I stand before you with a giant smile on my face.
I imagine that rainbows and shooting stars light up the sky behind me. ย I imagine I have the ability to summon a parade of ponies and sea horses… that’s how (humbly) excited I am about these cookie squares.
They’re so simple: ย vanilla bean crust, cherry jam, and toasted marshmallows. ย I know I haven’t invented cookies… I just feel particularly proud of these.
The possibilities with these cookie squares are endless, and yours to create. ย I know you’re thinking Nutella… I know you.
However you fancy, I promise that when you make these squares, you’ll feel like summoning the pony parade. ย This is real!
And… GO!
ย 
My favorite kind of dough is a press-in situation. ย This is that.
Dough is simply sprinkled with with flour and pressed with clean fingers into the four corners of the pan.
So satisfying.
Totally like adult play-doh.
Adult play-doh that turns into a giant cookie!
This is a shortbread-ish cookie, thought it’s softer and more chewy. ย Less crisp that a traditional shortbread. ย We want it more pliable that crumbly.
This is the part when the spreadables come in. ย I chose a good cherry jam.
This might be the part where you start yelling.
Why did you use jam and not Nutella!? ย Whhhyyyyy!? ย Why did you not use Nutella!?
Well… sure, chocolate hazelnut spread is totally an option. ย An awesome option. ย Surely.
There’s something you should know about me. ย I like Nutella two ways: ย with pretzels or with a giant spoon. ย Not complicated into baked goods.
So cherry jam it is!
Marshmallows are sliced in half before being lined atop the jam.
Now.
Now we work the oven.
The marshmallow topped cookie is placed in a 350 degree oven… just to warm the marshmallows, making them smashable.
Marshmallows must be smashable to be toastable. ย It’s like science… but not really at all.
This is the part when hot hot fire gets thrown in the mix.
We’ll need some broiler action to toast these marshmallows. ย Please trust me when I say that these marshmallows only need about 3 to 5 seconds under a gas broiler to toast. ย Translation: ย I set my first round of marshmallows ablaze. ย Don’t even close the oven door.
Yea… it’s that serious.
Imagine all the combinations you could use in this preparation: ย orange curd and chocolate chips, nutella, caramelized bananas and toasted peanuts, dulce de leche!? ย SO MUCH!
Think of these marshmallow squares in math terms:
Lemon bars – lemon + vanilla bean + cherry jam + toasted marshmallows = perfectly perfect.
If you’d like to make your own marshmallows, these Honey Vanilla Bean Marshmallows are sublime. ย Or… if you just want a milkshake, look no further.
Toasted Marshmallow Squares
makes 9 squares in an 8-inch square pan
adapted from the Joy the Baker Cookbookย and The Complete Book of Cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean, scraped or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg yolk
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for pressing dough into pan
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fruit preserves
15 marshmallows, cut in half
Place rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. ย Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper (leaving some overhanging paper flaps on two ends) and grease parchment paper. ย Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. ย Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in vanilla bean scrapings (or vanilla extract) and egg yolk. ย Beat until well incorporated. ย Stop the mixer and add flour. ย Beat on low speed until completely incorporated.
Spoon batter into prepared pan. ย Sprinkle with flour. ย With clean fingers, press the dough into the bottom of the pan. ย Use a bit more flour as necessary so that the dough doesn’t stick to your fingers. ย Try to make the crust as even as possible.
Bake crust for 20-24 minutes until golden brown around the edges, but still slightly soft in the center. ย Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
Run a thin butter knife around edges of the pan. ย Use the two parchment paper flaps to carefully remove the crust from the pan. ย Run a butter knife between the crust and the paper and carefully slide the crust from the paper and onto a unlined baking sheet.
Top crust with a thin layer of fruit preserved. ย Arrange marshmallows on top of jam. ย Return to the 350 degree oven for about 4 minutes. ย This will warm and soften the marshmallows. ย Remove from the oven and turn the oven onto the broiler setting. ย Use the back of a spoon to gently press and smash the top of each marshmallow.
Once all the marshmallows are smashed, return to the broiler. ย Keep a very very very very close eye on the marshmallows. ย They’ll toast in seconds. ย They’ll burn in seconds. ย I didn’t even close the broiler door. ย They just need a kiss of broiler action.
