Who says that the kids should have all the fun? Here are three sophisticated s’mores recipes that are top-notch treats for dad and mom too—although there’s no guaranteeing that little hands won’t snatch them up first!
For Dad:
Bourbon, Bacon & Nutella S’mores
These are manly s’mores.
You might think the term “manly s’mores” is a contradiction, which would be similar to the sentiment I received from the liquor store owner when I inquired about good bourbon for a marshmallow recipe. I can say with relative certainty that he was not anticipating that question.
But really, what’s manlier than fearlessly featuring bacon and bourbon for dessert? And if you’re intimidated by the prospect of making your own marshmallows, fear not! I was a marshmallow-making rookie before taking this recipe on, and trust me, the culinary kudos you’ll get for making these from scratch far outweigh the actual effort it takes to make them.
Equipment: stand mixer hand mixer candy thermometer well-greased 9x13-inch pan, dusted with powdered sugar Bourbon Marshmallow Ingredients: ½ cup cold water 3 ½ envelopes unflavored gelatin 2 cups granulated sugar ½ cup cold bourbon ½ cup light corn syrup ¼ teaspoon salt 2 large egg whites 1 tablespoon vanilla extract S’mores Ingredients: bacon graham crackers chocolate hazelnut spread dark chocolate bourbon marshmallows
(There are purposely no amounts listed here; the portioning is completely based on your needs and preferences. For mine, I used 1 slice of bacon, 1 square of dark chocolate, and about 1 tablespoon of chocolate hazelnut spread per s’more.)
To make the bourbon marshmallows:
1. Start by pouring ½ cup cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer (with the whisk attachment in place) and sprinkle 3 and ½ packets of gelatin over the water. Let that sit while you make the sugar mixture.
2. In a large pot, combine sugar, bourbon, corn syrup, and salt. Heat on medium-low until the sugar dissolves. Then, bring the mixture up to a boil (be careful—it’s prone to boiling over at the start!) and stir frequently until the candy thermometer reads 240 degrees.
3. Once the sugar has come to temperature, turn the stand mixer on low and slowly pour the sugar mixture into the bowl of the stand mixer. Gradually increase the speed to high and beat for 6-8 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, beat 2 egg whites in a separate bowl with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Add the egg whites and vanilla into the bowl of the stand mixer during the last minute of mixing and turn the speed down to low. Beat just until they are completely incorporated.
5. Using a greased spatula, transfer the marshmallow mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish that has been dusted with powdered sugar. Let the marshmallows sit and harden for at least 3 hours before cutting into squares with a greased pizza cutter.
To make the s’mores:
1. Start by frying the bacon. Top one graham cracker square with chocolate hazelnut spread and add one slice of bacon on top.
2. Place the other graham cracker on a baking sheet and top with one square of dark chocolate and one bourbon marshmallow.
3. Turn the oven broiler on and place the sheet underneath the broiler just until the marshmallow begins to turn golden brown.
4. Remove from the oven, place the bacon side on top, and enjoy!
Note: You can certainly make the ingredients in advance for a summer campfire treat!
While the bourbon, bacon and Nutella s’mores cater more to the men in our lives, these s’mores, while equally delicious, are well-suited to both feminine and family tastes. The chocolate-covered salted caramel s’mores are perfect for a decadent girls' night and the Neapolitan ice cream s’mores are an easy treat for a poolside party. But who are we kidding? The guys will probably love both of these recipes, too!
For Mom:
Chocolate-Covered Salted Caramel S’mores
Ingredients: 1 bag bittersweet (or dark) chocolate chips 1 box gingersnap cookies sea salt caramel sauce marshmallow crème
1. Melt 1 bag of bittersweet chocolate chips in a large bowl.
2. Using a fork, dip the cookies, one at a time, in the melted chocolate until completely coated and place on a cooling rack to harden.
3. As soon as all the cookies have been dipped, sprinkle liberally with sea salt. Allow 2-3 hours for the chocolate to cool completely.
4. Once cooled, spread a thick layer of marshmallow crème on top of one cookie, followed by a layer of caramel sauce. Top with another cookie, grab a few napkins, and enjoy!
For Kids:
Neapolitan S’mores
Equipment: stand mixer candy thermometer well-greased 9x13-inch pan, dusted with powdered sugar Strawberry Marshmallow Ingredients: 4 packets of unflavored 2⁄₃ cup cold water gelatin 2 ½ cups granulated sugar 2⁄₃ cup seedless strawberry jam or jelly 2⁄₃ cup light corn syrup ¼ teaspoon salt 8-10 drops red food coloring S’mores Ingredients: graham crackers marshmallow crème chocolate ice cream strawberry marshmallows
To make the strawberry marshmallows:
1. Start by pouring 2/₃ cup cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer (with the whisk attachment in place) and sprinkle 4 packets of gelatin over the water. Let that sit while you make the sugar mixture.
2. In a large pot, combine sugar, strawberry jam, corn syrup, and salt. Move the sugar mixture over to the stove and heat on medium-high. Whisk vigorously while the sugar dissolves until the mixture is well-combined. Bring it up to a boil (be careful—it’s prone to boiling over at the start!) and stir frequently until the candy thermometer reads 240 degrees.
3. Once the sugar mixture has come to temperature, turn the stand mixer on low and slowly pour it into the bowl of the stand mixer. Gradually increase the speed (over the course of 5 minutes or so) and then beat on high for 25-35 minutes, or until stiff peaks form and the mixture has cooled significantly.
4. Add in drops of red food coloring during the last minute of mixing until the mixture reaches the desired color (I found about 8-10 drops worked well).
5. Using a greased spatula, transfer the marshmallow mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish that has been dusted with powdered sugar. Let the marshmallows sit and harden for at least 3 hours before cutting into squares with a greased pizza cutter.
To make the s’mores: 1. Start by covering a graham cracker square with marshmallow crème.
2. Add one strawberry marshmallow square on top, followed by a dollop of chocolate ice cream.
3. Top with another graham cracker square and dig in!
Recipes, text, styling & photography by Beka Watts