The classic campfire treat is elevated to a beautiful dessert with this easy s’mores brownie pie. Layers of crispy graham cracker crust, 1-bowl fudgy brownie filling, and gooey toasted marshmallow offer up a superior s’mores experience: all the flavor and texture, minus the fire and sticky fingers!
There’s just something about s’mores that is so nostalgic of summertime. Chances are you’ve enjoyed this sweet, gooey treat around a campfire at some point. But if hunkering down in the air-conditioning is more your summer vibe than sweating next to a blazing fire, this s’mores brownie pie is for you.
Reader Becky says: “This s’mores pie is delicious. I’ll never buy store-bought graham cracker crusts again. The brownie batter is oh so good and I’m going to have to try them solo. The marshmallows browned beautifully. My family loved it. Thanks for another keeper.”
I originally shared this recipe in 2013 and it’s been a summer favorite since. I no longer pre-bake the crust and swapped 2 Tablespoons of butter in the filling for oil, which keeps the brownie soft and moist. The filling is actually the same as this regular brownie pie.
Tell Me About This S’mores Brownie Pie
- Flavor: Enjoy a buttery graham cracker crust, a rich double-chocolate brownie, and puffy sweet marshmallows—with that special flavor they get frocfdm toasting over a fire. (But in this case, we’re just using the oven!)
- Texture: The texture of s’mores is so unique: layers of crispy graham cracker, soft melty chocolate, and gooey toasted marshmallow. This pie replicates the same mix of textures in every crispy-fudgy-gooey bite.
- Ease: You don’t even need a mixer to make this pie! You’re making a 3-ingredient graham cracker crust (no need to pre-bake it), whisking together the brownie filling in 1 bowl, and then topping with marshmallows at the end.
Start With These Ingredients
- Graham Cracker Crust: If you can’t find graham crackers where you live, see recipe Notes for some alternatives. You could also use an Oreo crust.
- Butter & Oil: Melted butter is the base of the filling. I always love how vegetable oil keeps chocolate cake soft and moist, so I add some here. You could also use melted coconut oil.
- Granulated Sugar
- Eggs: Eggs are the main performer in this recipe by adding structure and texture. You need 3 eggs total: 2 whole eggs + 1 egg yolk.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Have you tried homemade vanilla extract? I like to use it in my baking recipes, but keep in mind it takes weeks to reach its best flavor. Store-bought is great and I usually use McCormick or Nielsen-Massey. (Not sponsored, truly a fan!)
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Since there’s no leavening happening, you can use natural or dutch-process cocoa powder. You typically need to be careful about which you use if a recipe includes baking soda, such as this chocolate peanut butter cake.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: We’re doubling down on the chocolate flavor in the brownie filling, but the chocolate chips also add a wonderful texture.
- Marshmallows: I usually use large, but you could use mini marshmallows (the little ones you use when making rice krispie treats), or even make the marshmallow topping from these s’mores brownie cupcakes instead (see recipe Notes).
You need a little extra butter and sugar, plus graham crackers to make the crust. This brings the total amount of ingredients to 11.
The full printable recipe is below, but let me show you how it comes together so you know what to expect.
An Extra-Crispy Graham Cracker Crust
The recipe begins with my graham cracker crust. If you’ve had trouble with graham cracker crust in the past, use my How to Make Graham Cracker Crust post for guidance. Make sure you don’t pack the crust too tight into the pie dish. It gets extra crispy from a longer bake time, just like in this caramel apple cheesecake pie. Expect it to be crispier than a no-bake-filling pie like this strawberry cream cheese pie. In that recipe, the crust bakes for just 15 minutes.
This extra oven time gives this s’mores brownie pie even more texture, with a combination of toasted marshmallow, soft chocolate, and crispy crunchy graham cracker in every bite.
Can I Use Regular Pie Crust?
I do not recommend using a traditional pie crust because the bake time would change, and broiling the pie at the end could result in an overdone crust. If you want to use regular pie crust, however, follow the par-baking instructions in the regular brownie pie and top with the meringue topping as detailed in the note below. Or you may love this brookie pie, which uses chocolate chip cookie dough as the “crust.”
Marshmallow Topping
Bake the pie on the center rack for only about 30 minutes, then remove it from the oven and arrange marshmallows on top. I usually use 24–25 large marshmallows for this. Place the pie back inside for a few minutes to toast the marshmallows. If they aren’t toasting, turn on your broiler for a minute. Don’t walk away from the oven! Depending on your oven, toasting or broiling can be very quick.
Success Tip: Cutting Into S’mores Brownie Pie
Cool the pie for at least 45 minutes before slicing. For best results—and so the crust doesn’t completely fall apart—wait for the pie to cool for about 2 hours. The first slice is always the messiest!
This pie can certainly be messy because of the extra-sticky marshmallows, but dipping your sharp knife in HOT water and wiping dry between each slice helps. Do not expect perfection: this pie is fudgy, gooey, sticky, and crumbly all in one!
