you for this recipe! I’m about to make more!
Wow, thank you so much for the wonderful comment! I’m so glad these were a hit!
Hi there! How long do these keep, generally speaking? Was thinking of mailing some to friends for Christmas but wasn’t sure if they’d go bad before arriving with standard shipping
They will keep for 3-4 days I would say. I’m not sure how long standard shipping usually takes, so they might be okay?
Big hit at an outdoor summer party! The lead singer of the band that was playing at the party gave these s’mores a shout out! I made several batches of these a couple of days before the party, and they were still great (or better). I was thinking that these were going to be so good (ooey gooey and warm) right out of the oven and not be great once cooled. Just the opposite! I preferred them a day or two later. For my test batch, I used the so-so vegan chocolate chips that I had on hand. After tasting, I decided that they needed better chocolate. The Enjoy Life brand dark chocolate chips are expensive, but it was worth it. My opinion is use better tasting chocolate for this recipe. These are SO easy to make. Thank you as always Nora!!
I’m so happy the bars were a hit! That’s so great! Thanks for sharing and leaving a comment. 🙂
These are amazing! I made them tonight for Thanksgiving tomorrow, and I was wondering if they’re best left out or refrigerated over night? Any help is greatly appreciated!!
They can be left out, sorry if this was to late! If you refrigerated them, not to worry that will be fine as well, they just don’t have to be refrigerated. Thanks!
I only have chunky chocolates on hand. With those be OK to use instead of chocolate chips? So excited to try this recipe!
Yes, that’s fine. Hope you enjoy!
So heavenly good????????? & so easy to make! My daughter couldn’t wait for it to cool & had it piping hot ?. Delicious is all she kept saying! Thanks again for another successful recipe ?
I’m so happy you and your daughter enjoyed the Smores Cookie Bars! They are almost TOO GOOD. 🙂
So excited to make these! Every. Single. One. of your recipes have come out amazing! If you had a cookbook it would be the only one I use. It needs to happen!!
Do you recommend making these the day of or a day ahead?
Thanks!
Awww thanks so much! Now I just have to find a publisher. 🙂 Hopefully one day soon I’ll make a cookbook! I think they are best the day of but they are pretty great the second day, too.
These were perfect for our Father’s Day BBQ! So easy and so delicious, these are definitely at the top of my go-to list now. Thanks for providing tips on where to find vegan marshmallows and chocolate chips. Trader Joe’s is amazing!
I think I just found the perfect father’s day dessert!
These are the best ever! Will be making these all the time. So simple and delicious. Thank you!