S'mores | Camp Yellow Cardinal

The Ultimate S'mores Upgrade Guide

Roast Like a Legend: Gooey. Melty. Possibly Life-Changing.

S'more the merrier!

No fireside treat is more beloved than the classic s’more – a gooey sandwich of perfectly roasted marshmallow and gently melted milk chocolate wedged between crisp graham crackers. Here are some tips to take your s’mores game to the next level.

#1 - Add peanut butter

If you’ve never tried this addition, trust us, peanut butter take the classic s’more to new heights. Crunchy? Smooth? There’s no wrong answer here. Just spread each square of graham cracker with a generous dollop of peanut butter goodness and add your chocolate bar and toasted marshmallow. Give it a squeeze. If you can contain your inner cartoon wolf impulses, let the heat from the marshmallow soften the chocolate for a moment and enjoy!

#2 - nutella makes everything better

Who hasn’t had the experience of pulling their flame-kissed marshmallow fresh from the fire only to bite down on a too hard, too cold chocolate bar in the middle of their s’more? Enter Nutella in all her creamy hazelnut grandeur. A healthy schmear of the good stuff on either graham cracker and you’re sure to be in heaven.

Warning: Only trained professionals should attempt to combine tips #1 and #2.

#3 - Cookie swap

We’re entering dangerously decadent territory here. Leave the graham crackers in the car and let your favorite cookie shine with this addition. Thin, super-crispy chocolate chip cookies like Tate’s are perfect to pair with your favorite s’mores ingredients.

#4 - S'morito

Think of these as the lovechild of a campfire s’more and a melty dessert burrito. They’re messy, magical, and honestly kinda genius.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Flour tortillas
Milk chocolate chips
Mini marshmallows
Crushed graham crackers
Heavy-duty aluminum foil

How to make them:
Lay out a big square of foil and plop a tortilla in the center. In the middle, pile on a generous scoop of chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and some crushed graham crackers. Now channel your inner Chipotle burrito artist: fold, roll, and tuck that tortilla into a tight little package of gooey potential.

Wrap each one fully in foil and place it on the grill or directly onto the coals using long-handled tongs. Rotate every couple of minutes for 5–7 minutes until everything inside has melted into a warm, chocolatey hug.

Pro move: Prep these before the fire’s even lit, stash them in your cooler, and toss them on the coals when you’re ready. No muss, no fuss—just fire and flavor. You’ll never look at a s’more the same way again.

#5 - The S'more Martini (S'mortini?)

First things first: this one’s strictly for the 21+ crowd. If you’ve ever thought, “You know what this campfire needs? A martini,” you’re our kind of people. Sure, it’s a little extra to roll into the woods with cocktail shaker in hand and chilled martini glasses tucked into your weekender bag… but we see you, and we support you.

This boozy dessert-in-a-glass brings the campfire vibes with a velvety blend of chocolate, vanilla, and toasted marshmallow. It’s indulgent, a little over-the-top, and absolutely worth it.

You’ll need:

1 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz Irish cream liqueur (like Baileys)
1 oz chocolate liqueur
1 oz heavy cream (or half-and-half)
Crushed graham crackers (for the rim)
Chocolate syrup (for garnish)
Toasted marshmallows (because obviously)

How to make it:

Dip the rim of your martini glass in chocolate syrup, then gently roll it in crushed graham crackers.
In a shaker with ice, combine the vodka, Irish cream, chocolate liqueur, and cream. Shake it like you mean it – until fully chilled.
Strain into your prepped glass.
Toast a marshmallow over the campfire and use it as your garnish – either floating on top or skewered on a cocktail pick.

Take a seat by the fire, sip slowly, and enjoy the best of both worlds: a classic camping treat in grown-up form. It’s the kind of nightcap that pairs perfectly with stargazing and the sounds of a crackling fire.

#6 - Hardware

Now, there’s nothing wrong, per se, with shoving a marshmallow on the end of the nearest twig you can find and toasting to your hearts delight. S’mores professionals, however, swear by a proper roasting stick. Good weight, straight lines, balance, precision – everything you could want in a roasting stick. Grab a pack at the camp store!

#7 - Technique

We are going to channel our inner monk and avoid the sinking sensation of watching our rushed ‘mallow erupt into flames, drip off our roasting stick, and season itself in trail salt (campfire ash). Deep breath. Calmly position your marshmallow for roasting over an area of glowing orange coals. Not too close. Just enough to warm through and begin to caramelize the outside of your treat. Rotate. Breathe. You are the master. Once you see that golden brown exterior develop on all sides, give your marshmallow a few passes through a flame for requisite char and straight to your waiting ingredients for assembly.

At the end of the day, there’s really no wrong way to s’more. Whether you’re a purist with your perfectly golden ‘mallow or a mad scientist layering on cookies, peanut butter, and hazelnut spread, the real magic is in the experience. Embrace the mess, get creative, and most importantly – have fun with it! After all, every great campfire story deserves a sticky-fingered, chocolate-smudged ending.

S’mores