Can I Use a Marshmallow Creme Topping?
Yes, but homemade is best. I have a recipe for homemade marshmallow creme, which is really an egg white-based homemade meringue frosting that tastes like marshmallows. I use a reduced-down version to top these s’mores brownie cupcakes and this bourbon sweet potato pie, too. You can easily use it for this s’mores brownie pie, too. See specific instructions in the Notes below.
- Can I Use Store-Bought Marshmallow Creme? You could if needed, but it’s much runnier and will make a VERY messy pie. I recommend sticking to regular marshmallows if you don’t want to make a homemade marshmallow creme topping.
Unlike the marshmallow version where you use your oven’s broiler setting, use a kitchen torch to toast the homemade topping. (You need to apply the meringue to a cooled brownie pie, not warm, because a warm filling will melt the meringue topping and broiling will also initially melt the topping.)
If you love s’mores, I have plenty of s’mores-inspired dessert recipes for when campfires are few and far between, including s’mores cookie bars and no bake s’mores cake.
Let my team and me know if you try this recipe. You can also follow along on Facebook or subscribe via email to receive my best baking recipes. Something sweet for your inbox!
S’mores Brownie Pie
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 33 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours (includes cooling)
- Yield: one 9-inch pie
- Category: Pie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
You don’t even need a mixer to make this s’mores brownie pie! Make a 3-ingredient graham cracker crust (no need to pre-bake it), whisk together the brownie filling in 1 bowl, and then top with marshmallows towards the end. See recipe Notes if you want to use homemade marshmallow creme as the topping instead. For best results, I do not recommend store-bought marshmallow creme.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) graham cracker crumbs (about 12 full-sheet graham crackers)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted
Filling & Topping
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup (62g) unsweetened natural or dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup (63g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (180g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 24–25 large marshmallows (1/2 of a standard package, or use mini marshmallows)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Make the crust: Mix the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar together in a medium bowl, and then stir in the melted butter. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy. Try to smash/break up any large chunks. Pour the mixture into an ungreased 9-inch pie dish. With medium pressure using your hand, pat the crumbs down into the bottom and up the sides to make a compact crust. Do not pack down with heavy force because that makes the crust too hard. Simply pat down until the mixture is no longer crumby/crumbly. Tips: You can use a small flat-bottomed measuring cup to help press down the bottom crust and smooth out the surface, but do not pack down too hard. And run a spoon around the bottom “corner” where the edge and bottom meet to help make a rounded crust—this helps prevent the crust from falling apart. For more shaping technique tips, see the graham cracker crust recipe page.
- Make the brownie batter immediately before spreading into crust: Slice the butter into Tablespoon-size pieces and melt in the microwave in a large heatproof bowl or in a small saucepan on the stove. (Transfer melted butter to a large bowl if using the stove.) Whisk the oil and granulated sugar into the melted butter. Let it sit for 3–5 minutes to slightly cool. Whisk in 2 whole eggs, 1 egg yolk, and vanilla extract until combined. Add the cocoa powder, flour, and salt and whisk until combined. Batter will be thick. Fold in the chocolate chips. Batter will continue to thicken the longer it sits, so immediately spoon and spread evenly into crust.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and arrange marshmallows on top, pressing each very lightly down into the filling to help them stick. Return pie to the oven and continue to bake for an additional 3 minutes to toast the marshmallows. If the marshmallows aren’t toasted to your liking after this time, turn on the broiler for 30–60 seconds and remove the pie as soon as the marshmallows look toasted. Do not walk away from the oven because toasting can happen fast and the marshmallows and crust can quickly burn.
- Remove pie from the oven and cool for at least 45 minutes on a wire rack. For best presentation and neatest slices, allow to cool for closer to 2 hours or cool completely. For extra neat slices, run a very sharp knife under hot water and wipe dry between slices.
- Cover and store leftover pie at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can reheat slices for a few seconds in the microwave if desired.
Notes
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Glass Mixing Bowls | 9-inch Pie Dish | Whisk | Rubber Spatula | Cooling Rack
- Can I Use Brownie Mix? Yes. For ease, you can use a prepared boxed brownie mix to fill the unbaked graham cracker crust. Same exact baking and topping instructions.
- Marshmallow Meringue Topping Instead of Marshmallows: If you prefer, you can top this pie with homemade marshmallow meringue instead of marshmallows. Change the bake time from 30 minutes to 32–35 minutes (err on the side of underbaked because the brownie will continue to set as it cools). Let the pie cool completely set on a wire rack. Make the marshmallow meringue topping as instructed in this s’mores brownie cupcakes recipe. Use a spatula or large spoon to spread the topping on the cooled pie and, if desired, carefully use a kitchen torch to toast it. (Do not place under oven broiler.) Cutting into this pie is less messy than the marshmallow-topped pie, but making the meringue adds more steps.
