Delicious Frozen S’mores Bars: Your Ultimate No-Bake Summer Treat

Why This No-Bake Frozen S’mores Recipe is a Must-Try

Whether you call them frozen s’mores sandwiches, bars, or even a chilled s’mores delight, one thing is certain: they are the quintessential summer treat. This recipe takes everything you love about traditional s’mores – the crunchy graham crackers, the rich chocolate, and the sweet marshmallow – and transforms it into a cool, creamy, and wonderfully portable dessert. Unlike classic s’mores that require a roaring fire, these frozen delights are entirely no-bake, making them incredibly easy to prepare in your kitchen.

They offer a fantastic alternative to s’mores icebox cake, providing a convenient, individual serving size that’s perfect for casual backyard BBQs, refreshing pool days, or simply as a satisfying cool-down after a long day enjoying the summer sun. The combination of textures – the crispness of the graham crackers, the smooth fudgy pudding, and the airy marshmallow cream – creates a truly addictive experience that will have everyone reaching for more.

While s’mores are often associated with summer evenings and campfires, their delicious flavor profile is a year-round favorite. If you’re a devoted s’mores enthusiast, you’ll also adore other variations like s’mores bars, a decadent s’mores dip perfect for sharing, or delightful s’mores cookies. These frozen s’mores, however, bring a unique refreshing element that sets them apart, offering a cool and creamy escape from the heat while delivering all that beloved chocolatey marshmallow goodness.

Key Ingredients for Perfect Frozen S’mores Bars

Crafting these delectable frozen s’mores requires a few simple ingredients, easily found at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe lies in its straightforward components that come together to create a surprisingly complex and satisfying dessert. For a complete list of measurements and step-by-step instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Graham Crackers: The Essential Foundation

Our frozen s’mores begin with classic **honey graham crackers**. These provide the iconic crunchy base and top, instantly recognizable as the signature component of any s’more. While honey is traditional, don’t hesitate to experiment! You could easily swap them for chocolate graham crackers to enhance the cocoa flavor, or cinnamon graham crackers for a spiced twist that adds another layer of warmth. The key is to choose a cracker that holds up well once softened slightly by the creamy filling.

The Rich and Creamy Layers

The magic of these bars lies in their multi-layered filling:

• Instant Chocolate Pudding: For the chocolate layer, we highly recommend using instant chocolate pudding. This choice is crucial because it sets quickly and achieves a consistency that beautifully mimics a fudgsicle – smooth, rich, and firm when frozen, but wonderfully creamy as it starts to thaw. This creates a delightful contrast with the other components.
• Marshmallow Fluff: The distinctive marshmallow layer is achieved with sweet, sticky marshmallow fluff. This ingredient ensures a smooth, airy, and stable marshmallow component that freezes perfectly. If marshmallow fluff isn’t readily available at your local grocery store, you can create a similar consistency by carefully melting regular marshmallows. Simply microwave them in short 5-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and pourable. Be very careful not to overheat them, as they can quickly become brittle. You’ll need approximately 2 cups of melted marshmallows to substitute for 8 ounces of marshmallow fluff.
• Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese adds a delightful tang and richness to the marshmallow layer. It also contributes to the stability of the filling, ensuring it holds its shape when frozen and provides a pleasant creamy texture when enjoyed. Ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for a lump-free, smooth mixture.
• Whipped Topping: To lighten and aerate the marshmallow and cream cheese mixture, we fold in whipped topping (like Cool Whip). This makes the filling incredibly light, fluffy, and reminiscent of a frozen mousse. Thaw your whipped topping in the refrigerator before using for the best results.

