Campfire Crunch Cookies with a graham-studded shortbread, chocolate and toasted marshmallow!
Shortbread cookies studded with buttery graham crunch, chocolate and topped with a toasted marshmallow!
Prep Time1 hourhr
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Servings: 24cookies
Ingredients
Graham crumb
4tbspunsalted butter
6tbspsugar
1/2packgraham crackers (71 grams)
1/4tspkosher salt
Cookies
1stickunsalted butter, softened (113 grams)
1/2cupsugar (99 grams)
1/2tspvanilla extract
1.5tbspmilk* (see note)
1tspbaking powder
1/4tspkosher salt
1.5cupsall-purpose flour (195 grams)
1/2cupchocolate chunks or chopped Andes mints
1/2cupgraham crumb
12marshmallows, ripped in half
Reynolds Kitchens® Parchment Paper with SmartGrid®
Instructions
Make the graham crumb:
Before you start the graham crumb, set out a stick of cold butter from the fridge to soften slightly for the cookies. Preheat the oven to 325 F.
Dice the 4 tbsp of butter (can be cold or softened--cutting it into small pieces helps it melt faster) and combine with the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
While the butter and sugar melt, crush half a pack of graham crackers into crumbs. I like to do this inside the sleeve it comes in so I don't have to dirty another plastic bag. Simply grasp an unopened sleeve of graham crackers and break it down the midline. Then use a rolling pin to gently (gently so you don't explode the bag open!) crush half the graham crackers into rough crumbs (use your fingers to squish any pieces larger than a pea.)
Once the butter/sugar mixture starts to bubble, let it cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the sugar has melted and the mixture is very foamy and almost stretchy looking.
Remove butter/sugar mixture from heat and immediately stir in the graham cracker crumbs and salt until evenly incorporated. Pour crumbs onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer crumbs to another bowl to cool. Increase the oven temperature to 350 F.
Make the cookies:
While the graham crumbs are baking, cut the slightly softened butter into 1/2-inch chunks. Use an electric stand or hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together for about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides occasionally, until very light and fluffy.
Add the vanilla and milk and cream for another 1-2 minutes until well incorporated.
To save on bowls, I like to add the dry ingredients directly at this point. Evenly sprinkle the baking powder, salt and flour over the butter mixture and beat in the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in the chocolate and 1/2 cup of graham crumbs (reserve the extra graham crumb for garnishing later).
Cut a piece of parchment paper using the SmartGrid® to help cut straight lines to fit your desired cookie sheet and divide dough in half.
Working with half the dough at a time (leaving the other half covered with a towel in the mixing bowl), roll out the dough to about 1/4-1/2-inch thick on the parchment paper cut to fit the cookie sheet you plan to bake on. If the dough is too sticky, place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough.
Use a ~2-3" biscuit or cookie cutter (or just the rim of a cup) to stamp out about 12 cookies, re-rolling the dough as needed. Transfer the parchment sheet to your cookie sheet and space the cookies out evenly. Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes or until set on top. Repeat the rolling and cutting out with the other half of the dough.
Cookies will look pale and puffed after the initial bake minutes (this is fine as they'll brown further under the broiler). Place half a marshmallow on top of each cookie and broil for an additional ~2 minutes at 400 degrees, until just golden brown--watch carefully to make sure the marshmallow doesn't burn.
While the marshmallow is still soft, slide a chunk of chocolate into the center of the marshmallow and sprinkle with reserved graham crumb. Enjoy!
Notes
This recipe is adapted from my favorite sugar cookie base, In Katrina's Kitchen.*This cookie base is half of Katrina's recipe with milk subbed for the egg. If you double the recipe, I highly recommend omitting the milk and using 1 large egg instead for a slightly richer dough with better rise.