- Graham Cracker Crust Alternatives: If you live outside the U.S. and graham crackers aren’t readily available, here are some other options for the pie crust. (1) Use 200g ground digestive biscuits instead (about 13–14 biscuits), the same amount of butter, and add a bit more sugar (about 1/3 cup, or 67g). You may need to add a few extra minutes to the pre-baking time, as digestive biscuits are not quite as crispy-crunchy as graham crackers. (2) Make an Oreo crust instead. No need to pre-bake, just prepare the crust mixture, press into pan, and continue with s’mores brownie pie filling/instructions above. (3) Or you may love this brookie pie, which uses chocolate chip cookie dough as the crust.
- Recipe adapted from The S’mores Cookbook.
I wish you would create a recipe for marshmallows or peeps!
Hi Leslie, If you have a copy, Sally’s recipe for homemade marshmallows is published in Sally’s Candy Addiction. We do love this homemade marshmallow creme as well!
Hello! I’d like to make this for thanksgiving. Do you think this is something I can make ahead of time? Like, today, for example (2 days ahead of time)
Hi Mel! The pie (just the brownie pie, without marshmallow topping) can be made ahead of time and stored at room temperature up to two days ahead of time. We would wait to add the marshmallows and bake/broil them the day off and reheat the pie as well. To reheat the whole pie, warm it in a 300°F (149°C) oven, covered, for 15-20 minutes – then add the marshmallows and toast them. We have not tested this, but this is what we would try! Let us know how it goes.
Hi! Thanks for the quick reply! So I made the brownie part of the pie yesterday, and did the marshmallow part this morning. I think your instructions on reheating the pie were perfect. Unfortunately yesterday when I had the brownie part in the oven for 30 min, that caused it to harden a little too much. And my graham cracker crust sucked. BUT it was still a hit, and I sure as heck loved it as well! The flavors still were so great together! I’ll definitely make again, but check the brownie at like 25. Thanks again for the quick response, and for an amazing recipe!
This was a huge hit! Why the extra egg yolk? I left this out and made it in an 11” ceramic tart pan and it worked out well for those who are wondering about the pan.
10/10, amazing!
This was delicious, but the marshmallows were so gooey and stretchy we couldn’t cut through them with a fork to eat! It was hysterical watching everyone attempt to eat it when your entire slice is hanging from a string of marshmallow off your fork. Dessert and entertainment all in one!
Ok, figured it out. We reheated the leftover slices a bit and the marshmallow was perfectly easy to eat. The trick here, I think, is to not let it cool too much! Best served warm 😀
Me and my best friend made this together this was absolutely delicious! Would make this 1000x over again!!❤️❤️
Could I use a tart pa instead?
Hi Briana, this may be a bit too much filling for a tart pan, but we haven’t tested it. You could always just leave some filling out. Let us know if you give it a try!
Awesome!
I made this for a community pot luck supper. After allowing it to cool for 2.5 hours it was almost impossible to cut even though I had made initial cuts. Had to include scissors to cut the marshmallow as it was like glue. If I do it again I will try marshmallow fluff instead. The brownie centre was very gooey. It was enjoyed but hard to present.
I had jumbo marshmallows so cut them in half. They really expanded so will see how easy this is to cut!! Just out of the oven and now cooling.
I loved this recipe a lot it was super tasty! However I used digestive busicuits as I am in the UK and wasn’t aware that I would have to bake the biscuit base alone as I didn’t see it in the method of the recipe? Was this step meant to be followed?
This is absolutely delicious. The filling is amazing and imo much better than any brownie mix so totally worth following the recipe. I think I will use the meringue topping next time, as it’s a bit difficult to eat with the marshmallows, and I’ve made Sally’s meringue before and it’s great.
Super rich, super delicious. I was worried it wasn’t done but it’s just the way the pie is – The inside is a soft gooey brownie and the chocolate chips a nice addition. I got 8 slices out of it but could have gone with 10-12 as it’s so rich. Agree with running the knife under hot water between each slice to make for a neat cut. A little trouble with my graham cracker crust holding together; next time I might freeze it overnight. All in all well received!
Could I use peanut butter in place of the oil? Thank you
Hi Mary! That wouldn’t be a simple swap. We recommend sticking with the recipe as written. It you would like to add some peanut butter flavor, you could swirl peanut butter in the top of the brownie before baking or add peanut butter chips to the batter.
Could I swap the butter for
oil to make it dairy free?
Hi Linda, the butter is necessary in the crust to help everything hold together. We haven’t tried any dairy-free alternatives, but you could try a plant-based butter instead. Let us know if you do any experimenting.
So, I substituted it with canola oil and everything turned out delicious. The crust completely fell apart like you said, but it was delicious none the less
Can you torch the marshmallows instead of using the broiler?
Hi Hannah, yes, if you have a kitchen torch available, you can torch the marshmallows instead of using the broiler. Since you will not be placing the pie back in the oven for the few minutes to brown the marshmallows, make sure the pie is completely baked through before adding the marshmallows and torching.