The Best Ways To Eat S'mores With Or Without A Fire

Did someone mention "campfire?" Wherever there's a campfire, s'mores are sure to make an appearance. It's the best kind of sandwich, minus the actual bread.

The classic recipe calls for fluffy marshmallows fire-roasted until they're gooey enough to squeeze between two graham crackers, along with a bar of melted chocolate. Chilly days can call on a nostalgic stomach to eat s'mores, but sometimes you're not in a place where you can have s'mores the classic way. Fire or no fire, here are the best ways to eat s'mores:

1. Homemade Graham Crackers and Marshmallows

Want to taste classic s'mores like you never have before? Make homemade graham crackers and marshmallows to fall in love with the classic all over again. This idea does have the potential to be a Pinterest fail, however, if you're not fond of your baking skills.

For homemade marshmallows, plan on yielding about 84 one-inch size marshmallows from the recipe. It's similar to a candy recipe, with ingredients such as confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, gelatin, corn syrup, egg whites, salt, vanilla extract, salt, water and food coloring. Graham crackers are like flat cookies, and the recipe makes about 30 crackers. You will use all-purpose flour, but you need graham flour, too. Other than that, you'll use your typical cookie-like ingredients, such as baking soda, baking powder, butter, and milk.

The recipe isn't too crazy if you've made cookies before. Whether you roast these over the fire or in the oven, these gourmet s'mores will put store-bought ingredients to shame. Bonus points for finding locally made chocolate bars to sandwich in the middle.

2. S'mores Cookies

Love cookies? Chinese Grandma dug up her old college recipe for s'mores cookies, which are basically like a chocolate chip cookies, but with mini-marshmallows in the mix.

You need soft butter, as well as brown and white sugars. Add egg, flour, and baking soda with a little bit of salt, unless your butter is already salted. Crumble up some graham crackers, add chocolate chips, and mix. Once you spoon the dough into the pan, push two or three mini-marshmallows into the top of the cookies.

If you want to get creative, you could mix the s'mores recipe with her ginger cookies recipe for a flavor sensation. Thanks, Grandma!

3. S'mores in a Banana Hammock

Slice open one side of the banana peel to substitute for the graham crackers as the holder. Leave the banana in the peel, but slice it up to make room for the other ingredients. Add marshmallows and chocolate chips. You can substitute extra ingredients too, such as crushed graham crackers, fruit, cookies, caramel chips, or candy.

4. S'mores French Toast

You won't need a campfire to make s'mores French toast, plus you get to have s'mores for breakfast! What's not to love?

Use brioche for a buttery, deliciously classic French toast, but roll the slices in crushed graham crackers after you dip the bread in the egg mix. Pan-frying will give the toast a nice crunch. Layer marshmallows and chocolate bars between the French toast and cover with fudge sauce and/or maple syrup.

5. S'mores Martini

To end a long Monday, sip on a decadent s'mores martini. You don't have to spend an exorbitant amount for a plain chocolate martini in a bar when you can make a soul-soothing s'more martini at home. Take a look at this incredible ingredients list:

  • 2 oz. marshmallow vodka
  • 1 oz. chocolate liqueur
  • 1 oz. Creme de Cacao
  • 2 oz. cream or half-and-half
  • 1 oz. chocolate, melted
  • 1 graham cracker
  • 3 marshmallows

Coat the rim of the martini glass with chocolate and graham crackers, refrigerate, and then in a cocktail shaker, add over ice: marshmallow vodka, creme de cacao, chocolate liqueur and cream. Shake, pour, and serve with roasted marshmallows on a mini-skewer inserted into the glass.

S'mores are a nostalgic classic whether you're camping out on the couch or in the woods in the summer or fall. If you feel a little guilty about all the marshmallows and chocolate, add in some fruit, and then cover with more chocolate. If you're feeling fancy, make your own marshmallows and graham crackers.

S'mores are good for an end-of-the-day cocktail or to start the day with s'mores-stuffed French toast. Fire or no fire, you deserve s'mores whenever you want.