How to Craft Your Own Frozen S’mores Bars

These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Prepare Your Pan: First, line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. It’s essential to leave enough parchment paper hanging over the sides to create “handles.” These handles will be invaluable for easily lifting the entire frozen dessert out of the pan once it’s set. This simple trick prevents any sticking and makes the cutting process much smoother.
2. Make the Chocolate Pudding Layer: In a large mixing bowl, prepare the instant chocolate pudding according to package directions, using cold milk. Whisk until it’s thick and smooth, ensuring no lumps remain. Pour this pudding mixture into your prepared casserole dish, spreading it out evenly with a rubber spatula. Immediately transfer the dish to the freezer to chill and set while you prepare the marshmallow layer. This step helps create distinct, firm layers.
3. Create the Marshmallow Layer: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until it’s smooth and creamy, with no lumps. Add the marshmallow fluff and continue to beat until both ingredients are fully combined and fluffy. Finally, gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, as this can deflate the whipped topping.
4. Assemble and Freeze: Retrieve the chilled pudding layer from the freezer. Using your rubber spatula, carefully spread the marshmallow mixture evenly over the chocolate pudding layer, creating a smooth and cohesive second layer. Return the dish to the freezer for a minimum of 4-6 hours, or ideally, for 24 hours to ensure it is completely firm and easy to cut. The longer freeze time allows the layers to fully set and marry their flavors.
5. Prepare for Cutting: Once the layers are thoroughly frozen, use the parchment paper “handles” to lift the entire block out of the casserole dish and place it onto a sturdy cutting board. Allow it to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. This slight softening will make it easier to cut without cracking the layers.
6. Add Graham Crackers and Trim: Break your graham crackers in half. Carefully arrange these graham cracker halves over the top of the frozen layers, making sure they are spaced appropriately for your desired bar size. Using a hot, sharp knife (you can heat it by running it under hot water and wiping it dry), carefully cut around the graham crackers, trimming off any excess chocolate and marshmallow filling around the edges. This creates neat, clean bars.
7. Add the Second Graham Cracker Layer: Take another cutting board or a flat sheet pan. Carefully flip the frozen s’mores bars over onto the new surface, so the plain side is now facing up. Place the remaining graham cracker halves on this side, completing your s’mores “sandwiches.”
8. Serve and Enjoy: You can enjoy these frozen s’mores immediately for a firm, ice-cream-like treat. However, we find them absolutely perfect if you allow the filling to melt slightly for about 15-20 minutes at room temperature before devouring. This allows the graham crackers to adhere beautifully to the creamy filling and creates a softer, more harmonious texture. Be prepared for delightful, messy fingers and happy faces!

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Frozen S’mores

---

Serving Suggestions for Your Frozen S’mores Bars

These frozen s’mores bars are a versatile treat perfect for almost any occasion. For the best eating experience, allow them to sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before devouring. This brief thaw period softens the filling just enough, making them wonderfully creamy and allowing the graham crackers to perfectly meld with the layers, creating that ideal s’mores texture.

If you’re planning to take these delightful bars to a picnic, a friend’s house, or a beach day, ensure they are kept in a well-insulated cooler with plenty of ice (or even dry ice for extended travel). Wrapping each bar individually in parchment paper or plastic wrap before placing them in a larger plastic bag will help them stay intact and prevent any condensation from making the graham crackers soggy. Remember, these are meant to be a fun, slightly messy treat, so have napkins handy! For an extra special touch, consider drizzling a little extra chocolate sauce or a sprinkle of mini marshmallows on top just before serving.

More Irresistible Frozen Treat Recipes

If you’re a fan of cool, refreshing desserts, you’re in for a treat! Explore some of our other favorite frozen delights perfect for any time of year:

• Raspberry Ice Cream Delight
• Homemade Dole Whip
• Creamy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
• Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
• Refreshing Strawberry Banana Popsicles
• Decadent Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles
• No-Churn Butterfinger Ice Cream Sandwiches

I love to bake and cook and share my kitchen experience with all of you! Remembering to come back each day can be tough, that’s why I offer a convenient newsletter every time a new recipe posts. Simply subscribe and start receiving your free daily recipes!