Complete Guide To Making S’mores

Ah, s’mores. The iconic summer treat, made of three simple ingredients and full of deliciousness. S’mores generally accompany cool summer evenings, stories told around a fire, and fun times with friends and family.

They’re so good that their name comes from ‘some more,’ a phrase most likely said when this recipe was first invented. S’mores are very easy to make, no matter the setting. While they’re traditionally made around a fire, there are countless methods you can leverage to enjoy this tasty treat.

But before all of that, what are s’mores, exactly? Where did they come from, and how did they turn into a perfect summer treat? Here, we’ll discuss all things s’mores, from their humble origins, to the different ways to make them, to how you can incorporate them into other desserts.

Let’s dive in!

What Are S’mores?

S’mores are a dessert that accompanies most camping adventures. They’re marshmallows roasted over an open fire and then sandwiched in between two graham crackers.

Sometimes, there’s a chocolate bar sandwiched along with the marshmallow. After the heat of the marshmallow melts the chocolate, it becomes a chocolatey, gooey delight.

History and Origins

The history of s’mores can be traced as far back as 1927, in a handbook named Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. The recipe is credited to Loretta Scott Crew, although there’s good reason to speculate that she may have just been the first to record the recipe. Girl Scouts themselves could’ve been enjoying this gooey treat long before the 1927 publication.

The recipe was called ‘Some Mores,’ and continued to be printed in Girl Scout publications up to 1971. Along the way, the name was colloquially shortened to the title we know of it today: s’mores.

How to Make S’mores at Home

S’mores are the iconic campfire treat, but you don’t need to be in the great outdoors to enjoy them. There are many kitchen appliances that can stand in for a good ol’ campfire, providing you with several methods of cooking s’mores indoors.

Here are five different ways to make s’mores right inside your home, so you can enjoy the delicious guilty-pleasure anytime.

In the Oven

For those who are already using the oven to cook a meal, why not pop in s’mores as the dessert? The oven is a quick and fast way to make large batches, so you can serve them up on a cozy movie night.

Here’s how to make s’mores in the oven:

1. Preheat your oven to broil.
2. Prepare your graham cracker halves and place them on a sheet pan. Make sure to keep them an inch apart from each other. Top each cracker with a piece of chocolate. (You can put your chocolate on top of your marshmallow, but chocolate burns fast, so you may need to lower the temperature to prevent accidents.)
3. Top the chocolate with a marshmallow.
4. Place on a rack about five to six inches from the top of your oven, leaving the oven door ajar to keep an eye on your s’mores (and prevent them from burning).
5. Keep an eye on your s’mores for about 20 to 30 seconds. They should expand and brown lightly.
6. Remove them from the oven. Cover each with another graham cracker, press down, and serve.

In the Microwave

We’ve all had a s’mores craving that just couldn’t wait. For those moments, microwaves are your best friend.

They may not give you the iconic char that campfires and ovens can, but they’re certainly the fastest way to get your s’mores fix. This method works best for one serving at a time, which suits late night snacking well. If you want something sweet and warm, it’ll take less than five minutes in total, from prep to serve.

1. On a microwave-safe plate, place a graham cracker.
2. Stack a marshmallow and chocolate on top of the cracker. Unlike the oven, the microwave will not grow hot enough to burn your chocolate, so you’re free to put it on top.
3. Microwave on high for about 15 seconds. Different models will have different cook times, so check on your s’mores after 15 seconds. If your s’more isn’t soft enough, microwave in five-second bursts until you have reached the perfect consistency.
4. Top with the other graham cracker half, press down, and consume immediately. (Not hard, we know.)

On the Stove

For those who really want the experience of a campfire, a gas stove can be the perfect alternative. They’re also great for those who don’t have a microwave, grill, or oven. On top of that, since they’re almost exactly like campfire s’mores (minus the campfire), they’re less mess, less clean-up, and more fun!

To make s’mores on a gas stove, follow these steps:

1. On a plate, place your graham cracker piece. Top with a square of chocolate.
2. Turn on your gas stove on to high heat.
3. Take your marshmallow and use a skewer to melt them — just like you would on a campfire.
4. Put the marshmallow on your graham cracker. Place another graham cracker piece on top, and press down.

On the Grill

You can also use your grill like a gas stove. Since a grill has less of an open flame, it’s also much safer.

As a bonus, you’re probably grilling in the backyard, giving you that good outdoor vibe!

While you can use a skewer to melt your marshmallow, like with the gas stove method, you can also ‘grill’ your s’mores like other foods. Here’s how:

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat.
2. Prepare a 10 x 12-inch piece of foil.
3. Assemble your s’mores on a plate: graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow, then another graham cracker.
4. Lightly wrap each individual s’more in the foil.
5. Place them on the grill for about two to three minutes.
6. Remove them, unwrap to check for doneness, and then enjoy!

S’mores Alternatives

For those who just can’t get enough s’mores, why not try mixing it up with different flavors and dessert types?

