I’m dreaming of summer…sandy beaches, toes drenched in the blue Pacific and sitting by a campfire roasting marshmallows. The best I could do for the moment was create a S’mores cookie with chunks of chocolate, marshmallow cream mixed into the batter and dots of marshmallows that are just a bit toasty.

After three attempts to perfect the s’more cookies, I believe I have done it. It was no small task. Every which way I tried adding marshmallows to the batter, ended in cookies with caverns in them, sort of marshmallow apparitions. I was not going to give up. When I get ahold of a great idea in the kitchen, it’s fairly impossible for me let go until I’ve conquered it.

Consider these babies conquered.

With three-fourths of a cup of gooey marshmallow cream, these chocolate chip cookies have a slight sweet creaminess and chewiness to them that make them different and very special.  If I were to go for a round four of making these cookies, I might actually chop up Hershey bars to really give it that nostalgic summer flair. BUT, since I am not a big fan of Hersheys, I used 70% cocoa chocolate chips. Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

I finally figured out the trick to the marshmallow addition is taking out the cookie sheet with two minutes to go and gently pushing the marshmallows into each cookie. Then pop the tray back in the oven for their final two minutes. For the grand finale of making the marshmallows toasty, I turned on the broiler and held my pan close to the top of the oven.  DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!  

There might have been an actual bonfire at my house as it turns out. Just a little one. I was able to blow out the mini flames on my cookies pretty fast though. And all’s well that ends well.

Ooey, gooey, toasty perfection. I mean, does this cookie not scream S’more?

And if I were to give you some good practical advice to toast YOUR marshmallows, I would put my broiler pan in the oven and then place the cookie sheet on top of the broiler pan, making sure there was at least an inch of space between the heat and the cookie. Still only broil for about 30-50 seconds, keeping an eye on them at all times. Those marshmallows are tricky fellows, they tend to go up in flames rather easily.

Fine print: Please have a fire extinguisher at the ready. And put your hair in a ponytail (well maybe Greg and John don’t need this step). And  make sure you have good, strong lungs and quick reflexes. It took a little more oomph than just blowing out birthday candles. Just sayin’.

Geni’s Own, Chocolate Chip S’Mores Cookies

Makes about 30 cookies
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature (just a bit soft)
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/3 c. light brown sugar
1/3 c. dark brown sugar
3/4 c. marshmallow cream
2 t. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
1 c. chopped Hershey bar pieces or chocolate chips
3/4 c. mini marshmallows

Optional: Add graham cracker crumbs, about 1/2 c. to your batter. I did not try this yet. That might be round four of my s’more cookie development.

To make the cookies: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare two cookie sheets with either Silpat mats or parchment paper. Never ever spray coat your pan. It causes your cookies to spread like nobody’s business.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the dark and light brown sugar and beat together on medium speed. Add the vanilla and marshmallow cream and combine on medium. Finally add the two eggs and beat together until batter is creamy.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Add the 1/2 of the flour mixture to your butter mixture. Combine on low speed and scrape the sides of the bowl. Repeat. Add the chocolate chips and incorporate on low speed.  Scoop cookie dough onto prepared cookie sheets. I like to use a medium-sized ice cream scooper.  Leave about 1/2 inch in between cookies (three across four down).  Have your 1 c. of marshmallows ready by the stove.

Bake for 10-12 minutes OR until cookies look a bit soft and gooey still but just a couple of minutes from being done. Pull the cookie sheet out of the oven and set on top of the stove gently.  Push about 4-5 marshmallows into each cookie, just a couple of millimeters into the dough because you don’t want the marshmallow going all the way through to the bottom. It will burn and stick then.  Put the cookie sheet back in the oven and bake for another 2 minutes or until the cookies are slightly golden. Put your broiler pan in the oven and place your cookie sheet onto. Broil for 30 seconds only! Watch like a hawk and grab the sheet out of the oven if they start to burn or catch on fire (not kidding).

Please enjoy these babies warm. It’s just the right thing to do.