Give your guests S’more

Light up your dessert game with this gooey, campfire treat

Android or iPhone? Toilet paper over or under? There are few things in life that nearly all of the human population can agree upon—but when it comes to food, s’mores may be the one treat that everyone at your party will unanimously say yes.

The gooey marshmallow mixed with melted chocolate and your choice of a regular graham cracker or gluten-free one, creates a blue ribbon winner your guests will love. Read on to see the many ways you can elevate, change-up, or bring a fresh approach to this fiery delight.

If you build it, they will come

Let’s be honest, the classic s’more never goes out of style. And if you build a roaring fire in the backyard pit, add marshmallows, graham crackers, and milk chocolate with a few roasting sticks, the party guests will arrive in droves. 

The biggest debate at this point is whether or not your guests choose to burn or lightly toast their marshmallows. Just hovering that marshmallow over the fire until it’s melt-y will give it enough heat to melt the chocolate when your guests smash them together in the graham cracker sandwich. But for some of your party-goers, the taste of a freshly burnt marshmallow is what makes a s’more a s’more. It’s really up to your guests, of course, the level of burn their marshmallows will take, but no matter the toastiness, it will create the gooey delight your guest’s taste buds are craving.

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Deconstructing is delightful

For some guests, dipping anything into melted chocolate is the game they want to play. So deconstructing your s’more is a creative way to give your guests a little fun while enjoying this ubiquitous treat. 

Start with a fondue pot and melt your milk chocolate down to a creamy bowl of sweet goodness. Take graham crackers and snap them in half, then spread a generous amount of gooey marshmallow cream on each of them and lay them out around the fondue pot—enjoy! 

A twist on the classic

The best thing about the simple ingredients of a s’more is that they’re easy to switch up. To give your guests something to talk about, just make a few easy switches on this timeless treat and see just how popular you become.

Change up the chocolate

No need to stick with milk chocolate. Try a dark chocolate flight that ranges in bitterness to give your guests something elevated to taste, You can do the same thing with a sweet white chocolate or try replacing chocolate all together with a creamy, hazelnut spread.

Make additions

Make your s’more extra savory or sweet by adding elements you don’t traditionally see. One popular candidate is the peanut butter cup—add it just under the chocolate and you’ve got yourself a real culinary contender. You can also just use a smear of peanut butter, banana slices or the ever popular slice of bacon—because, well, bacon.

Cookies for crackers

It’s not necessary to use a graham cracker in your s’more. You can take this treat to a whole new level by subbing the cracker with an Oreo cookie—or any cookie, really. Homemade chocolate chip cookies come to mind as a party favorite or even peanut butter. It’s up to you what you sandwich the chocolate and marshmallow between, but we suggest getting creative.

Next level s’mores

It’s not always necessary to light a fire to enjoy the gooey flavor combination a s’more offers. In fact, if it’s s dinner party where your guests won’t want to smell like a backyard campfire, it amy be better to serve the treat as an elevated, pre-made dish or drink.

There’s the classic s’mores cookie or bar—Cherbourg Bakery in Bexley offers a gluten free version of the treat that will make you ooo and ahh. There are also such culinary delights as brownies, bark, pie, cupcakes, and fudge. And if all else fails, Pop Tarts do make a s’more treat with a shelf life that can withstand nearly any natural disaster.

For those who like a little booze with their dessert, though, these S’mores Marshmallow Shooters are sure to please. Try this recipe from the Sweet Tooth blog and see how your guests respond.

S’mores Marshmallow Shooters

CREDIT: The Sweet Tooth blog. Recipe published June 24, 2014 at ericasweettooth.com/2014/06/smores-marshmallow-shooters.html

Ingredients:

For the marshmallows:

25 large (or Jumbo if you can find it) marshmallows

6 oz semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

For the filling:

1 part cup marshmallow (or cake or chocolate or plain) flavored vodka

1 part Bailey’s liquor

Drizzle of chocolate syrup

Directions:

Use a strawberry huller, or just your clean fingertips, to remove the insides of the marshmallows. You don’t want to squeeze too deep into the marshmallow or you’ll tear through to the bottom of the marshmallow. Fingers or the end of a wooden spoon dipped in a bit of water helps even out the insides and makes things less sticky. I used a paring knife to smooth off the tops of the marshmallows once I was done. If you wish, set the marshmallow on top of a heatproof mug or bottle and lightly toast with a kitchen torch.

Melt the chocolate chips in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each interval, until completely smooth. Dip the tops of the hollowed marshmallows in the melted chocolate, use a toothpick to make sure the opening is cleared, and set aside on a wax paper or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and allow to set completely. You can store these in the fridge for up to 2 days, but I recommend waiting to fill them until right before serving.

Prepare the filling in a large cup, and then use a small cup with a spout or a plastic squeeze bottle to fill the marshmallows. Serve, gobble them up in one bite, and enjoy responsibly!

No matter which way your guests enjoy this classic treat, we’re sure your party will be a hit with s’mores on the menu. Enjoy!

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