Name: S'mores Banana Boats
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 4 ripe bananas; ½ cup (3 ounces/85 grams) milk chocolate chips; ¾ cup mini marshmallows; 2 graham crackers , broken into small pieces

Why This Recipe Works

The inspiration for this easy, crowd-pleasing dessert came from cooking over campfires. Girl and Boy Scouts might recall opening bananas, adding chocolate and marshmallows, wrapping them in foil, and throwing them into the campfire to cook until all melty and gooey. This indoor version is less messy but just as delicious! The roasted bananas are soft and scoopable, the chocolate and marshmallows are perfectly melted, and a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs adds a nice little crunch. This recipe also provides a great opportunity for kids to practice identifying and naming food textures—this not only builds vocabulary, but can also help picky eaters. As they prep the banana boats, ask kids to touch and then describe the texture of the uncooked bananas, marshmallows, and chocolate chips, and then do the same when you’re eating the baked desserts.

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Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.

Using tip of paring knife, slice bananas open lengthwise (the long way), open bananas, and wrap in foil following photos, “Step-by-Step: How to Assemble Banana Boats,” below.

Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly inside bananas, then sprinkle marshmallows on top of chocolate chips. Transfer assembled banana boats to 8-inch square baking dish.

Place baking dish in oven. Bake until marshmallows are golden brown and chocolate chips have melted, 12 to 15 minutes.

Use oven mitts to remove baking dish from oven and place on cooling rack (ask an adult for help). Let bananas cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle bananas with graham cracker pieces. Serve.