Remove toasted marshmallow cookie from the oven. ย Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. ย Cookies can be served slightly warm or at room temperature. ย Cookies can be left, well wrapped at room temperature, for up to 4 days. ย
169 Responses
These are some of the best bars I’ve ever made. People now ask me to make this.
Just a note that the recipe never specifies when to add the 1/4 tsp salt it calls for – might want to edit to include, thanks!
I’m sorry. The salt goes in with the melted butter and marshmallows.
mm yummy, this with a big pot of tea. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
Ohhhhhh……the possibilities….4th of July Party and am going to do several different batches. Lemon/blueberry….chocolate/cherry…..graham/Nutella….nom…nom! Adult Smores! Thank You for the wonderful inspiration!
Sigh. We were meant for each other.
My friend requested cookies as her birthday treat, and these seemed awesome enough to celebrate with. Holy moly, were they ever! I made your vanilla bean and honey marshmallows (which by themselves are amazing and make store-bought marshmallows look pathetic), and almost burnt caramel sauce from your cookbook (which I have been slathering on the marshmallows on the daily). Caramel went on top of cookie, next came banana slices, last marshmallows. My friend loved them! Birthday success. Thank you, Joy!
Hi there! I just tried to bake these and I couldn’t get my batter to become dough like. How much is a stick of butter in the US? In Australia it’s 250 grams. Did I use too much? Mine was cake like after I baked it, too soft to support the toppings. Any ideas? Thanks!
Oh. My. Gosh.
Ok, I could punch someone in the face over those incredible looking squares! I mean that in the nicest way possible, I promise. Second, I could punch myself in the face! Ive known about ur blog for a long time but today is the first time I’m actually visiting. Wt..o.O?! I know, I know….sorry. but I have fallen head over heels for ur witty writing n incredible recipes n photos. I even gushed about ur blog on pinterest. U have been fire rocketed to #1 for blogs n imaginary baking best friend lol ..cough..before this gets really weird n out of hand, I’m going to make these but use caramelized white chocolate, cocoa nibs, myb finely chopped pecans n the mashmallow. Might have to add really dark chocolate to balance out the sweetness. Myb even smoked sea salt…..mmm…well, thank u so much. If no one has told u today, n shame on them, u totally rock n keep kickin ass bc ur AWEsome @ it! Have a great day!
I made these last night and they we amazing and super easy to make! I had a few friends over for dinner and it was a hit! Even the kids loved it! Thank you for such a great dessert!!!
You could put a light layer of peanut butter, like a fluffer-nutter sandwich.
I might try these with graham crackers pulverized into a flour…s’mores shortbread bars?
The folks at my 4th of July BBQ are some lucky people….
These were fantastic, Joy! I had some leftover homemade chocolate icing so I went for the twist on an indoor S’mores! S’Mores in bar form on top of shortbread was a total winner in my book!
Great. Now I am slobbering all over my desk.
These look great!! Thinking about them with nutella or peanut butter just makes me drool… A question though, you think the cookie squares would work well with self-raising flour instead?
I wouldn’t try it with self-rising flour.
Yumazing!
My brain is exploding with all the possible combinations for this. Love. it.
Biscoff spread!!!!!!
I still have some leftover dulce de leche in my fridge I need to use that I’ve been trying desperately not to finish off with a spoon… I haven’t found a way to rationalize how this is dramatically different from eating it with a spoon, but it must be, and therefore this is how I will use it. Yummmmm
Well this just looks too yummy. I’m very impressed and will make this for book club! I love toasted marshmallows so much that I’ll toast them over the gas flame of my stove when I get a hankering for them! Thank you!
Ooh, the possibilities are endless….Thanks!
Okay, so what I ate a fourth of these by myself as soon as they came out of the oven. Yeah, I covered them in chocolate chips and Nutella. So what?
yup, yup. nutella + pretzels is the BEST. melted on oatmeal is a close second.
made these last night and brought them into work today-already a hit. thanks for the lovely recipes!
If you were to coat this entire thing in chocolate it would be just like a VIVA PUFF!!!
ohhhh yumyumyumyuym
I bet you could use a creme-brulee torch (if you have one) to toast the marshmallows…Maybe it would be easier (or at least, safer) than broiling them to get the finished effect?
mmm, looks soo delicious .