S’mores can be enjoyed in many different forms, each of them as tasty as the original. Here are three alternative ways to enjoy your favorite guilty-pleasure.

S’mores Brownies

Do you like brownies? Do you like s’mores? Then why not combine them into a delicious hybrid?

The cakey, chewy texture of a brownie perfectly fits the sweet, chocolatey flavors of a s’more. It’s like they’re meant to be together! This recipe takes the classic s’mores ingredients and whips them up into a nice brownie batter, ideal for feeding a small group. Double the recipe and you’ll have enough for a summer party dessert!

Ingredients

• ½ cup of unsalted butter.
• 8 ounces of coarsely chopped, semi-sweet chocolate.
• ¾ cup of granulated sugar.
• ¼ cup of packed light brown sugar.
• 3 large eggs.
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour.
• 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder.
• ½ teaspoon of salt.
• 5 Hershey’s bars.
• ½ cup of graham cracker crumbs.
• 3 ½ cups of mini marshmallows.

Procedure

1. Melt the butter and semi-sweet chocolate over a stove or in the microwave. On the stove, add butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan and stir constantly over medium heat. In a microwave, cook in 30 second bursts on high until completely smooth.
2. Pour the chocolate into a large mixing bowl. Let it cool completely for about 10 minutes.
3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Prepare a 9 x 9-inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper. Let the paper hang slightly over the sides.
5. Whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture.
6. Add the eggs, one by one, whisking each completely before adding in the next.
7. Whisk in the vanilla.
8. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt to the mixture. Fold in the dry ingredients until they are incorporated, without over-mixing them. The texture should remain light and cakey.
9. Pour half of the mixture into your baking pan.
10. Cover the top of the batter with your chocolate bars.
11. Pour the rest of the dough on top of the bars and smooth it out.
12. Sprinkle the top of your dough with graham cracker crumbs until fully covered.
13. Bake the brownies for 35 minutes on the lower rack. The brownies should begin to pull away from the edges of the pan.
14. After 35 minutes, remove the brownies. Cover the top with marshmallows and return back to the oven.
15. Let the marshmallows brown for about three minutes. Keep a close eye on your marshmallows to ensure they don’t become charred!
16. Remove the brownies and let them cool completely.

No-Bake S’mores

For those who would like a no-bake version of the s’mores brownie, you can use Golden Grahams. This recipe for Golden Graham S’mores is made with seven ingredients and requires just an hour.

Ingredients

• 8 cups of Golden Grahams cereal.
• 5 ½ cups of miniature marshmallows.
• 1 ½ cups of milk chocolate chips.
• 5 tablespoons of butter.
• ¼ cup of sugar.
• 1 tablespoons of water.
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

Procedure

1. Prepare a 13 x 9-inch pan by greasing it with butter.
2. Add the cereal in a large bowl.
3. Set aside 1 cup of the marshmallows. Add the rest in a 3-quart saucepan, along with the chocolate chips, butter, sugar, and water. Heat over low heat and stir until completely melted.
4. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.
5. Pour the mixture over your cereal and stir. Then, stir in the remaining marshmallow.
6. Press your mixture into your prepared pan. Store in the fridge for about an hour until they become firm. Cut into bars and store, loosely covered, at room temperature.

S’mores Cookies

S’mores are messy, but deliciously so. These s’mores cookies achieve exactly the experience of a delicious, cozy campfire treat. Unlike the original, however, you don’t have to deal with the mess! You can let the oven do all the roasting and cooking, and just deal with the yummy result.

Much like the real thing, this cookie has a gooey marshmallow center and a graham base. It’s exactly like a s’more — but in cookie form.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of unsalted sweet cream butter, softened.
• ¾ cup of granulated sugar.
• ¾ cup of light brown sugar, packed.
• 2 large eggs.
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• 2 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour.
• 1 ¼ cup of graham cracker crumbs.
• 2 teaspoons of cornstarch.
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda.
• ½ teaspoon of salt.
• 2 cups of mini marshmallows.
• 1 cup of chocolate chips.
• 5 ounces of milk chocolate bars, chopped.

Procedure          

1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, using a mixer on medium speed.
2. Add in the eggs, one at a time.
3. Add the vanilla, mixing until it’s fully combined.
4. In a medium bowl, add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well until combined.
5. Add the flour mixture to the butter slowly, in batches. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
6. Gently fold in the marshmallows and chocolate pieces.
7. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Prepare a cookie sheet and line with parchment paper.
9. Shape the dough into a ball, about 1 ½ inch in size. Place each on the cookie sheet, keeping them an inch away from the other portions. You can add more chocolate and marshmallows on top of each ball, should you choose.
10. Bake for about ten minutes.
11. Allow the cookies to cool for five minutes. Using a spatula, transfer them to a wire rack and let them cool entirely before serving.

Conclusion

Whether you’re out camping or making one in the comfort of your home, s’mores are the perfect treat. They’re warm, cozy, and sweet, making them ideal for the both the tummy and the heart. With these methods at your disposal, why not pick your favorite and try it out now?