Our favorite place to enjoy a s’more is sitting around the campfire after a day full of fun activities at Camp Horizons. But, when you find yourself at 
home craving s’mores without our cozy village campfire circles in sight, we’ve still got you covered!
We asked our team at Camp Horizons and the Outdoor Learning Center to share their favorite ways to enjoy s’mores at home, from twists on the classic recipe to creative cooking options when a campfire isn’t available.
Important things to keep in mind:
- We’re not endorsing any specific product or receiving payment for sharing these ideas! (But hey, if Hershey’s wants to send us some treats, we’ll happily accept!)
- Fire safety is key. Before trying any of the methods below, please make sure an adult is present. Whether you’re using fire or an oven, safety comes first—no burnt fingers or singed eyebrows, please!
No Campfire? No Problem!
- Wood-Burning Fireplace: The next best thing to a campfire is a wood-burning fireplace. You still get that warm, crackly vibe indoors! Be sure to use long sticks to keep a safe distance and follow general fire safety practices.
- Solo Stove or Patio Cookers: These have become very popular, and Geneva has made a delightful set of s’mores with friends at an Airbnb, telling us, “It was a little harder to start a fire in the device than the old-fashioned way on the ground, but once we got it going, the s’mores were a huge hit and we avoided the lingering campfire smell.”
- Baked S’mores: This is Leigh’s go-to indoor option. She says, “If there’s no campfire available, I use a cookie sheet in the oven with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows stacked together. Bake at 400°F for a few minutes, until the marshmallows are as toasty as you like, then add the second half of the graham cracker.”
- Broiler S’mores: Using the broiler is a quick method Danni loves. She suggests, “Turn on the broiler, melt the chocolate slightly on a graham cracker, add a marshmallow, and broil until it’s golden brown, then add the second graham cracker on top.” Keep a close eye on it—broiling heats up fast!
- Air Fryer S’mores: Give this popular appliance a try if you’re looking for a new way to make s’mores! Place a graham cracker topped with a marshmallow into a preheated air fryer, checking every few minutes until the marshmallow is roasted, and then add a piece of chocolate and heat for a few more minutes. Add the top graham cracker and enjoy!
- Microwave S’mores: For a quick option, Jared recommends the microwave: Place a graham cracker with a marshmallow on top on a microwave-safe plate, microwave in 10-second intervals until the marshmallow starts to puff. Carefully remove, add a piece of chocolate to melt slightly on the hot marshmallow, then top with another graham cracker.
What’s More than S’more? Our Team’s Favorite S’mores Recipes
We all love classic s’mores with graham crackers, a Hershey’s chocolate bar, and marshmallows. Let’s talk about making the treats at home in winter or when an outdoor campfire isn’t an option!
With many cooking methods sorted, once you’ve perfected the at home classic treat check out how our team loves to elevate their s’mores game:
- Bria’s Peanut Butter Cookie S’mores:
- Bria says, “I’m a fan of the peanut butter cookie s’more, which uses chocolate chip cookies instead of graham crackers. For chocolate, I substitute a Reese’s cup. Add a marshmallow, and boom—you have a rich, delicious treat!”
- Leigh’s Fancy S’mores:
- Leigh, a dark chocolate fan, loves swapping dark chocolate for the classic milk chocolate. Her favorite combinations include Reese’s Thins Dark Chocolate or York Peppermint Patties minis, both of which pair surprisingly well with marshmallows.
- For a truly elevated s’mores experience, she uses two Lu Petit Ecolier biscuits instead of graham crackers and chocolate. She says, “Just flip the cookies so the chocolate faces inward. The extra chocolate and biscuit make a deliciously refined s’more!”
Kelli’s Cookie S’mores:- Kelli prefers using cookies in place of graham crackers, opting for Dutch Cocoa, chocolate chip, or peanut butter cookies. She suggests softer cookies, which won’t crumble as easily when you bite into them. She also upgrades the chocolate to dark, like Hershey’s or Ghirardelli—or sometimes Reese’s. Not a marshmallow fan? She says, “The only reason for marshmallows is to melt the chocolate for s’mores!”
- Geneva’s Banana-Cookie S’mores:
- Geneva grew up at Girl Scout Camp, and she says the best s’more cracker is actually Trefoil Cookies (though alternative shortbreads would do in a pinch). Add a medallion of banana between your chocolate and marshmallow for a next level experience. For a more complete flavor profile, a dab of peanut butter ties the whole thing together. She adds, “But, and this is crucial, you have to BURN the outside of the marshmallow, even though that is a controversial opinion.”
There you have it! Do you have a favorite method or recipe? Let us know at camp@horizonsva.com or on our facebook or instagram page!