MERITIQUE
MERITIQUE
MERITIQUE
It looks sooo yummy!
ilaktionova.blogspot.com
Oh, Joy. Day after day you deliver on the goods. I’m going to have to make these with rapberry jam and a sprinkling of nuts, and maybe some chopped chocolate in the base. Rocky road style. Oh, yes. Yes indeedy.
My family loves Nutella, and Lemon curd on graham crackers together so this would probably be great on this dough also. :)
Good gosh. I want to put that entire thing in my face! That is such a great idea!
*gasp* I’m pretty sure this concept could be revolutionary. Marshmallow-topped “insert wonderfulness here” that you bake in the oven. Joy this is amazing.
Love.
Yum, these are sooooo good. I sprinkled some coconut on top just before putting them under the broiler. This is a new family favourite. Thanks
I have never eaten mashmallows befor – I am shamed! I must made those toasted Mashmallow Squares!
Oh joy, reading you and making the great recipes you share with us just makes me happy :)
It would mean the world to me if you checked my website out, it’s https://www.healthy-cuisine.com/ !
Have a great day Joy !
Camille
All I could think was Viva Puffs and that these need to be made with good raspberry jam and then have dark chocolate sprinkled on afterwards. If you are not Canadian and have never had the privilege of enjoying a viva puff, google it.
Mmmmm… Just made a huge load of cherry, rhubarb, vanilla bean jam, so will be making these bars today! Thanks for another fab recipe!
Oh, and please come visit NH. :)
Thanks for not using Nutella. I’ve always known you were an individual.
The whole apparment still smells like toasted marshmallows an cherry jam.
A little bit of sunshine in the midst of a rain-drowning day :)
joy, what are you doing. joy, what are you doing. you’re a genius, joy. the world isn’t ready for this. you’ve reinvented and improved upon s’mores. how can this be.
those are just adorable! they look like camping.
Oh, yum. There is no way this is NOT happening in my house. I love all of it – even the cherry jam. I feel a little silly about how excited I actually am!
i might just make these soon,
i have all these ingredients but i have so many sweets
in the house, i shuouldn’t be baking anytime soon!
Just made them…beyond delicious!!
wow–so delicious….why are marshmallows so delicious and fun to eat??
Oooooh maybe a savory variation with truffle oil + arugula? Dying of possibilities already..
wow… how could i have not thought of this. marshmallow + jam = ftw.
What a great recipe, i usually make this recipe with almonds,my girls will love! this one
After several broiling disasters, I too, broil with the oven door open! What a fantastic canvas for endless dessert possibilities!
Nutella and pretzels???!!! That’s EXACTLY what I’ve been doing!!
Yes, the possibilites are endless with these bars and I like that, Joy. I also like the combination that you made. I think I’m going to have to use my little blow torch for the marshmallows though since my broiler’s not in functioning mode. besides, I love to play with fire. ;-)
Shut. Up.
I need these in my mouth right now.
What the…
totally topping this with dark chocolate brownies!!!
It’s putting a new spin on S’mores. Love the fruit preserves.
how about chocolate brownie bottom layered with almond butter (sweetened of course!) — and your famous toasted coconut smooshed in there too! yum!
so simple but so delicious looking! i’m quite certain there is not much that tastes better than a toasted marshmallow…
DROOOLING! The thought of this treat and all its variations will probably be the demise of my 3-day wedding diet. curses!!
Scrum-didily-umptious! I may try cookie with some pb with a bit of powder sugar blended in to sweeten then top with marshmallows – like a dessert version of fluffer nutter sandwiches – which are arrack kinda desserty.
And by chocolate ships I meant chips. But if a ship sailed by made of chocolate I wouldn’t object to allowing it a place in my dessert.
Oh my golly gosh. Cherry jam is probably my favorite when it comes to fruit flavored spreadables. And I love shortbread. Being a vegetarian I’d leave off the marshmallow but that would leave the option of sprinkling some chocolate ships on that jam…
I love your pan. It’s so well-used and well-loved.
i’m thinking nutella AND a favorite jam. why limit oneself!?
p.s. please be my best friend:)
i really like the way your mind works.
