The Fine Art of Family Magazine

Summer spells s’mores. Warm weather and starry nights beg red-blooded Americans to build a campfire and start roasting marshmallows while swapping stories with family and friends. As if the nostalgic experience weren’t enough, then you get to eat the delicious toasted white balls squeezed between gram crackers with a piece of chocolate. Aptly named “s’more”—as in “I want some more”—this tasty treat invites adults and kids alike to test the limit of just how many one can handle in an evening.

Though the origin of these summer sweets is not clear, the three-ingredient recipe for “Some More” first appeared in the Girl Scout of the USA’s Tramping and Trailing book in 1927, according to the National Historic Preservation Center. In 1940, the recipe was renamed “S’mores” in the official Girl Scout Handbook. Popular belief says campers were also responsible for spreading the word about this sugary delight.

Today, there are so many variations of this simple recipe, include substituting the chocolate by adding fruit, such as apple slices or peanut butter, creating banana s’mores, and even making ice cream ones. There is an Allrecipes.com version that has received more than 2,000 rave reviews using butter along with the other ingredients and baking the mixture in the oven. Choco-giant Hershey also has a video displaying the ultimate s’mores where you can create your own virtual version of the gooey goodness, though it’s not as fun as making the real thing.

Get outside, while it’s still beautiful, and starting roasting. If you don’t have access to a backyard or campsite, get your fix at ones of these top six local s’more shops, according to the Huffington Post. Or swing by one of the 100 Cosi chain restaurants in 16 states that also offer a unique tableside s’more experience. Bet you can’t eat just one!

[Photography by The Long Experience on Flickr]

Published on September 1, 2010

Tags: Celebrating, Food, Taste America's History