Yummy S’mores Recipes For National S’mores Day
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This yummy holiday is celebrated annually on August 10th, a combination of graham crackers, toasted marshmallows, and chocolate bars, a favorite campfire treat of Girl Scouts since the early 20th century. But there are numerous s’mores recipes beyond the cookie sandwich; you’ll find them below. The popularity of s’mores has had contemporary home cooks cooking up everything from s’mores ice cream, ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, and pies; to bark, brownies, chocolate bars, cookies, and fudge; to s’mores cocktails. The high point must be the s’mores kits sold by artisan chocolatiers and marshmallow makers, including homemade graham crackers (so good, that the big brands are like cardboard in comparison—here’s a recipe to bake your own). The low point may be Kellogg’s Smorz and Post’s Honey Maid S’mores Cereal, which cons parents into allowing their kids to breakfast on chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker bits. Below: > S’mores recipes from the classic to the creative. > How to make s’mores in your kitchen. Elsewhere on The Nibble: > The year’s 44 cookie holidays. > The different types of cookies: a photo glossary. > The 10 different styles of cookies. We don’t know who invented S’mores, but the Girl Scouts certainly popularized them. The first published recipe is in their 1927 handbook. S’mores around the campfire have been a happy tradition: a stick, a fire, two toasted marshmallows, a square of chocolate and two graham crackers get you a delicious chocolate marshmallow sandwich. The combined flavors of toasted marshmallow, melty chocolate, and crunchy grahams are oh-so-much tastier than the individual ingredients (or, to quote Aristotle, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts). It is very possible that a Girl Scout or troop leader, sitting around the campfire toasting marshmallows, pulled out graham crackers and chocolate, brought them along for snacking, and made the first sandwich. The name of the sandwich cookie comes from its addictive quality: You have no choice but to ask for “some more.” But you don’t need a campfire, or even all of the classic ingredients, to celebrate with S’mores, as you’ll see below (skillet s’mores are so easy, you won’t miss the fire). Don’t have a heat source to melt marshmallows? Use Fluff or other marshmallow cream. It may be too late to throw a s’mores party on National S’mores Day, but it will be equally memorable on Labor Day or any other day of the year. |
[3] A pastry chef’s s’mores: homemade brownie with graham chunks and homemade marshmallows, browned with a torch (photo © Distilled NY. |
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Here are some s’mores recipes with twists that we’ve made. It’s just a smattering of the thousands of s’mores recipes out there. Of course, the classic graham cracker sandwich with toasted marshmallows and a piece of chocolate is perfect as is. Making s’mores indoors is quite easy using common kitchen appliances: The Oven Broiler Method Best for large batches, this is the closest you can get to a campfire s’mores because the direct heat from the broiler toasts the marshmallow. 1. LAY OUT the graham crackers on a baking sheet. 2. PLACE a piece of chocolate on one graham and a marshmallow on the other. Place the baking sheet under the broiler for only 15–45 seconds. Watch it constantly, as the cookies go from perfectly golden to burnt very fast. 3. REMOVE the baking sheet, flip the chocolate half onto the marshmallow half, and press down. There’s your ooey-gooey treat. This is the fastest method and makes very soft, gooey s’mores, although the marshmallow won’t get that familiar golden-brown crust. 1. ASSEMBLE the s’mores (bottom graham, chocolate, and marshmallow). Microwave on a paper towel or plate for about 15–20 seconds. 2. WATCH the marshmallow closely—it will expand significantly. As soon as it doubles in size, stop the microwave and top with the second cracker. Similar to the broiler method, this is great for making one or two s’mores. 1. PLACE the marshmallows on graham crackers and toast them in the toaster oven until the marshmallow is golden. Once toasted… 2. ADD the chocolate and the top graham. The heat from the marshmallow will melt the chocolate. If you want that authentic charred flavor, you can assemble the s’mores and use a culinary torch to toast the marshmallows before adding the top graham. This gives you the most control over the “toastiness” of the marshmallow (we like ours particularly charred). If you don’t have a kitchen torch, you can use a candle flame—the indoorsman’s campfire. CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM. |
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