Joy, you never fail to impress me. Your posts always make me smile and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
it’s almost like the stuff we used to make with my gramma – saltine crackers, peanut butter, and toasted marshmallows. so totally, you should do this with PB. FAB.
Stop it. Looks AMAZING.
You are a goddess in human form, Joy. Yum!
Cherry jam! I need more cherry jam in my life. And I’m really excited about the idea of shortbread that’s a little more soft and chewy than shortbread. Thanks, Joy!
How could I make marshmallows that are vegetarian? Could I just substitute pectin for gelatin in your Honey and Vanilla Bean Marshmallow recipe or would that taste funny?
I’ve used agar as a gelatin substitute before. Never in marshmallows, but it has worked well for me in other applications so it’s worth a shot.
How do you not turn into the size of a house with all this baking??? Your posts/photos are total eye candy for me; I gain weight just looking at them! But keep ’em comin’!!
Hummm !!!!
I love that: adult play-dough. And it’s a lot tastier and better smelling than play dough. :D Anyways, these look great! But I’m curious about the taste combination of jam/jelly and marshmallows. It sounds kind of weird. But it looks delicious!
You had me at Nutella and pretzels….
yayyyy, definitely trying these out….perfect way to feel like i’m camping but without the whole camping thing
I ‘m smiling right back. Oh my goodness. Yum
The fact that I can see the specks of vanilla bean all up in the cookie makes my heart soar…I’m seeing rainbows even though I haven’t even tried the cookie yet. This is a summer grilling dessert. I know it’s baked….but I say it’s a summer grilling dessert and I want it now. :)
Well, those look delightful. I think I’ll be trying these out for a family dinner soon. Thanks for your genius, Joy!
I’m totally tonight for my First Friday BBQ.
Best (and easy thankfully) idea ever!
I am so going the chocolate route with these. Yum. Yum. Yum.
I stopped buying Nutella after that time I ate 2 jars in 4 days, justifying it as a well-balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A giant spoon, knife, fork (whatever was available) was all I needed to indulge.
I love the cherry jam idea. Yummy and fruity and perfect for summer! Looks beautiful as always!
That looks so yummy!!! I’ll be honest though, while I was enamored with the recipe, I was in total awe of your cookie sheet. :-) It looks like mine! All the cooking blogs & shows I watch have pristine, pretty, new looking cookie sheets and I’m all WTHeck! How do they keep them that way? Do they buy new ones every time they cook? ‘Cuz mine look NOTHING like that! LOL! And, yes, I do clean them. ;-) Thanks for keeping it real! Love your blog, FB page and podcast!
Big smile = totally deserved. These are even squeal-worthy, even! :)
Also apparently worthy of awkward word repetition. Real life.
Yum! I feel like a child again!
I need these. Sometimes I crave toasted marshmallows like whoa. I like that you use jam instead of Nutella!
These look amazing – what a great treat! They look so delicious. :)
I totally agree with you about Nutella. The pretzel is just the mode of transportation from the Nutella jar to my mouth.
I’m definitely thinking Nutella – though cherry jam sounds delicious too!
oh yum – this looks so good!
Joy, have you heard of Wild Squirrel? They make “gourmet” peanut butters. I just bought one the other day… chocolate peanut butter with a touch of coconut oil. Its fantastic! I’m thinking it would be amazing on this marshmallow cookie situation. Definitely pony parade inducing.
The possibilities and variations on these cookies are endless! What a great idea. Genius! Yes to Nutella, chocolate, bananas, jams, good grief….
Oh my…nuff said. Have a good weekend!
I’ve been experimenting with layered cookies in square form lately, and I LOVE the use of marshmallows here. Definitely going to be trying that out :)
And my dog thanks you in advance for the fire warning-his ears are large, and the smoke detector is loud.
Totally laughed out loud when you said, “yea… it’s that serious” about the broiling situation. So guilty of having made angry fire mallows in my oven, though my house did smell like the outdoors for a few days. Haha! Enjoy your trip Joy! I’ll be enjoying these delights!
I think I want to put lemon zest in the base and smother it with blueberry preserves…..or orange marmalade…..or lemon curd?!?!?!? Would that totally work??? This thing is trouble with a capital “T”…….and I am, for once, happy that no marshmallows are in the pantry!
