S’mores Tart

Updated July 10, 2024

S’mores Tart
Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
Total Time
4 hours 40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour 30 minutes, plus at least 3 hours’ chilling
Rating
4(16)
Notes
Read community notes

This stunning dessert takes the elements of s’mores – marshmallows, graham crackers and melty chocolate – and recombines them in an elegant way. A billowing meringue singed with a blowtorch replaces the toasted marshmallows, a homemade graham cracker crust replaces the cookies and a soft, bittersweet ganache stands in for the usual melted chocolate bar. It does take time and effort, but you can do it over the course of a couple of days. The spectacular results are well worth it.

Featured in: What’s Better Than S’mores? A Giant S’mores Tart

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Ingredients

Yield:1 (9-inch) tart (8 servings)

    For the Graham Cracker Crust

    • 1cup/125 grams all-purpose flour, more for surfaces
    • ¼cup/30 grams whole-wheat flour
    • ½teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ¼teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½cup/113 grams unsalted butter, cut into cubes
    • 2tablespoons light brown sugar
    • 2tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 2tablespoons honey

    For the Ganache

    • 1cup/237 milliliters heavy cream
    • 12ounces/340 grams bittersweet chocolate (preferably 68 percent to 74 percent), chopped
    • 3tablespoons unsalted butter
    • Pinch of fine sea salt

    For the Marshmallow Filling

    • 6egg whites
    • cups/250 grams granulated sugar
    • ¼teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 1vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and seeds scraped out with a small knife
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

685 calories; 40 grams fat; 24 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 84 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 65 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 213 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the tart crust: In a medium bowl, whisk together both flours, salt and cinnamon.

  2. Step 2

    In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle (or using electric beaters), cream the butter, both sugars and honey on medium speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Add the flour mixture and combine on medium-low, scraping bowl as needed, 1 to 3 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Form the dough into a disk and wrap in parchment or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

  4. Step 4

    When ready to bake the crust, heat oven to 325 degrees.

  5. Step 5

    On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12-inch circle. (It’s OK if the dough breaks a bit, you can easily squish it back together.) Use the rolling pin to transfer dough to a 9-inch tart pan, pressing dough up against the sides. Use any leftover dough to patch holes and to build up the sides for extra stability. Cover with foil or parchment paper and pie weights (or rice or dried beans). Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crust’s edges are golden brown and the crust is firm. Remove weights and foil or parchment paper, and let cool completely.

  6. Step 6

    While crust cools, make the ganache: Pour the heavy cream into a small pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat, being careful not to let the cream boil. Place the chocolate, butter and salt in a heatproof medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute. Whisk together the cream and chocolate until glossy and smooth. (If the chocolate doesn’t fully melt, microwave the bowl for 15 to 20 seconds and whisk again until it does.)

  7. Step 7

    Pour the chocolate mixture into the cooled crust and spread into an even layer. Place tart in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours to firm up the ganache.

  8. Step 8

    Prepare the marshmallow filling: Fill a medium pot with an inch or two of water and bring to a simmer. Place the bowl of a standing mixer (or a large metal bowl) firmly and snugly on top of the simmering water (you want the bottom of the bowl to be suspended over the water).

  9. Step 9

    Add the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar to the bowl, and whisk continuously until the mixture becomes white (no longer opaque) and registers 175 degrees on a thermometer. (Use a potholder to steady the bowl, which can get quite hot.) This may take up to 10 minutes. If the temperature isn’t rising, increase the heat under the pot.

  10. Step 10

    When the whites are opaque, place the bowl in the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or use electric beaters). Add vanilla seeds to the egg white mixture. Beat for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the whites have reached stiff peaks (the whites will be shiny and glossy, and will remain on the whisk or beaters when turned upside down).

  11. Step 11

    Pile the marshmallow fluff on top of the tart. Use a knife or spoon to decoratively swirl the meringue. Using a blowtorch, singe the top until golden brown.

