So, what are s’mores? For almost 100 years they have been a summertime American treat and still are. These gooey, chocolaty, crunchy and just plain yummy “sandwiches” have been made at many campfires! Just ask my niece – I’m sure she still remembers this favorite treat!
When I think of S’mores it reminds me of warm, summer nights with enthusiastic kids surrounding a closely monitored open fire roasting their marshmallows using sticks from the woods. This was a popular campfire treat that we made on our deck overlooking our 25 acre pond when we lived in Manchester.
Four nephews roasted their marshmallows using the firepit and chiminea. It was their job to gather up sticks from the woods. Usually their uncle had a supply of wood on hand, the sticks kept the fire going.
S’more is a contraction of the phrase “some more”. You will find that one is enough! They first appeared in a cookbook in the early 1920s but was called a Graham Cracker Sandwich. Back then it was also popular with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. It appeared in “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts”.
There are 4 main ingredients in making s’mores: 1) sticks of course, 2) graham crackers, 3) marshmallows and 4) chocolate. Most importantly you need a fire to roast those fluffy pillows of goodness!
The layering of s’mores is half a graham cracker, half a Hershey’s chocolate candy bar of the same size, a roasted, gooey marshmallow or two and sometimes topped with another square of chocolate (optional) and the other half of the graham cracker. You squished this all together to melt the chocolate and you made a delicious, sticky treat.
S’mores are so popular in the United States that they have inspired a number of spin-offs. There are s’mores flavored pop tarts, cakes, truffles, funnel cakes, candy bars, ice cream, martini and many different dessert versions. There are kits available to make them at home. You could always make a Mexican version by using dulce de leche and Mexican chocolate. If you don’t have a campfire you can bake them in the oven or microwave.
This recipe is a spin-off of these beloved campfire treats that many American children grew up with and are still enjoying.
Summer S'mores Blossom Cookies
Coating for the graham cracker balls:
- 1/2 cup finely ground graham crackers (I used honey but cinnamon flavored are good too)
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter melted (optional)
Melt the butter and add to 1/2 cup of finely ground graham crackers; the butter is optional and I did use it.
S’mores Blossom Dough:
- 1-1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- (sift the 4 ingredients above)
- 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 8 graham crackers processed into fine crumbs (I used a small food processor) 8 crackers = 1-1/4 cups crumbs, I used 1/2 cup for the coating and 3/4 cup for the dough
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
To Finish:
- 12 large marshmallows, cut in half (kitchen scissors work good)
- 24 Hershey’s chocolate kisses, unwrapped (I used dark chocolate – the healthy chocolate)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Beat together the butter, sugar, and 3/4 cup of the graham cracker crumbs for a couple of minutes, until it is light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla; next add the flour mixture and combine.
Use about 1 tbsp. dough for each cookie; 12 per sheet. Roll into a ball and then in the remaining 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs to coat. I made bigger cookies but I highly recommend you make smaller ones to be the same size as the marshmallows.
Place the cookies on the prepared sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies are just starting to crack a bit. They should still be soft; allow to cool and bake the other 12.
Broil on low and have a rack 10 inches below the heating element. Cut the marshmallows in half and place cut side down on the top of each cookie. Broil the marshmallows, watching closely until they start to melt and are golden brown. Turn on your oven light!
Remove from the oven and immediately push a Hershey kiss into the center of each soft marshmallow, spreading it to be the same size as the cookie..
Allow the cookies to cool and the Hershey’s kiss has set up again.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
Ooh. My husband’s sweet tooth is calling. 😋🌿
Crunchy, gooey, chocolate delight 🙂
Love how you’ve elevated the simple treats into these beautiful cookies. Definitely would have some more! 🙂
Thanks Ronit – the cookies were quite good and had all the flavors of a “traditional s’more” 🙂
Your cookies are a treat for kids of all ages.
These cookies sure are Karen – s’mores and their spin-offs are meant for everyone 🙂
How cute are these cookies!!!
Thanks – they were fun to make and delicious to eat 🙂
Love this post! The best times of my family’s lives were spent with Uncle Gene and Aunt JuJu at their farm in Michigan. S’mores for the kids and cocktails for the adults after a day of fishing, gardening, and playing were the order of the day. Thanks for the sweet memories!
Thank you – our “farm” was the vacation spot for so many people, especially the kids. You forgot to mention cooking for that hungry crowd 🙂 Manchester did not have a lot to offer in terms of restaurants or grocery stores!
I have fond memories of camping as a kid and making S’mores. We don’t see graham crackers here but we do have Digestive biscuits (cookies). I think they should work well. Also, no Hershey’s chocolate kisses here, but we’ve got some wonderful dark chocolate that I can use. Thanks for the cookie inspiration.
The cookies are a perfect substitute for the real s’mores you get when camping. Graham cracker cookies topped with gooey marshmallows and followed with a “kiss” – get can’t any better than that 🙂
I love this post Aunt Juju! Brings back tons of great memories of spending time up in Manchester with you and Uncle Gene and the cousins. Those cookies look fantastic too!
Thanks Travis – you kids sure did have a good time and we enjoyed having you. Making s’mores was a good excuse to have a fire 🙂
Love these photos! I showed Al and he enjoyed seeing how much fun we had at your place as kids. Really good times — wish we could go back to those days!
The one of you is too cute! It really shows the whole story about how good and messy s’mores are. I would love to go back to those days – we lived in a special place and Uncle Gene and I were so happy to share it with you guys 🙂
Omg aunt juju this is so cute! Thank you for sharing. We always had the best time at the house with you and uncle Gene!
Now we know you like your marshmallows “blackened”. I think your stick was meant to cook hot dogs on! When I first thought of making these cookies it brought back great memories of life in Manchester 🙂
These look hands down fantastic! We love smores…Yum! Thanks for sharing Aunt Juju
Thanks! Once you’ve tried a s’mores you can’t help but love them 🙂
Wow <3 simply wow
Thanks – and WOW they are delicious 🙂