This sounds insanely good, will definitely have to try it (maybe this weekend for the jubilee??).
I’m in dreamland (to be honest I have been since I saw this photo on instagram!)
You had me at toasted marshmallow! I need to make dessert for a dinner party next and I do declare this is it. Awww… that’s cute that you “adapted” the recipe from your own cookbook.
Yummo! I can’t wait to make these!!
mmmm these look yummy! love that you used jam aswell.
So creative! I love nutella the same way. With pretzels its magic.
How to make your boyfriend’s work colleagues like you: make these, send a pretty box of them with said boyfriend to work, with instructions to share. Wait for the dinner party invitations to roll in.
How to make your boyfriend’s work colleagues hate you: make these, post pictures on facebook, and don’t send any to work with said boyfriend.
The first time I roasted marshmallows in the oven, I closed the door. I opened the door a few minutes later, and there was a raging inferno!! I freaked out and pulled the burning marshmallows of death out of the oven. It was funny afterwards, just not in the moment. I’ve learned my lesson. These cookies look great!
i’m totally going with a peanut butter layer instead of jam for a lil fluffernutter action. maybe get crazy with a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips.
Clearly these need a Nutella and Cookie Butter swirl as the pre-marshmallow layer.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUDE
My mind is blown. I totally thought I knew what I was going to bake tomorrow… but I was WRONG.
I’m making this, and of course I’m going to try and work chocolate in there… Do you think a chocolate shortbread action would be interesting? I don’t want to sub-out the fruit bit… but I’m longing for a subtle hint of chocolate. Maybe cocoa nibs sprinkled over the cherry…
Umm have we considered topping with Cookie Butter???!
These are super cute!! Love it!
No. Way. You did NOT post this. I knew I shouldn’t have clicked on your site today, Joy… Now I have to make these. That’s all there is to it. :)
I’ll bet one of those torches for creme brรปlรฉe would work to finish the marshmallows, and might be easier to control than the broiler. Just a thought.
I’m with you— Nutalla should only go on spoons…. or fingers.
I would love it with the cherry jam! I get you. I’m sure that feels like a parade in your mouth!
This looks really good, but if you need to just stir the dough with a spoon, ie. No stand mixer, will the cookie consistency end up the same?
sure. just make sure you cream the butter and sugar well with a spoon.
I’ll take any excuse to eat a toasted marshmallow!
I just died and went to marshmallow heaven. Its the Queens Diamond Jubilee this weekend in the UK so I have time to try these out! yumyumyum!
The nutella version sounds amazing, now if only I could find big marshmallows in London…
I’m probably gonna try the Nutella’s version…and I will most likely pass out after eating the whole thing.
That’s how I plan to spend my weekend…lying on the floor recovering from the sugar rush!
Is there anything better?
I love the cherry and marshmallow combo but there are so many options. One of my favourite treats is something I know as millionaire’s shortbread which has a shortbread base and is topped with caramel (salted preferably) and chocolate. Amazing.
I’ve been curious — the china plate in the first picture with that vintage teal green on it — is it made by Minton? Looks like a Minton plate. :)
I just read about/saw pictures of a sprinkle piรฑata and now these?? May already be in trippy dream land.
Oh my… there goes the diet.
I L-O-V-E marshmallows!
Jam, yum. I can’t wait to try the possibilities.
Maybe apple butter and caramel OR
pumpkin butter? (I’m dreaming of Thanksgiving). :)
As always, thank you, Joy!
I love that you used jam and not Nutella, PB, choc chips, etc. Of course you COULD but the jam is original. And unique. And I love this!!!
these look fantastic! and thanks for the note about the broiler. you know i would be the one to set the smoke detector off with flaming marshmallows.
What a creative girl you are! I’m a sucker for all things jelly in baking and these look like they’d knock my jellyometer of the scale!!
You had me right up until the processed marshmallows on top. I would whip up a batch while the crust bakes and then spread it over the top. It would be a much texture and taste. I might have to try it over the weekend.
meow meow.
That first photo and your opening paragraph totally snapped me out of my Friday arvo slump! Now I just need this last hour of work to hurry up so I can go home and give these (and many combos a try) … a bit of chocolate on the top and you’d have some fabulous Royales (which my friends and I only re-discovered last weekend so the timing of this is perfect).