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16 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

Is there a reason not to use an actual graham cracker crust, made with crushed graham crackers? Is that sacrilege? (Also, *cinnamon* grahams in a s'more? I never!)

No blow torch. Can I run it under the broiler?

In step 8 should the parenthetical remark be (no longer translucent)? since in step 10 the instructions indicate the mixture is now opaque

(In reference to Melissa’s Shortcut vs Showstopper video) I just recently made a graham cracker crust for key lime pie, but first I made the graham crackers from scratch using King Arthur’s recipe. It’s perfect because you end up with extra graham crackers, and I say, Melissa, that graham crackers absolutely ARE a cookie!! they’re really delicious and taste eerily like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/graham-crackers-recipe

For the graham cracker crust, are there any actual graham crackers? It calls for two different flours but no graham crackers. Is this correct? It seems misleading to call it a graham cracker crust with no graham crackers!

I’d make this using a simple Graham cracker crust and marshmallows on top, which is run under the broiler. I love you, Melissa, but this is way too much work!

I would counsel against putting a metal bowl firmly and snugly inside a pot of simmering water. As a child, I created a perfectly sealed set up to make pudding. Only problem was the water eventually boiled and once the pressure was high enough, it blew the bowl off. I ended up with pressurized boiling water all over my face and chest - second degree burns - no scarring, but plenty of pain.

This sounds absolutely delicious, and I'd love to try it but I'm lactose intolerant (not allergic, just sensitive - so I can have dark chocolate, but not cream). Does anyone have ideas for a ganache substitute or other ways to make the chocolate layer without cream? (e.g. nut milks, or just melt some really good chocolate) Thanks!

How long does this keep after it's made? Is it a good potluck food?

I was wondering this as well!

For the graham cracker crust, are there any actual graham crackers? It calls for two different flours but no graham crackers. Is this correct? It seems misleading to call it a graham cracker crust with no graham crackers!

Graham crackers are made from whole wheat flour, so what you're making, in fact, is graham crackers from scratch. this recipe is a graham cracker as a pie crust. If making a crust from scratch is just too much, you can use graham crackers, or, buy a pre-fab crust.

Question about the recipe as written. Place the bowl in the mixer? Or place the contents of the bowl in the mixer?

The bowl. It says use a mixer bowl. Then you put the bowl in the mixer.

Is there a reason not to use an actual graham cracker crust, made with crushed graham crackers? Is that sacrilege? (Also, *cinnamon* grahams in a s'more? I never!)

Any suggestions if we don't have a blowtorch? Will the broiler do the trick?

Gorgeous! Question for Melissa: if making this for a party, is it fine to leave out after torching, or should this be refrigerated until serving?

Mike M-Atk gluten free cookbook has a recipe for Graham crackers Would work fine as a sub :)

Swap ganache out for the NYT oat milk chocolate pudding recipe and use Schar GF honey graham crackers combined ground to a crumb mixed with 1:1 flour or oat flour or almond flour for crust. Good luck!

In step 8 should the parenthetical remark be (no longer translucent)? since in step 10 the instructions indicate the mixture is now opaque

should reference Step 9, not step 8

I would love to make this for a friend who has a severe glutton allergy. Is anyone aware of gluten-free graham crackers that I could use for the crust?

Further down in the comments someone references a King Arthur flour recipe for graham crackers. You could make them with King Arthur measure for measure, which is never failed me. Schar (umlaut over the a) makes gluten free honey grahams as well. Good luck

The tarte uses flour -- there are gluten free varieties.

Suggest you Google "gluten free graham crackers." There are dozens (hundreds? thousands?) of recipes and products fitting that description online.

No blow torch. Can I run it under the broiler?

Yes, but watch it carefully. Ms. Clark says in the video it could take 2 to 5 minutes.

It’s safer to use a double boiler instead of a random bowl and pot combo for the chocolate step.

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