Christmas Chocolate Marshmallow Bars Recipe
These Christmas Bars are a festive, chocolaty treat combining a crunchy graham cracker base with gooey marshmallows, rich cocoa, and sweetened condensed milk for that perfect chewy texture. Topped with chocolate chips and optionally chopped nuts, they bake to a golden finish — making them a delightful holiday dessert or snack that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress your family and friends.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 40-45 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil as a dairy-free substitute)
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
Mix-ins
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white chocolate)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure even baking of the bars. This step is crucial to prevent uneven cooking and achieve the perfect texture from edge to center.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the graham cracker crumbs, unsweetened cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Mixing thoroughly breaks up lumps and blends flavors evenly, creating the base flavor and texture for the bars.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and sweetened condensed milk into the dry mixture. Stir until completely combined into a thick, sticky batter, which will give the bars their chewy and rich consistency.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and chopped nuts if using, into the batter. Take care not to overmix so the marshmallows retain their fluffiness and the bars have a varied texture.
- Spread and Bake: Evenly spread the mixture into a greased baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. The bars are done when edges are set and the center is slightly firm to the touch, releasing a tempting chocolate aroma.
Notes
- You can substitute melted coconut oil for butter to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Use high-quality cocoa powder for richer chocolate flavor.
- Feel free to omit nuts to keep the bars nut-free for allergy considerations.
- Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Keywords: Christmas bars, holiday desserts, chocolate bars, graham cracker bars, marshmallow dessert, sweetened condensed milk recipes, easy Christmas treats
