Spicy Smoky Smores Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE S'MORES BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, letting the paper hang over two sides of the pan to act as handles. Spray the parchment with non-stick spray.
• Place 18 marshmallows (about 4 ounces or 2 cups) in a medium bowl and set aside. Place the remaining 8 ounces of marshmallows (about 4 cups) in a large microwave-safe bowl along with the butter. Microwave on high until the marshmallows and butter are completely melted, about 1 minute, stirring halfway through. Stir to combine. Add the graham crackers and rice cereal and quickly stir them into the melted marshmallows. Immediately scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Spray the bottom of a measuring cup with nonstick spray and use it to press the mixture into an even layer in the pan.
• Place 1 cup heavy cream to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the cream until it is just starting to steam, about 1 minute. Add the chocolate chips and cocoa powder. Shake the bowl lightly to make sure the chips are completely submerged in the heavy cream. Let stand about 5 minutes. Whisk the heavy cream and chocolate together until smooth. If any chocolate isn't melted you can microwave for 10-second increments until completely melted. It's important to only microwave 10 seconds at a time so the mixture never gets too hot. Once melted set aside to cool slightly.
• Place the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer or a medium bowl and whip with a mixer or whisk until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the melted chocolate until you no longer see any streaks of white. Spoon the mousse over the graham cracker base and smooth the top to make an even layer.
• Cut the reserved 18 marshmallows that were set aside in half horizontally. Press 6 marshmallow halves in a row along the bottom border of the pan. Continue adding lines of marshmallows so that you have 6 rows of 6 marshmallows each covering the mousse. Cover with plastic wrap (preferably reusable) and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, cut the bars into 6 long strips following the lines of the marshmallows. Then cut the strips in half so that each bar has 3 marshmallow halves on it. If desired, toast the marshmallows with a kitchen torch and serve. The bars can be refrigerated up to 3 days.

SPICY HERMIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the egg, scrape down the bowl, then mix in the molasses.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Mix in the raisins and crystallized ginger. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured board, form it into a disk with lightly floured hands, and cut it in half. Roll each half into a log 12 inches long and place them 3 inches apart on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes; the logs will still be soft in the center.
• Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners' sugar with 5 to 6 teaspoons rum to make a pourable glaze. While the logs are still warm, drizzle the glaze back and forth across the logs with a teaspoon and sprinkle them with the lemon zest. Allow to cool. Cut each log crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-wide bars.