Trails for everyone, forever

Home Go Outside Trail Smarts Backcountry Kitchen Dessert How to hack your s’mores recipe for your next camping trip

How to hack your s’mores recipe for your next camping trip

Posted by Tiffany Chou, Joe Gonzalez at May 22, 2024 12:56 PM |
Filed under: Backcountry Kitchen, Snacks

When you’re packing for your adventure, consider bringing along the ingredients for a s’more buffet station. Create your own fun or ridiculous recipes, or get some inspiration here.

Many things make camping great — sleeping under the stars, listening to nature sounds, unplugging from the stresses of everyday life — but perhaps the best part is eating s’mores. The iconic combo is delicious and fun to make around the campfire — or camp stove, if it’s fire season and campfires are out. 

You can never have enough s’mores (it’s in the name!), but if you’re looking to change up the classic, we’ve got ideas for you, some of which were sourced from hikers like you on social media, for your next camping trip. 

A young boy sits on a camp chair looking at a s'more. Photo by Erynn Allen.
The textbook s'more is delicious... but we've got some ideas for how to spice it up. Photo by Erynn Allen.

When you’re packing for your adventure, consider bringing along the ingredients for a s’more buffet station. Create your own fun or ridiculous recipes, or get some inspiration below.

Alternative ingredient ideas 

A table of s'mores buffet items, including various crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate at nighttime. Photo by Tiffany Chou.
A s'mores buffet can be fun — and maybe a little chaotic — for everyone! Photo by Tiffany Chou.

Graham cracker alternatives

  • Trader Joe’s Speculoos or Biscoff cookies
  • Chocolate or vanilla wafers
  • Brownie brittle
  • Shortbread cookies
  • Girl Scout cookies
  • Oreo cookies
  • Keebler Fudge Stripes cookies 

Chocolate bar alternatives

  • Peanut butter cups
  • Peppermint patties
  • Rolo candies
  • Nutella
  • Extra-dark chocolate
  • Orange chocolate
  • Cookies-and-cream chocolate
  • Chocolate with nuts (for some texture)
  • Spicy chili chocolate

Marshmallow alternatives

  • Peeps
  • Bananas
  • Whipped cream

Methodological alternatives

  • Stuff chocolate into marshmallows before roasting
  • Open-face s’more
  • Double-decker s’more (three crackers, two marshmallows, two chocolates)
  • Replace crackers with chocolate 

Recipe inspiration

The Girl Scout 

  • Thin Mints
  • Marshmallow 

WTA staff thoughts: “Perfect mint balance and well-melted chocolate.”

The Girl Scout s'more, made of Thin Mints and a roasted marshmallow. Photo by Tiffany Chou.
The minty Girl Scout. Photo by Tiffany Chou.

Patty’s Favorite

  • Graham crackers
  • Marshmallow
  • Peppermint patty 

WTA staff thoughts: “An interesting mix of textures, with a nice punch of mint.” 

The All-American

  • Graham crackers
  • Marshmallow
  • Peanut butter cup

WTA staff thoughts: “There’s a lot going on in there, but it’s pretty good!”

The All-American s'more, made with graham crackers, a peanut butter cup, and a roasted marshmallow. Photo by Joe Gonzalez.
The nutty All-American. Photo by Joe Gonzalez.

The S’moreo

  • Oreo (split in half)
  • Marshmallow
  • Chocolate

WTA staff thoughts: “Delicious, chocolatey graham crackerlike texture.”

The S'moreo s'more, made of a split Oreo cookie, chocolate, and a roasted marshmallow. Photo by Tiffany Chou.
The creamy S'moreo. Photo by Tiffany Chou.

The Dalmatian

  • Graham crackers
  • Marshmallow
  • Cookies-and-cream chocolate

WTA staff thoughts: “I had to get to the center!”

The Keebler

  • Keebler Fudge Stripes cookies
  • Marshmallow
  • Chocolate

WTA staff thoughts: “The cookie’s ‘donut hole’ makes it extra gooey and delicious.”

The Keebler s'more, made of Keebler Fudge Stripes cookies, chocolate, and a roasted marshmallow. Photo by Tiffany Chou.
The fudgy Keebler. Photo by Tiffany Chou. 

The Taboo

  • Graham crackers
  • Caramelized Peeps
  • Chocolate

WTA staff thoughts: “They’re fun to make (colors!) and even more fun to eat.”

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Washington Trails Magazine. Support trails as a member of WTA to get your one-year subscription to the magazine.

Comments