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Recipe Box: 10 No-Campfire S'mores Ideas

☀️ Yummy Dessert for Summer (or Any Time of Year!)

By Kyrie Collins, Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree Publisher August 2, 2020

August 10 is National S'mores Day! No one knows for sure who invented this sweet, gooey treat, but the first published recipe was in a 1927 recipe book called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts and credited to Loretta Scott Crew. They were originally called "Some Mores" but the name got shortened to "S'mores" at some point.

As most folks know, S'mores are normally made by placing chocolate and roasted marshmallows in between two graham crackers. But what if you are craving this favorite flavor combo when it's too hot for a campfire... or all your firewood got rained on? Here are 10 recipes for No-Campfire S'Mores, tried and tested among a group of kids and adults! Enjoy!

S'mores Slow Cooker Cake (pictured above)
Prepare your favorite chocolate cake mix according to package directions. I recommend anything that says "double" "triple" or "fudge" in the title of the flavor!

Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray. Be generous! Pour prepared batter into the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for two hours or till set (peek through the lid after about 90 minutes to see how it looks). 

Turn off the slow cooker and remove the lid. Sprinkle one cup each mini marshmallows and chocolate chips on top of the cake, and then put the lid back on the slow cooker to allow for the melting. Scoop into bowls while still warm and sprinkle with crushed graham crackers.

S'mores Trail Mix
Stir together Golden Grahams™ cereal, mini marshmallows, and chocolate Teddy Grahams™. Eat by the handful!




S'Mores Croissants
Separate a roll of refrigerated croissant dough along the perforation. Press each piece a little to widen and flatten it. Put a spoonful of chocolate chips and a spoonful of mini marshmallows on the wider side; roll up the croissant.

At this point, I was supposed to sprinkle the croissants with graham cracker crumbs and then bake as directed on the package but I forgot the sprinkling part. Turns out they didn't even need it!

The grown-ups of our group really liked these because they were rich but not quite as sweet as your standard s'more.

S'mores Trifle
Prepare and bake your favorite chocolate cake mix according to package directions. Chop up the cake into bite-sized pieces.

In a trifle bowl, layer half the cake, 2 cups of prepared chocolate pudding, 4 graham crackers broken into bite-size pieces, a cup of mini marshmallows, and half a container of whipped topping. Repeat.

Refrigerate until ready to serve, then garnish with crushed graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and pieces of chocolate bar.

Reprinted with permission from our monthly foodie newsletter, Macaroni Kid EATS!




S'mores Brownies
Prepare and bake your favorite brownie mix according to package directions. About 5 minutes before they are done baking, remove the brownies from the oven and sprinkle with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and broken graham crackers. Return to the oven for the remaining 5 minutes.

S'mores Pancakes
Prepare your favorite pancake mix according to package directions. Stir in chocolate chips — as many as you'd like. Cook the pancakes as you normally would.

When the pancakes are flipped and almost done, add one regular-sized marshmallow to the top and continue cooking the pancake until the marshmallow just starts to melt (don't leave it on too long or it will slip down the side). Layer graham crackers and pancakes on a plate, then top with butter, maple syrup, or chocolate syrup. 

Thanks to Melinda Willis, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Salem NJ, for sharing this recipe!




S'mores Bark
Place 16 ounces semisweet chocolate (chips or baking chocolate) in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on HIGH for one minute; stir. Return to microwave and cook in 30-second intervals, stirring after each one, till chocolate is smooth. Stir in ¾ cup each Teddy Grahams and mini marshmallows. Spread onto waxed paper.

Press another ¼ cup each Teddy Grahams and mini marshmallows on top to decorate. Freeze one hour to set. Break into pieces.




Hazelnut-Banana S'mores
For a healthier twist, spread a chocolate-hazelnut butter onto a couple of graham crackers (we recommend Justin's All-Natural Chocolate Hazelnut Butter... organic, local, and no high-fructose corn syrup!). Add a few slices of banana. We ended up eating these open-faced because whenever we tried to make it a sandwich, the bananas would slide out.

S'mores Sandwich Bites
Spread marshmallow cream on a graham cracker. Add another cracker on top to form a sandwich. Dip into melted chocolate; scrape off excess. Place on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil or waxed paper to allow the chocolate to set. Add sprinkles... just for fun!

S'mores Ice Cream Pie
Let a quart of your favorite chocolate ice cream sit on your counter for 15-20 minutes, or until soft enough to stir. Stir in chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, as many of each as you'd like. Spoon into a graham cracker crust and freeze till set, at least one hour. Slice and serve.