Looking for S’mores? All the Varieties of This Campfire Favourite

Every August we stoke the fire and get ready for a campfire dessert; marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. S’mores are an essential ingredient when it comes to a complete camping experience, just ask any Girl Scout. But is there a right way to make them? And what exactly does the name stand for? Keep reading to find out how it first came about, how it’s made, and tips for a safe campfire to bake it over.

The Origin 

S’mores first came about in the mid-70s as a contraction of what a young kid with a mouth full of marshmallow sandwich might say to their parents when almost ready for “some more” of the campfire dessert. 

The first recipe was delivered to the young Girl Scouts in the mid-20s in their handbook, Tramping and Trailing With the Girl Scouts. At the time, the snack was called “Some Mores.” The idea of including it in the booklet makes sense. After all, the organization’s goal is to prepare young people to grow into active citizens with practical life skills at the end of the day… How could a person be expected to make variations to s’mores with candied bacon, peanut butter, salted caramel, or even Nutella-dipped pretzels without the ability to assemble the classic version correctly?

The dessert’s popularity means it’s not uncommon to find manufacturers launching their own versions to sweet-toothed fans. Many take the forms of S’mores Pop-Tarts, one of many S’mores ice-creams, and even cereals like the discontinued S’mores Grahams. Also known as S’mores Crunch, it had one of the cutest cereal mascots ever. This mascot, the S’morcerer, is complete with a purple hat and robe. He would help kids on safari being chased by lions, or kids whose sailboat had been struck by lightning. His solution: a bowl of S’mores Crunch!

Before we leave you to collect some firewood for a campfire dessert, here’s an example of one of the great ads from the 80s:

How It’s Made?

We know the ingredients, but what about the assembly? And if you don’t have a campfire handy, can you prepare them in the kitchen? The answer is yes. One can effortlessly create soulless variations indoors using broilers and blowtorches. 

But if you want to do it properly, the best way is to make your little dessert sandwich outside over a real fire. After getting a fire going and finding the ideal marshmallow roasting stick, attach your puffy friend. Then, begin roasting it until it begins to get brown. Next, break the graham cracker in half and squish the chocolate bar/chocolate chunk (of your choice, generally 15-30g) with the marshmallow between the crackers. There’s no right or wrong chocolate, but there is a hot marshmallow warning!

S’mores Varieties

Alongside the classic version that you know and love, there are tons of fun variations you can find or look for. Since this dessert is a rather guilty pleasure, you can let your imagination run wild. The more packed the dessert, the better! Here are a few examples.

S’mores doughnut (Léché Desserts)

• S’mores doughnut: A marshmallow sandwich, with a doughnut as the sandwich bread! It sounds as rich as it is delicious.

S’mores bubble waffle (Golden Bubbles)

• S’mores bubble waffle: Scoops of ice cream, torched marshmallows, chocolate and caramel sauce, and crushed honey graham crackers. What more could you ask for?

Oat S’Mores Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert (Metro Supermarket)

• S’mores frozen yogurt: Get the classic flavours of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers in a refreshing frozen yogurt form. Have you ever tried frozen yogurt, by the way? Do you know about its health benefits? Read our blog on frozen yogurt to learn more.

S’mores sufganiyot (My Zaidys Bakery)

• S’mores sufganiyot: A seemingly unexpected dessert combo, this combines s’mores with a classic Hanukkah dessert, sufganiyot. If you don’t know what that is, or if you want to learn everything about Hanukkah desserts, read more here.

How to Make a Safe Campfire?

Since s’mores are all about gathering around with friends, preparing your stick, and roasting your hot melted dessert over an open flame, let’s find out how to make a safe campfire. Considering the recent forest fires in Quebec, the importance of risk-free campfires is all the greater. 

According to Kampgrounds of America, a fire needs three things to succeed: fuel, a spark source, and adequate oxygen flow. Here are the recommended steps:

1. Choose a safe spot: Most campsites have a designated area for campfires, but you should nonetheless check for dry branches overhead or anything nearby that could quickly catch fire. Also, do not start a fire near dry grasses or bushes.
2. Create a tinder bed: Tinder is any small and easily flammable material you will put under your firewood to help kindle the fire. This could be dry leaves, pieces of cardboard, or wood chippings, for example. Make sure that the tinder is small and dry enough. Putting enough of it is also important, so the fire doesn’t die out before the wood catches.
3. Kindling: Next, you need to add kindling. This is larger than tinder but still smaller than firewood. Your best bet is small twigs or branches. Ignite the tinder with a match or lighter, and add more tinder as the fire grows, while blowing on it lightly to feed it oxygen.
4. Firewood: Finally, once your fire is started, add the firewood on top to keep it going. You can purchase firewood in many hardware stores and campsites, or you can gather it yourself, from the ground. Just make sure the wood is completely dry, or else your fire won’t start. Do not break branches off trees, as it damages the forest and isn’t dry enough for a fire. 

One last thing: there are different ways of stacking the kindling, depending on what kind of fire you want to make. As described on the Smokey Bear website, there are 4 methods of stacking kindling, as illustrated in the diagram below:

Ideal for cooking over a fire: 

1. Teepee: Lay the kindling over the tinder like you’re building a tent.

2. Lean-to: Drive a long piece of kindling into the ground at an angle over the tinder. Lean smaller pieces of kindling against the longer piece. 

Best for long-lasting campfires:

1. Cross: Crisscross the kindling over the tinder.

2. Log Cabin: Surround your pile of tinder with kindling, stacking pieces at right angles. Top the “cabin” with the smallest kindling.

Different ways of stacking kindling for a campfire (Smokey Bear)

Don’t you just crave the hot melted marshmallows, chocolate, and crackers, right now? We sure do. Whether making your own over a campfire or looking for some unique creation in your supermarket, enjoy your dessert, and don’t forget to search for the best products with s’mores near you on Dessert Advisor.